Many Wonderful Years of Life-changing Learning

Sacred Heart Seminary, Nsude, was founded in 1972, a year that planted a seed destined to become a forest of vocations. The vision behind this noble institution came from the farsighted mind and pastoral heart of Late Bishop Godfrey Mary-Paul Okoye, then Bishop of the Enugu Diocese. What began as a dream soon found roots on about 40 acres of land, generously donated by the Ezinato community of Nsude to the Catholic Diocese of Enugu—a gift that continues to bear fruit for the Church and society.

From its humble beginnings, the seminary has journeyed through the decades shaping souls, sharpening minds, and forming men of character. Since 1972 till date, Sacred Heart Seminary has produced numerous priests who now serve in different capacities, as well as many lay persons who passed through seminary formation and went on to impact society in diverse fields. The seminary’s influence, therefore, extends far beyond priesthood—it forms leaders.

Today, the seminary proudly counts among its alumni Bishop Callistus Valentine Onaga (C.V.C.), the current Bishop of Enugu Diocese. That alone is a loud testimony—proof that greatness once walked these corridors in sky blue, navy blue and sandals.

Administratively, the seminary has been guided by providence and leadership, having had about 14 Rectors since its inception, with the 15th Rector currently at the helm. In its earliest days, the seminary ran on extreme simplicity: one priest (the Rector), two senior seminarians, and about six junior seminarians handled both formation and administration. It was small, yes—but mighty in purpose.

Fast forward to the present, the growth is undeniable. The seminary now has five priests, two senior seminarians, and eight junior seminarians assisting in formation, supported by an innumerable number of academic and non-academic staff. The seminary community has expanded significantly, with about 415 junior seminarians currently undergoing formation.

In 2022, Sacred Heart Seminary crossed a historic milestone—its Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of faithful service to God, the Church, and humanity. From seed to harvest, from silence to song, the seminary’s story is one of grace, growth, and God’s enduring hand.

Sacred Heart Seminary, Nsude—still forming hearts, still shaping futures, still answering the call.

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Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Uchechukwu Onodugo is a Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, ordained on the 3rd of July, 2010.  Fr. Uche had a very humble beginning, having lost his parents at a very tender age.

His determination and grace of God helped him gain admission into the prestigious and very competitive College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu.  He graduated from CIC in 1997 and began his Seminary formation at Sacred Heart Seminary Nsude in the year 1998 with a one year orientation/Latin diploma programme.  At the completion of the orientation year, he was sent to Queen of Apostles Seminary Imezi-Owa for a one year apostolic work.

This was followed by one year spiritual year formation in the same Queen of Apostles Seminary.  He then proceeded to the great Mother of all Seminaries (Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu), where he did his Philosophical studies.

On completing his first degree studies in Philosophy, the Church, having the penchant for rare qualities, sent him once again to Queen of Apostles Seminary Imezi-Owa on a higher capacity, now as an Auxiliary teacher whose major duty was to help introduce the younger Seminarians on their Spiritual year formation to life in the Major Seminary.  This he did creditably well that he was sent back to pursue his Theological studies in the same Mother Bigard for another four years.

After Priestly Ordination, the Holy Mother Church in her wisdom decided to balance his perspective of the Priestly life by sending him to have some parish experiences.  He worked first as a Parochial Vicar at St. Anthony Parish Ogui New Layout Enugu, then at St. Theresa Parish, Blessed Abakpa Nike under the intellectual guru, Msgr. Ugonna Igboaja.  When he proved his mettle in Parish work, he was sent to the newly created All Saints Parish, Ibagwa Nike as the Pioneer Parish Priest.  His works there was outlined with so many successes on the aspects of spiritual, pastoral and infrastructural growth.  Having proven himself in the urban and semi-urban, he was finally tested in the interior/rural area.  This saw him at St. Patrick Parish, Nkerefi in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The cheerfulness and open-mindedness with which he accepted the posting endeared him to the heart of Nkerefi people both young and old, home and abroad.  He immersed himself into his work at Nkerefi so much so that he added much verve to the parish life.  He raised the standard of the Nursery/ Primary and Secondary school there that within one year, it reclaimed the leading position it hitherto enjoyed in that locality.  He wholeheartedly immersed himself into the agrarian life of the people that saw him cultivating rice and cassava in very large quantities.

Having seen the qualities in him, the Church immediately sent him back to the Seminary, this time, not to Queen of Apostles but to Sacred Heart Seminary Nsude, to help in training the young Seminarians at the cradle of their formation to the Catholic Priesthood.  After about six months, he was made the Chief Servant of the Seminary.  We continue to pray for him that he produces young men of good quality who will be found worthy to serve the Church and Humanity.