All roads led to Umuowa Orlu on April 23, 2014 as the Catholic Diocese of Orlu celebrated 50 years of existence of St. Mary’s Seminary Umuowa.

The occasion attracted priests and the alumni of the institution including the pioneer students and past rectors from various parts of the world, who came to grace the epoch making event.

The Catholic Bishop of Orlu, His Lordship, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma while delivering a homily described the day as a very special one among the priests, pioneer students as well as the entire diocese. He expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for them to celebrate 50 years of the seminary, the only minor seminary at the time it was created within the province, adding that the seminary has nurtured and produced many priests and other distinguished personalities.

Bishop Ukwuoma maintained that the history of the seminary would not be complete without mentioning the founders and the pioneers, especially Rev. Fr. Richard Thornton (C.S.Sp.) who was the first Rector of the seminary.

He described a seminary as a place where priests are trained to serve God and humanity as well as those who wish to acquire qualitative education, discipline and moral value of a thorough Christian to be useful to their families and the society at large. He however emphasized that its major objective is the training of priests.

He enjoined the public to support the seminary in order to maintain its position as the only school that trains future priests.

The Rector of the school Rev. Fr. Anselm Nzekwe in a speech disclosed that the seminary was inaugurated in 1961 with Rev. Fr. Richard Thornton as the first Rector, who worked hard to achieve the aim of establishing it with the help of the community.

Fr. Nzekwe reiterated the commitment of the management to improve the spiritual, moral, academic standards as well as the well-being of the seminarians, having built a multi-million naira toilet facility with the help of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), refurbishing of two classrooms, hostel and now in the process of building more classrooms and modern computer laboratories as well as bakery among others.

The Bishop Emeritus, Most Rev. Gregory Ochiagha in his remarks enjoined the public never to put money first in whatever they do, in order to achieve the best in life. .

Dignitaries at the occasion included the member representing Orlu/Osu / Oru East in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Jerry Alagboso, Vice-Chancellor, Imo State University Owerri, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie among others.

The high point of the event was an award of recognition to deserving members of the pioneer set and past rectors for distinguishing themselves in contributing towards the growth of the seminary. Those honoured include the Archbishop of Owerri, His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, who served as Rector of the seminary in 1975. He was represented by the Rector, St. Peter Clavers Seminary Okpala, Rev. Fr. Joseph Enyiaka.

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