AMECEA: Ahead of Seminary’s Silver Jubilee, Cleric Appreciates Bakanja for Holistic Formation
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As Blessed Bakanja AMECEA College (BBAC) awaits to mark its 25 years of existence on Saturday, October 21, a cleric who has served in the seminary for a decade has acknowledged the formation given to the young men aspiring to be future priests, noting that the seminarians receive holistic formation which molds them to be responsible priests when ordained.
In an interview with AMECEA Online, the soft-spoken Fr. Terry Omen Madrwa shared that the existence of Bakanja College for the past 25 years since its establishment in 1998, has proved that “It is the right place for formation.”
“We thank God for keeping this place alive for 25 years, and for bringing us young men who have left this seminary fulfilled after realizing their dreams to be priests and ready to serve God’s people,” Fr. Madrwa the Ugandan cleric from Arua Diocese said adding that the kind of formation offered to the seminarians is holistic.
According to Fr. Madrwa who has served as the General Spiritual Director in three different countries within the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region, the programs of study at BBAC follow the University setting since the young men attend their classes at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and Tangaza University College (TUC), giving the seminarians opportunity to learn with other various groups in the society.
“This exposure is unique and this helps the young men to take their responsibilities and apostolate in a very aggressive manner after priestly ordination,” the priest said.
According to the seminary whose objective is to form true African Catholic priests on the model of Our Lord Jesus Christ as they rely on the Lord for sustenance, protection, guidance, consolation, and love, it fosters integrative growth in the areas of human and spiritual formation to ensure that those formed acquires “a deeper relationship with Christ.”
In the recent past, the management of Bakanja College sent an invitation to all the bishops in the AMECEA region, partners, institutions, friends, alumni, and people of goodwill to the upcoming event aimed at celebrating the success of the college.
The Saturday, October 21, event will be presided over by the AMECEA Chairman Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi Diocese, Zambia, who doubles as the Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
The Silver Jubilee year which was launched in December last year, runs under the theme: ‘Looking at the past 25 years with gratitude, living the present with passion, moving to the future with hope’.
