INCLA ABUJA HOSTS MAIDEN MATRICULATION CEREMONY
by cmf
The 14th of June 2024 marked an epoch milestone for the management, and staff of Institute of Consecrated Life in Africa, Abuja (INCLA), as they enrolled officially their students in Licentiate in Theology of Consecrated Life, Certificate and Diploma in Formation of Formators, Certificate and Diploma in Spiritual Direction, Certificate and Diploma in Basic theology, into the transformative academic cum formational mission of the Institute, through the matriculation ceremony.
The students’ body of InCLA for this year made up of Consecrated Persons from different religious congregations are also from varied African countries: Nigeria, Congo and Cameroon. In all, there are students from 20 different religious congregations. Numbering among the matriculants were two candidates from East Nigerian Province: Rev. Chima Kenneth, CMF and Rev. Ede Joseph CMF, who are pursuing their licentiate in theology of Consecrated Life. Indeed, evident here, is the province’s commitment and investment in formation to nurture authentic and rooted vocation, and to facilitate audacity in mission.
The mass began at exactly 10:00am, at the INCLA Chapel. The chief celebrant was Very. Rev. Fr. Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, The VC of Veritas University, concelebrated with the director of the Institute, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Okonkwo CMF, the Dean, Rev. Fr. Dr. Gregory Ezeokeke CMF, and other priests present, numbering about 35. In his homily, the Dean of Studies, Rev. Fr. Gregory Ezeokeke, CMF underscored that the goal of academic pursuit in catholic institution is rooted in knowledge, wisdom and holiness through which all involved are transformed and contribute to the transformation and the renewal of the Church and the society at large.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration at about 11:30am, the matriculation ceremony proper, began. The students and management properly robed in accordance with their proper statuses processed to the institute’s auditorium for the second part of the day’s ceremony. In his address, the Director of the Institute Very Rev. Fr. DR. Peter Okonkwo, CMF welcomed the students and all present, and expressed his deep seated joy on the turn of things in the life of the institute and the day’s celebration. Addressing the students, he admonished them to see themselves as stars in themselves and a selected yet enlighten people furthering a course that is both human and divinely oriented and to contribute to the transformative mission of the institute by opening themselves to the numerous resources the institute offers them. In an atmosphere of cheer and support from families and friends, the students took their matriculation oath to keep the rules and regulation of the institute. Friends and relatives of the matriculants who also expressed joy and satisfaction in the way the day’s event was conducted and professed their admiration and preference for the institute wrapped up the day’s event with joy and dances.
By Rev. Kenneth Chima, CMF
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