The inaugural ceremony commenced with the hoisting of the house flag and singing of the jubilee anthem. Rt Rev Joseph Aind, the Bishop of Dibrugarh hoisted the flag amidst a huge mixed gathering of seminarians, ex seminarians, brothers, priests, nuns, and staff members of the formation institute. The major events of the jubilee will be held on October 24, 25, 26 and 27.

 

Northeast India’s first formation house celebrates its golden jubilee year

The seminary dedicated to St Joseph was established on January 19, 1962. Fr R Dalzovo who was the Vicar General of the diocese took the initiative to start the formation house. Fr U V Mathew, appointed as the first Rector of St Joseph Seminary was entrusted with the care of the seminarians. The foundation stone for the new seminary was laid on March 19, 1964 by Rt. Rev. Orestes Marengo, the first Bishop of Dibrugarh diocese. Fr Andrew Vadakapadam, Fr Paul Punneliparambil and Fr Abraham Orapankal, belonged to the first batch of the seminarians. The total capacity of the seminary then was 138. 71 students belonged to the diocese of Dibrugarh and the rest were for the Kohima-Imphal diocese. Out of some 1800 students who passed out from the formation house, at least 164 have been ordained priests.

Fr U V Mathew, the first Rector and founder of the first formation house (St Joseph’s Seminary) of North East India, during the opening ceremony of the golden jubilee year urged upon the assembled clergy; seminarians, and other church personnel to be like Christ.

Fr U V Mathew, also called the grand father of the seminary exhorted the gathering, stating that the clergy were set apart by God and so are required to be like Christ. “You have to be like Christ, which means you have to speak like Christ, think like Christ and act like Christ. You have to be like Christ in thoughts, in words and in deeds,” the first Rector of the seminary reiterated.

Ripunjoy Das