SAGS HOSTS BISHOPS OF LAGOS, IBADAN, AND BENIN ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCES AND OTHERS
By: Oshunsanya Paul O.
The Seminary of St. Albert the Great hosted the Joint Seminary Commission meeting for the first time in her history. The meeting was held between Tuesday, 18th and Thursday, 20th October, 2022. At the meeting were the Bishops of Lagos, Ibadan, and Benin ecclesiastical provinces; delegates from the other two major regional Seminaries, and Direcors of the Spiritual year Seminaries.
The meeting was kicked off with the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Wednesday, 19th October, 2022, with Most Rev Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, the Archbishop of Ibadan, as the Chief Celebrant. In his homily, Most Rev Jude Arogundade of Ondo Diocese, noted that the meeting was aimed at discerning the plan of formation for the year. Concerning the synod on synodality, he challenged all to know the content of their mission, commission and participation in the Church. Challenging the Seminarians in particular, he passionately noted that the Church prepares seminarians to be leaders who would sacrifice their time, wisdom and knowledge for the Church and the society. Hence, they (Seminarians) are to make good use of why they have been sent to the Seminary; to study in order to know Christ and the Church, study the Church and her problems, and then offer their own solutions according to the mind of the Church, he concluded.
In his welcome address, the Rector, Very Rev Fr. Anselm Ekhelar, expressed the gratitude of the Seminary for the privilege of hosting the meeting. He expressed appreciation to the Bishops for their continuous support, but noted that the Seminary is not yet where she ought to be. He also welcomed the representatives from the other seminaries. After the mass, the Bishops had an interactive session with the Seminarians before proceeding for the Joint Commission Meeting session.
