By Godwin Abedican

Arua

While presiding over the swearing in and handover ceremony of the prefects at Saints Peter and Paul minor seminary Pokea in Arua city during the 64^th feast day of the seminary named after the two saints, the Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, Bishop ordinary of Arua Catholic Diocese urged the student leaders to always take on their roles in the prefecture with a lot of zeal as it shapes their future and the picture in which the diocese will be seen after their formation and ordination into priesthood.

The bishop noted that whatever people will see in the diocese is founded at Pokea seminary since that is where most of the priests in the diocese begin their formation from. “We have a lot to do to give good image of this diocese. This institution reflects the image of the diocese of Arua. We should learn to share the good things we do because that will be the good news that people will see in us in every aspect of church life” Bishop Odoki said. 

The bishop further calls upon every Christian in the diocese and beyond to at least be able to do something that contributes towards making a seminarian a good priest in the future as the responsibility of nurturing priests lies in the hands of all.


Bishop Odoki while addresing the students and seminary stake holders

Rev. Fr. Richard Eneku the Vice Rector and electoral commission chairperson of the Sts. Peter and Paul minor seminary, appreciates the level of maturity seen in some of the student leaders “I can guarantee you that there is the future of the church in these young men. The church has a future in these young men. With the new prefects as they assume the responsibilities vested upon them, we have agreed and taken it upon ourselves in a bid to respond to Pope Francis’ call Laudato Si that has a faction on care for our common home the environment, to each plant a fruit tree on our compound here and look after it to see to it they survive and grow” he says.     

Hon. Dr. George Didi Bhoka, the Member of Parliament for Obongi constituency who doubles as the chairperson of the Old boys of the school pledges full support to the alumni in nurturing the student leaders to ensure easy administration of the seminary “The prefects play a key role in supporting the seminary administration in ensuring discipline among the students community.

One of the things that we would like to encourage is that, the prefects that have been sworn in should not just be left to gamble with administration and leadership. They need to be inducted on their roles and responsibilities and one of the roles of the alumni should include instilling discipline among the prefects so that the prefectural body supports the seminary administration in ensuring good morals and good discipline in the seminary. That also requires us to work closely with the seminary administration” Bhoka noted.  
      
Recounting on his term of office, Lonjino Dramadri the outgone head prefect of the seminary says much as together with his cabinet they planned to do a lot, much still remains that he handed over to his successor especially the issues of discipline and the failure to undertake the tree planting projects at the school.

Francis Adomati the incoming head prefect pledges to take on environment conservation at the school as the priority of his regime as well as working closely with the seminary alumni for guidance towards achieving his plans within the year of leadership

A total of 102 prefects with some doubling in some positions took oath to serve the seminarians as prefects for a period of one year.

COVER PHOTO: Bishop Odoki presiding over the handover of files By Godwin Abedican