UPDATE FROM THE PRESIDENT
HABEMUS PAPAM (WE HAVE A POPE): On May 8, 2025, the whole world awaited news of a new pope after white smoke was seen billowing from the
President
roof of the Sistine Chapel. With excitement and surprise, we heard that an American, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, had been elected as the new pope, taking the name Leo XIV. We thank God for the guidance of the Spirit in the election of Pope Leo XIV. As a Jesuit-Catholic institution, we are following closely the vision of the Holy Father. His choice of name Leo XIV was inspired by Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addresses social justice issues and workers’ rights during the Industrial Revolution. Pope Leo XIV wants the Church and her institutions to address “another industrial revolution and developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labour.” Learning and pedagogy take place at Jesuit Memorial College through a digital world. Pope Leo XIV clearly indicates he will continue the vision and legacy of Pope Francis. Therefore, in addition to issues of ecological justice, human solidarity, just wages, and social justice, we will be paying attention to the ripple effects of artificial intelligence in the education of our Phoenixes in the twenty-first century.
81 CANDIDATES CONFIRMED BY THE APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR, PATRICK ELUKE, AT OUR LADY OF THE WAY CHAPEL: On Sunday, May 18, 2025, the Apostolic Administrator of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Eluke, visited Jesuit Memorial College and confirmed 81 Phoenixes. Congratulations to the newly confirmed Catholics and their parents. We thank God for the gift of His Spirit of renewal to the church. We are grateful to Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Eluke for paying us his first visit as Apostolic Administrator and for celebrating the first Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Way. We thank the Chaplaincy Team, student catechists, and staff catechists for preparing the students to receive the sacrament of confirmation. We are also grateful to all the parents who donated various gifts to the college before and during the Confirmation Mass.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CLASS OF 2025 FOR STELLAR PERFORMANCE IN UTME: We congratulate the Phoenixes of the Class of 2025 for their stellar performance in their UTME (JAMB). About 90% of them scored above 300 in the examinations, with the highest scoring 366 points. We continue to pray for them as they conclude their WASSCE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CLASS OF 2028 FOR THE COMPLETION OF JUNIOR SCHOOL: We thank God for the successful completion of the 2025 BECE for the JS3 students (Class of 2028). This was followed by their Career Week Programme. We wish them the best as they contemplate their internship programme and look forward to senior school.
WORKERS’ DAY CELEBRATION: JMC is blessed to have a wonderful and dynamic staff and faculty. May 1, 2025 (Feast of St. Joseph The Worker) was a day for all staff to pause, reflect, pray, play and celebrate. Our College Community of staff and students celebrated Workers’ Day with a Thanksgiving Mass, staff march past, dances, games, award ceremonies, and lunch. For all of us (staff, parents, alumni, stakeholders), work is essential to our human dignity and life. We thank God for giving us the grace and health to keep working for the common good and our common home. We thank all staff and parents for the different works they do to create a better future for the Phoenixes and for the nation. On that day, we also offered the Mass for Pope Francis and our fallen heroes—staff who have gone before marked with sign of faith.
FESTIVAL OF CULTURES: On Sunday, May 25, 2024, the Phoenixes, dressed in colourful traditional costumes, had a memorable Cultures’ Day celebration, which started with a Thanksgiving Mass. The scriptural readings, prayers, and songs were well rendered by the Phoenixes in different Nigerian languages. Each ethnic group had their thanksgivings. Additionally, the Class of 2025 had a thanksgiving for their brilliant success in the 2025 UTME, while the Class of 2028 had a thanksgiving for the successful conclusion of their BECE. After Mass, the Phoenixes showcased different aspects of our rich cultural heritage through drama, songs, dance, stories, and folklores. The college staff gave support and guidance to the Phoenixes during the preparation for the festival of cultures. The entire school community had a festive meal to mark the Cultures’ Day.
CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION: Our Children’s Day celebration began with a Mass for the Phoenixes of our secondary school and a separate Mass for the pupils of our primary school on May 27, 2025. Our children, the hope of humanity, enjoyed fun fair, sports, and varied picnic boots, and festive meals. We bless the Lord for their talents, potentials, promise and the hope they bring for a brighter and happier nation.
