Archbishop Okeke Confirms 120 St Charles College Students, Charges Them on Responsible Living
By Polycarp Ifeanyi
No fewer than 120 students of St. Charles College, Onitsha, Anambra State, have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, with the Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, urging them to embrace responsible living and become useful members of their families and society.
Archbishop Okeke gave the charge during the celebration of the Patronal Feast of St. Charles Borromeo, which also featured his pastoral visit to the institution and the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation to the students.
The event, held recently at the school playground under the theme, “Our Cultural Heritage, Our Pride,” began with a Holy Mass presided over by the Archbishop, who is also the proprietor of the institution, alongside other priests.
Speaking with journalists after the ceremony, the School Manager, Rev. Fr. Dr. Gabriel Anochilionye, disclosed that 120 students received the sacrament, advising them not to allow the spiritual significance of the occasion to be defeated by irresponsible conduct.
He urged the newly confirmed students to live exemplary lives, stressing that they should conduct themselves in ways that would make them useful to themselves, their parents and society at large.
Fr. Anochilionye explained that the annual patronal feast provides the institution with an opportunity to appreciate God for its founding fathers, particularly Bishops Joseph Shanahan and Charles Heerey, as well as their successors, who made significant contributions to the growth and development of the college.
He also attributed the achievements recorded by the institution to God’s grace, dedication and sincerity of purpose, expressing gratitude for the support and leadership that had continued to strengthen the school.
Earlier in his homily, Archbishop Okeke described the occasion as a three-in-one celebration involving the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, his pastoral visit to the college and thanksgiving to God for the growth and achievements of the institution.
The Archbishop, who described a pastoral visit as a period of divine encounter, said it represented a moment when God visited His people through His servant.
Drawing inspiration from Exodus Chapter 3, he recalled how God encountered Moses while he was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, and subsequently commissioned him to deliver the Israelites from captivity in Egypt.
He explained that the biblical encounter, in which Moses saw a burning bush that was not consumed by the flames, demonstrated God’s readiness to intervene in the affairs of His people and respond to their cries.
Quoting God’s instruction to Moses to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground, Archbishop Okeke recalled how God directed him to approach Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites.
He drew a parallel between Moses’ divine assignment and his own pastoral responsibility, declaring that God had heard the cries of the people of St. Charles College and was visiting the institution through his ministry.
“Just as God used Moses to rescue the Israelites, so has He sent the Archbishop to rescue His people. God has heard the cry of His people at St. Charles College and has come to rescue them through His servant, Archbishop Okeke.
“Those who are sick should regain their health. Those who are afflicted should be healed. Those who are in captivity shall regain their freedom,” he declared.
The Archbishop also used the occasion to recount the life and contributions of St. Charles Borromeo, after whom the institution is named.
He said the saint was born on October 2, 1538, in Arona, Italy, into the noble Borromeo family. He obtained a doctorate in Civil and Canon Law, was ordained a priest in 1563 and appointed Secretary of State by Pope Pius IV in the same year.
According to him, St. Charles Borromeo became Bishop of Milan in 1564 and was elevated to the rank of Cardinal in 1565.
Archbishop Okeke particularly highlighted the saint’s contributions to education, noting that he established the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pavia, founded schools and seminaries across Milan and promoted the education and intellectual development of the clergy.
He encouraged the school community to draw inspiration from the saint’s commitment to education, discipline and service to the Church.
On the importance of thanksgiving, the Archbishop said gratitude should not remain an unexpressed feeling, stressing that appreciation becomes meaningful when it is demonstrated.
He listed the preservation of lives, infrastructural transformation, academic excellence and the recognition of the School Manager with the Best Administrator of the Year award by the people of Anambra State as some of the reasons the institution had to remain grateful to God.
In his welcome address, the Senior Prefect, Master Ojiakor Chibuzor Anthony, described Archbishop Okeke’s presence at the college as more than a ceremonial visit, saying it represented a source of inspiration and the reassuring presence of a good shepherd who searches for his sheep.
He expressed appreciation to the Archbishop for his commitment to the development of the institution, particularly his decision to appoint Rev. Fr. Dr. Gabriel Anochilionye as School Manager and Principal about two years ago.
“We cannot thank you enough for the gift of our seasoned Manager and Principal, Rev. Fr. Dr. Gabriel Anochilionye, whom you appointed to lead our great institution about two years ago,” he said.
The Senior Prefect also disclosed that the school had recorded impressive results in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), particularly in core subjects, including English Language, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, with students obtaining A1 and B3 grades.
In his vote of thanks, Fr. Anochilionye commended Archbishop Okeke for making out time to visit the institution, describing the gesture as a demonstration of his love and commitment to the college.
He also expressed appreciation to the Archbishop for his generosity towards the celebration, particularly his donation of a live cow for the occasion.
The School Manager further appealed to the Archbishop not to transfer his deputy, Rev. Fr. Jude Obidike, whom he described as a dedicated priest with a strong passion for work and the development of the institution.
He also acknowledged the presence of priests and religious who attended the celebration, including the Chancellor of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Prudentius Emeka Aroh, and the Vice Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Basil Ekwunife.
Others he recognised included the Education Secretary of Onitsha Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Pascal Onwugbenu; Senator Tony Nwoye; managers of various schools; rectors; parents and guardians of the students; and old boys of the institution.
The high point of the celebration was the commissioning of the school’s Science Laboratory and newly constructed hostel, marking another milestone in the institution’s infrastructural development and commitment to providing a conducive environment for teaching, learning and students’ accommodation.
