By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, yesterday, joined over 200 parents and friends of St. Johnbosco Seminary, Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State for their Feast and Parents' Day Celebration.
The annual event which started with Holy mass culminating in administration of 60 students into the Sacrament of confirmation, as well as featured launching, cultural displays and dancing.
In a homily, Bishop Ezeokafor explained that the Seminary established in 1982 with the mission of providing holistic formation to young people preparing for the Catholic Priesthood has remained true to it mission.
"The activities that took place today in that Seminary gave me hope that we could still build a society where discipline and commitment to common good are ensured. I appreciated the order in the Seminary, the neatness of the environment and solemn liturgical celebration," he stated.
Also speaking, a philanthropist and founder of I.G Aguowo Health and Academic Foundation (IGAHAF), Ozo Ignatius Onyeka Aguowo, urged the students to be patient, study and hold onto God, as they would be disciplined to become successful in all areas of their lives.
Aguowo, who is sponsoring over 1000 students across Nigeria, described the institution as the best place to be transformed into becoming a disciplined professional and social changer upon graduation.
He said he passed through a seminary school, and St. Johnbosco is one of the institutions where beneficiaries of his scholarship schemes are schooling and he would continue impacting lives through the NGO as part of his covenant to God.
"When I could not realise my vision of becoming a reverend father, my vision of setting up an NGO worked out as another means of enriching lives. In one of my days at St. Dominic Savio Seminary Akpu, Late Bishop A. K. Obiefuna blessed me and said that the anointing will never depart from me even if I end up not becoming a priest. My life has transformed since then," he added.
An old student, Mr Ben. Nwankwo, who is a plumber by profession, said he learnt the job from there as a 'function' and it has taken him all over the country as a certified professional.
Nwankwo, who said the seminary school does not only discipline students but train and empower them to become successful in life, even as he urged the younger generation to forget white collar jobs and acquire skills to enable them succeed in life.
Earlier, the Rector, St. Johnbosco Seminary, Reverend Father Daniel Eduzor, thanked the bishop, parents, friends and old students of the institution, noting that they would continue to train the students in godly ways.