“Be grateful to Church for formative experience”: Nigerian Bishop to Former Seminarians

Rather than question themselves about why they left or why they were asked to leave the Seminary, Bishop Onah advised the former seminarians to ask themselves why God allowed them to experience life in the Seminary.

“I am firmly convinced that even if one spent only a day in the Seminary as a seminarian, there must have been a reason in God’s divine plan for it. My faith and experience in life tell me that nothing happens in a person’s life for nothing,” the 64-year-old Bishop said, addressing himself to the former Seminarians in his episcopal see.

He added, “There must be a reason why God permits so many young men to pass through the Seminary, even when He knows that they will not become Priests.”

Reflecting on the Gospel of Luke when the risen Christ appeared to his followers and re-focused their attention from the past, the Bishop said, “It is possible that some of you have not yet come to terms with their past as having once been Seminarians. Today the Lord is telling all of you: Peace be with you!” 

“Why are you so agitated and why are these doubts rising in your hearts?” the Bishop posed in reflection, and went on to tell the former Seminarians, the Lord “is asking each of you to see whatever has happened in the past as part of God’s plan and to now focus on the assignment ahead, namely, bearing Christian witness wherever you may find yourself.”

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“Bear in mind that for every ex-seminarian who is a Priest, there may be as many as ten ex-seminarians who are not Priests. Yes, we are all ex-seminarians! And together, we, all of us, are the Church,” Bishop Onah said. 

He continued, “All of us are grateful to God for who you are today. We ask Him to continue to bless you and your families, to sustain you in your mission and lay apostolate.”

“May God keep you in his love,” the Bishop implored.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.