The seminarians of St. Bernard Seminary Hostel recently concluded their canonical retreat, centered on the deeply inspiring theme, “The Wonders of Catholic Priesthood.” The retreat was moderated by the seasoned spiritual director, Rev. Fr. Dr. Godwin Orji, whose insights illuminated the sacred mystery and profound responsibility of the priestly vocation.

Throughout the retreat, Fr. Orji led the seminarians into a contemplative rediscovery of the priesthood not merely as a function, but as a divine configuration to Christ the Eternal High Priest. He emphasized that the Catholic priesthood is a sacred gift, marked by spiritual authority, sacramental grace, and a call to deep intimacy with God through service to His people.

Key highlights from his conferences included:

• The Priest as a Living Sacrifice: Drawing from Romans 12:1, the moderator invited seminarians to embrace a life of total self-giving, modeled after Christ's own sacrifice on the cross.

• Agents of Divine Wonders: He reminded the seminarians that through the hands and words of the priest, bread becomes the Body of Christ and sins are forgiven wonders that flow not from man but from God through the priestly office.

• The Priesthood as a Mystery and Mission: Fr. Orji challenged the young men to deepen their love for the Church, recognizing that to be a priest is to carry both the mystery of Christ and the burdens of His people.

The retreat was a time of silence, prayer, personal reflection, and renewed zeal for the seminary journey.

VOTE OF THANKS BY THE SECOND AUXILLIARY ON BEHALF OF THE SEMINARIANS

St. Augustine once said, ‘You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.’
And truly, FR. this retreat gave our restless hearts a chance to rest again—rest in truth, rest in grace, and rest in God’s voice through YOU.

BROTHERS I PERSONALLY OBSERVED ONE THING THIS PERIOD WHICH IS

“The voice of God does not always come in fire or thunder. Sometimes, it comes gently through one man’s words. And in this retreat, that man was our moderator, Fr. Godwin Orji.”

With deep gratitude and joy, I stand on behalf of everyone here to say thank you, not just with words but with hearts that have been touched, corrected, and strengthened.

And Father… I must say this with full heart: I knew you before. Back in 100 level, you were my Spiritual Theology lecturer. You always came early to class. You taught with clarity and conviction. But back then, we were young. All that mattered to many of us was CA and exams. We didn’t look beyond the marks. But during this retreat, I saw you again. And this time, I really saw you.

What I encountered these few days was not just a lecturer, but a rare soul. A priest soaked in God. A man whose life preaches louder than his voice. I realized the stories we used to hear about you weren’t exaggerations—they were true. Many of us have read your books—filled with powerful spiritual life stories. Personally, I can testify to the impact. I’ve read those books over and over again, and I say this now with hope: Father, please give us more. We are hungry for more. The generation coming after us needs what you carry.

This retreat has been nothing short of divine. It reminded us that the priesthood is not just a position—it is a sacred call to sacrifice, to obedience, and to a life patterned after Christ Himself.

Through the teachings, the stories, the Scriptures, and the real-life examples that Fr. Orji shared with us, we have come to understand that the priesthood demands everything—your time, your desires, your comfort, and your very self. We saw the powerful example of the humble priest who gave up his car and trekked to serve the people in riverine areas, who lived with only a mat and served the sick with herbal remedies, and who was still killed while living a selfless life. Through that story, and many others, we were reminded that priesthood is not glamour—it is cross-carrying. We cannot fake it. If we are still holding on to people or things that God has asked us to let go of, then we are not yet ready.

Father reminded us that the priesthood is not a path we choose for ourselves. It is a calling—a divine election. God calls in His own way, just like He called Samuel directly, and Elisha through Elijah. And when He calls, He expects a full response. Not a halfhearted one. Not a delayed one. But a sincere surrender. And with that surrender comes grace, even though challenges will surely come.

Fr. Orji also opened our eyes to the cost of obedience. Just like Abraham obeyed and received blessings for generations, when we obey seminary rules and God's instructions, we position ourselves for His favour. But we were not promised an easy road. Even Jesus passed through Calvary. So when we experience pressure, persecution, or hardship, we must remember that it’s part of the process. What matters is that we do not let go of God.

We also talked about chastity and celibacy, not as burdens but as blessings. Father taught us that chastity makes our minds sharp, our prayers deeper, and our hearts free to love God fully. He warned us against the dangers of pornography, wrong friendships, and the distractions of social media and gadgets. He reminded us that the drive for sex is a lifetime battle for a man, and that purity must be protected daily through grace, humility, and constant prayer. We learned that the priest who is not humble cannot be chaste, and the priest who is not prayerful is vulnerable.

Prayer itself was emphasized again and again. Without prayer, we cannot stand. We were told that a priest who stops praying becomes dry, weak, and easily attacked by the devil. It is through prayer that we gain strength, spiritual insight, and the ability to help others. Father shared stories of miracles, protection from kidnappers, and testimonies of God’s faithfulness—all tied to a strong prayer life.

From all these teachings, we were reminded that what we are now is what we will be in the priesthood. So if we are not serious now, we will not suddenly become serious later. The attitude we show in seminary—towards prayer, discipline, our brothers, and our calling—is the same spirit we will carry into ministry.

Dear Father Orji, you didn’t come to us with fancy words or flowery speeches. You came with the truth. Truth wrapped in stories, Scriptures, and experiences. You made us laugh, think, cry, and most importantly—repent. We truly thank you for not holding back. You gave us yourself. You poured out your spirit. You showed us the beauty and the burden of this calling. And for that, we are grateful.

To everyone present, let us carry this fire with us. Let us return to the seminary not just as students, but as men on a mission. Let us not forget that this call is not a joke. We are called to be set apart, to be holy, to be faithful even when it hurts. That is what priesthood is. That is what this retreat has reawakened in us.

And finally, to our dear retreat moderator—Father, silver and gold we have none. But like Peter told the man at the temple gate, what we have, we give. We may not be able to reward you in the way your sacrifice deserves, but we shall still present a small token of appreciation, just to say: We see you. We honour you. We thank God for you.

May God continue to strengthen you. May your oil never run dry. And may heaven reward you far beyond what we ever could.

Thank you, Father. And thank you, everyone.