HOMILY FOR THE DAY

The Solemnity of the Corpus Christi.
By Rev Father Cornelius Ozochikelu.

“They recognized the Lord Jesus by the breaking of the bread.“

Since it was the will of God’s only-begotten Son that men should share in his divinity, he assumed our nature in order that by becoming man he might make men gods. This was shown in taking flesh in the womb of the virgin mother. In the Catholic church, we commemorate the transubstantiation, which is the changing of substance. This theory of transubstantiation was denied by many protestants and reformists like Calvin and Further, but the Catholic church through many of her evangelical council had reaffirmed the belief in changing of substance into complete body and blood of Christ.

The bread changes into body and blood likewise the wine, so that he who eats the bread receives the complete body and blood of Christ, even in the smallest particle of the bread. Moreover, when he took our flesh he dedicated the whole of its substance to our salvation. He offered his body to God the Father on the altar of the cross as a sacrifice for our reconciliation. He shed his blood for our ransom and purification, so that we might be redeemed from our wretched state of bondage and cleansed from all sin.

Happy Sunday and Corpus Christi celebration from the teachers and Auxiliaries.

From the Rector’s Desk

The holy writ tells us, “train up a child in such a way that he will not depart from it when he grows.” This is generally the intention of the church for establishing the seminary as a house of formation. Our seminary, SACRED HEART SEMINARY, NSUDE of the catholic diocese of Enugu, Nigeria is a formation house poised to inculcate learning and characters into young people among whom the Lord may choose for the priestly ministry.

The demands of the vocation to the priesthood require that candidates be trained in such a way as to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the different disciplines. We, therefore reflect the different aspects of formation reflected in the Post Synodal Exhortation- pastores dabo vobis: human formation, spiritual formation, intellectual formation and pastoral formation. These aspects of formation if imbibed by the candidates to a reasonable percentage make them scholars, gentlemen and saints.

We are well aware that majority of the candidates receiving seminary formation will not become Priests. Therefore, they are formed in such a way that they will be able to conform to the system available in the country whenever they are asked or request to withdraw from the seminary. Thus, with the blessing of our bishop, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, technical education (wood work, metal machining, electrical installation, automobile engineering, livestock management etc) have been added to the seminary curriculum. These are geared toward the formation of priests fit for the age.

Ultimately, the seminary formation is character and intellect-centred. An educated person without character is a threat both to the church and the state.

We are happy to bring to your awareness the formation that goes on in SACRED HEART SEMINARY, NSUDE of Enugu Diocese in Nigeria. May we use this forum to appreciate the kind and generous donations of our benefactors and benefactresses. May God bless you all abundantly.

To you our dear visitor, we say welcome to the site and tour gently. We look forward to seeing you visit again.