Love Over Economy: Bishop Onah Challenges Nsukka Seminarians to Shun Mediocrity at Academic Inauguration
Nsukka, Nigeria – Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, inaugurated the new academic year at St. John Cross Seminary on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, with a powerful and resonant charge: “Don’t settle for less when you can have more.”
Presiding over the Mass for the inauguration, Bishop Onah dedicated the academic year to God’s guidance, offering prayers for the students, formators, and all collaborators. His sermon, centered on the theme of striving for excellence, used the Gospel’s parable of the lost sheep to underscore the inestimable value of every human life.
The Gospel of Value: Love Stronger Than Economy
The Bishop emphasized that God’s love transcends all economic calculation and efficiency models. "It is not the will of my Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish," he quoted, reminding the community that divine attention is not driven by numbers but by the immeasurable worth of each soul.
He used relatable imagery—such as a mother duck retrieving a trapped duckling or a mother focusing on her troubled child—to illustrate that “Love is stronger than economy.” This divine focus, he explained, means some individuals require more attention than others, a fact known best by God.
Addressing the seminarians directly, Bishop Onah drew from the parables of the lost coin, lost sheep, and lost son to identify various paths to drifting from God: accident, carelessness, or deliberate choice. He offered two essential attitudes for formation: “If you stray, keep bleating through confession. And when He calls, do not refuse to come. In a noisy world, train your ears to recognize His voice.” He reiterated his central theme to both students and staff: “Don’t settle for less. Some fail because they settle for mediocrity. Every young person counts before God.”
Celebrating Academic and Communal Excellence
Following the formal declaration of the year open, the seminary’s leadership presented an encouraging report on recent achievements. Very Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Odo, the Rector, expressed profound gratitude for the Bishop’s inspiring pastoral example, noting that Bishop Onah continues to serve as a key model for many aspiring priests.
The Dean of Studies, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obinna Odo, announced remarkable academic results for the 2025/2026 academic year, including 95% in WAEC, 98% in NECO, and a perfect 100% in the Latin Diploma. He explained that the year’s theme, “I am because you are, and together we are, because Christ is,” reflects how communal growth reinforces the four pillars of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral.
The ceremony also recognized outstanding students across various fields. The prestigious Rector’s Award was presented to Eze Martin Yagazie, who also secured the title of the overall best student. Other honors included the Best in Government (Herbert Nnadi Award) and the Best in English and Literature (Bishop’s Award in memory of Late Mr. Anyanwu), showcasing a growing spirit of academic competitiveness.
A Call for Humility and Perseverance
In his concluding remarks, Bishop Onah delivered counsel marked by humility and practical wisdom. He warned against excessive praise, urging, “Pray for your Bishop, rather than praise him.”
He commended the dedication of the formators, applauded the seminarians’ growing competitive spirit, and offered timely advice on technology, urging them to make wise use of their smartphones by choosing knowledge over distraction.
Bishop Onah’s final exhortation served as a powerful concluding motto for the year: “We are all still growing. A fully mature fruit begins to decay. Keep striving. And remember—never settle for less when you can have more.”
The inauguration closed with prayers to the Blessed Mother, formally commencing a new year dedicated to discipline, deeper learning, and the essential journey of priestly formation.
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