Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Enugu (Agenzia Fides) – In an atmosphere of profound joy, the city of Enugu, Nigeria, celebrated the centenary of the Bigard Memorial Seminary, a key institution in the formation of Nigerian priests. Founded 100 years ago, this seminary bears the name of Jeanne Bigard, co-founder of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, created to support the formation of seminarians and priests in mission lands, and has also helped the Bignards Seminary to take root and develop in the Enugu area, continuing to provide a significant contribution to the formation of new priests for the Nigerian Church.
Over the course of these 100 years of history, the Bigard Memorial Seminary has formed 4 Cardinals, 14 Archbishops, 37 Bishops as well as numerous priests who still serve in various parts of the world. Among them is Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, current Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, who graduated in Theology from this very seminary.
The Archbishop took part in the rich calendar of events planned for the Centenary, and today, Thursday, November 21, presided over a solemn mass in the church of the Bigard Memorial Seminary during which 40 new deacons were ordained, called to become priests in the coming months, and who are “fruit of your good labour” of the Seminary, as Nwachukwu himself said during the homily.
As deacons, the Secretary of the Missionary Dicastery recalled, "will embrace a service that finds its roots in the Bible". In the Old Testament, in fact, in the book of Numbers we read about how "the service of the altar was entrusted to the children of Levi", while in the New Testament, the book of Acts "recounts the origin of similar service in the earliest days of the Church". But "unlike the Levites, Stephen and his companions did not became deacons by human genealogy. They were elected by the casting of lots, and therefore by God. They were elected deacons in response to complaints of discrimination based on ethnic origin within the Church".
The beginning of chapter 6 of the Acts of the Apostles in fact reads: "In those days, as the number of disciples increased, discontent arose among the Hellenists toward the Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Then the Twelve called the group of disciples together and said: "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, look for seven men of good reputation among you, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task. We, however, will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The whole group liked this proposal and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. They then presented them to the apostles, who, after praying, laid their hands on them." "You too - Archbishop Nwachukwu stressed - will be sent into a Church and a world that still today face similar challenges of prejudice and discrimination based on ethnic, tribal or racial origins or affiliations. I therefore urge you to keep in mind the words that Pope Francis addressed, last March 25, to Nigerian priests and religious in Rome, when His Holiness invited them to ‘adopt as their own God’s style of closeness, compassion and tender love’”. Like the deacons, “Stephen and his companions, with your diaconate ordination you are elevated to a pedestal where you are no longer defined by your ethnic or genealogical descent, as were the Levites, but by God’s election. Later, your ordination to the priesthood according to the order begun by Melchisedek who had no human genealogy will make this new identity still more defined”, added the Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
For the Archbishop, “an elected and ordained deacon like Stephen and his companions, as well as a priest ordained according to the new order of Melchisedek can no longer reason or act according to human genealogy and geology. He becomes, as it were, uprooted from the soil and taken up by the wind of the Spirit. Christ is your model”. “Therefore I recommend you to “live a life worthy of the vocation to which you have been called, with humility, gentleness and patience”, was Archbishop Nwachukwu’s final wish addressed to the new deacons. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/11/2024)
