Tombura-Yambio Diocesan Senior Seminary Opens its doors to Regular Students

“St. Joseph Senior Seminary is situated in a very remote place where basic infrastructure is still lacking. There are no secondary schools in the area and parents usually have to take their children to town in Yambio and other places so that they can access secondary education,” Bishop Hiiboro explained adding that the move to allow St. Joseph Senior Seminary to admit non-seminarian students is meant to promote secondary education in the area.

“Although a seminary is meant for seminarians and for preparing young people who desire to become priests; our St. Joseph Senior Seminary is at the level of secondary school and endeavors to prepare students and make them suitable for higher learning institutions within the country meaning that the students sit for the national examinations of this country,” the Bishop explained.

Bishop Hiiboro explained that the gesture is a historical and a repeat of what he did some time back as a young priest.

“When I was a young priest in the Central African Republic between the year 1995 and 2001, my then bishop permitted me to allow children who were not necessarily seminarians, both boys, and girls to study in our seminary. And these students who studied with our seminarians are doing wonderful work in their communities,” the Bishop explained adding that it is the same thing he has permitted to happen in his diocese.

“I am opening the doors of our senior seminary for ordinary students to study alongside our seminarians. They will follow the rules, the regulations, and the requirements that are already in place and while the seminarians will be boarding, the ordinary students will be day scholars.”

The Bishop further expressed that these students who will be admitted will have the privilege of benefiting the good educational system, the teaching methods, and the dedication of all the teaching staff as well as the high level of discipline that is characteristic of seminary education.

Bishop Hiiboro is optimistic that the move will not result in any unpleasant incidences as the institution is currently working on measures that will ensure that all goes on well. He urged, therefore, urged the parents, the committee that would be set up, and the board of governors for the seminary to help the rector and the teachers in the seminary to assist the seminarians so that should there be any misunderstanding or anything which might not be proper, the community will put their hands together to resolve it and allow the students to study harmoniously.

“This has worked elsewhere, and I strongly believe that it will work for us too,” Bishop Hiiboro expressed adding that the initiative is one of the best gifts the diocese has to offer to this remote community where the seminary is situated.

“This means that parents will not have to go far away to search for secondary education as has been the case. Many parents usually have to rent houses for their children as they study away from home or have them live with relatives. This poses numerous challenges to the parents who are forced to use their limited resources to ensure that they cater to their children while they stay in town centers. Additionally, having the children stay in rented houses alone in town is in itself a risk to many of these young ones as they are vulnerable to child abuse predators,” Bishop Hiiboro further explained.

He sees the opening of the seminary to ordinary students as beneficial to the community and hopes that it will continue to be a reward and a blessing for this community of St. Joseph Saura.