LOOKING AHEAD—PTA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ET AL: All parents and teachers are reminded that there will be a PTA general meeting on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. This will be followed by the second visiting day on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Prior to the PTA General Meeting, the PTA National EXCO will meet on Friday, June 27, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. in the Conference Room of the Administrative Centre. All Parents’ Association branches (Abuja, Akwa-Cross, Enugu, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Owerri-Onitsha-Umuahia, and Warri) are expected to meet before the PTA General Meeting. Each PA branch shall briefly present its annual report, vision, and schedule of activities during the PTA National EXCO and the PTA Annual General Meeting. Weeks prior to the PTA meeting is the Open Day and Club Exhibition on June 7, 2025, followed by First Visiting Day on June 8, 2025.
ANTICIPATING THE GRADUATION CEREMONY: We are all looking forward to the graduation of the Class of 2025 on July 6, 2025. The Graduation Mass Celebrant is the pioneer Bishop of Katsina Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Mamman Musa. Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Common Sense Revolution), Chairman Silver Bird Group, will be our Keynote Speaker. You are invited. The Graduation Mass and Graduation Ceremony will take place at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Way.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR JMC GO GREEN HOSTEL PROJECT: The capital Campaign for the Green Energy Project for the Girls’ Hostel and Boys’ Hostel has been launched across all PA branches. I thank the PTA Vice Chairman Mr. Uche Ogelle, the Chairman of the Green Energy Fundraising Committee Chief Clovis Okereke, the Secretary of the Green Energy Committee Fundraising Committee Arc. Abioye Ayeni, all PA Chairs, and all parents for their generosity and efforts in ensuring this project becomes realized. Please, all JMC parents should continue to cooperate with their PA Chairs and the Green Energy Committee in their goal to raise funds for sustainable energy in the Phoenixes’ hostels. I encourage all parents to support fundraising drive by identifying with any of the four listed categories: Platinum Supporters (Five Million Naira and above), Gold Supporters (One Million Naira and above), Silver Supporters (Five Hundred Thousand Naira and above), Bronze Supporters (Two Hundred Thousand Naira and above). The proposed Gala Night is kept on hold till a huge percentage of the funding for the project has been realized before the end of June 2025. The Green Energy Planning Committee desires that the Gala night will essentially be a night of celebration and a night of gratitude to the benefactors of the green energy project. The fruits of this campaign is in honor of Pope Francis—a champion of a greener and sustainable world.
CHAPEL UPDATE: We are grateful to God for the progress in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Way. Thank you all for your generosity towards the development of this chapel. We thank all previous donors who continue to give their time, talents, and treasures. We thank the CEO and Founder of Amadeus University, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, for facilitating the provision of granite rocks for the chapel floor. We thank Chief Ikenna Okafor, CEO of KEVES, for the donation of twenty-five million naira for sanctuary and altar of Our Lady of the Way Chapel. We also thank a family who donated two million naira to sponsor the tabernacle of the main chapel. As was clarified during the Confirmation Mass, the chapel is far from complete. We are looking for donors for two jumbo screens to the right and left of the crucifix. These giant LED screens will be used to display the Word of God, sacred songs, homilies, and images of saints for the engagement of Phoenixes during daily Masses. Each costs about 10 000 USD. We are also looking for sponsors for the furnishing of the Chaplain’s Office, Altar Server’s room, Choir Room, Sacristy, chapel auditorium and balcony, as well as electrical works and restrooms. A JMC family, anonymous, has taken over sponsorship of the Tabernacle for the Blessed Sacrament in the main Chapel with the support of two million Naira. Another JMC family, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Uzoude, is sponsoring a similar Tabernacle in the smaller chapel/oratory behind the main chapel with the support of 2.3 million naira. May God bless all our benefactors for our new chapel and replenish their accounts a hundred fold We encourage everyone to continue to make generous donations to Jesuit Memorial College, First Bank 2024616041. THANK YOU.
AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM
(FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD