GRATITUDE
We thank God for guiding and guarding us through another beautiful month of October. A 2024 winds down, thanks to you all for the various ways you support the vision and mission of Jesuit Memorial College. Because of you, the Phoenixes can rise to greater heights.
We thank Mr. And Mrs. Wisdom Nwagwu for the sponsorship of the Ibeawuchi Magnus Nwagwu Yearly Scholarship Award for the Best Student in Mathematics in JS3 MOCK. This is the third year of their sponsorship of the coveted award, which was instituted in 2022. The award is in honour of Mr. Ibeawuchi Magnus who was a gifted Mathematician, but died on September 16, 2007. It is a tuition scholarship award of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00). The third recipient of this award is Nnaemeka Ohaeri (Class of 2027), who won it during the Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 29, 2024. The fund has already been made available to support his tuition fee. Congratulations to Nnaemeka. Other parents who want to institute or endow a scholarship award should not hesitate to contact me via email: president@jesuitmemorial.org.
We are grateful to Mrs. Uzo Ozor for remembering JMC during her visit to the United States. She brought back four brand new Chess sets for the Phoenixes. Chess game is currently part of the Board Game Clubs but we hope to establish a Chess Club. We look forward to more of this kind of generosity in the future. In your travels, whenever and wherever you encounter good musical equipment, sports equipment, good literature, medical equipment, robotic and AI equipment, or anything that will contribute to the education of our students, please remember the Phoenixes!
We thank Mr. and Mrs. Uche Okenyi for the gift of a cow to the Phoenixes during this time of economic meltdown.
Special thanks to the Lagos Parents’ Association Branch for the gift of three million twenty thousand naira (N3,020,000.00) to support the surgery and treatment of a teacher’s child in critical medical condition. We also thank the branch for supporting the printing of our 2024 Inter-House Sports Brochure with the sum of one million five hundred thousand naira (1,500,000.00).
64TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF NIGERIA: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 was a class-free day for members of the college community. We celebrated Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary with Mass, which was presided by the Principal, Fr. Alex Irechukwu, S.J. It was also the Solemnity of Our Lady Queen and Patroness of Nigeria. We prayed for our beloved nation, and the Phoenixes were all dressed up in an array of Nigerian cultural attires. After the Mass, the Phoenixes continued the celebration of our independence with dance presentations, quiz, riddles, jokes, and Mr. and Mrs. Nigeria Beauty Pageant.
NETWORKING VISITS FROM GONZAGA JESUIT COLLEGE, OKIJA: On October 3, 2024, Sr. Jovita Okeifufe, HHCJ, the Clinic Head of Gonzaga Jesuit College, Okija, paid a one-day visit to JMC medical laboratory to gather insights that will help Gonzaga establish its own laboratory effectively. Mr. Chiedu Odeiga, the newly appointed Vice-Principal Student Life of Gonzaga was also in JMC for a three-day internship with our Vice-Principal Student Life, Mr. Jame Eyo. We also welcomed feedback and advice from Gonzaga on ways of improving our students’ life system.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING WORKSHOP: After the World Mental Health Day, Fr. Noel Nwadike, S.J. and Mrs. Grace Evuen had a safeguarding workshop at JMC for two days (October 11 and 12, 2024. The first day was for the Faculty and Non-Faculty Staff, while the second day was for the Junior School and Senior School Students. The theme of this year’s workshop was “Safeguarding Our Mental Health and Wellbeing”. It provoked a lot of thoughts and discussions among Phoenixes and Staff. Fr. Nwadike, S.J. also stayed back for some days to meet individually with staff and students. We thank Fr. Nwadike, S.J. and Mrs. Evuen for the depth and positive impact of this workshop on our college community.
MOTHER OF JMC PTA VICE-CHAIRMAN LAID TO REST: On October 12, 2024, some members of the JMC Community paid their final respect to the beloved mother of Mr. Uche Ogelle, Vice Chairman of the college Parents-Teachers’ Association. After the funeral service by the Methodist Church, Ezinne Beatrice Ejije Ogelle (Nee Osundu) was laid to rest in Amaokwe, Item, Abia State. She died at 89, so it was also a celebration of life. May she continue to rest in peace.
LOSS OF LIFE IN JMC FAMILY: Nelson Nyebuchi, a Basic 3 pupil of Jesuit Loyola Academy, lost his dad, Mr. Nyebuchi Wobo, on September 19, 2024 while Victory Chibonotu (a Basic 2 pupil) lost her dad, Mr. Chibonotu Wosu, on October 11, 2024. May the souls of Mr. Nyebuchi Wobo and Mr. Chibonotu Wosu rest in peace; and may God’s rays of consolation shine on the families they left behind.
INDUCTION OF NEW PARENTS IN LAGOS AND LAGOS PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION MEETING: On October 5, 2024, the new parents of the Lagos Parents’ Association Branch were formally inducted into the Lagos PA after a comprehensive orientation by the Chairperson of the branch, Mrs. Adaeze Ocho, and the her EXCO Team. We congratulate the new parents! On October 12, the branch met at the Lagos Resource Centre, Victoria Island for their first general meeting for this academic year.
DAY OF RECOLLECTION FOR JMC HEADS OF DEPARTMENT: The Heads of Department (HODs) of the college had a day of recollection as on Saturday, October 26, 2024. It took place at St. Ignatius the Pilgrim Chapel (attached to the Jesuit Residence). The theme of the recollection was “Where Are You?” It involved talks, personal prayer, reflection, group sharing, and Mass. We thank the Chaplain, Fr. Uche Oguike, S.J., for directing this premier recollection of JMC HODs.
PORT HARCOURT PARENTS’ DAY OF RECOLLECTION AND INDUCTION OF NEW PARENTS: On Saturday, October 26, 2024, the Port Harcourt Parents’ Association Branch had a day of recollection at the Pastoral Centre, Port Harcourt. The retreat director was Fr. David Ogun, S.J., parish priest of St. Joseph Mukasa, Abuja and Counsellor at Loyola Jesuit College. The theme of the day was “Proper Parenting, Holistic Education, Formation and Training of Children, A Recipe for an Ordered Society”. Fr. Ogun, S.J. shared from his wealth of expertise in Clinical Psychology, Human Development, Family Therapy, and Adolescent Psychology. He also met individually with some couples. The recollection ended with Mass presided by Fr. Ogun, S.J. The Chairman of the branch facilitated the induction of the new parents. Congratulations to the new parent of the Port Harcourt PA.
WARRI PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION MEETING: The Warri Parents’ Association Branch had their first meeting for the academic year on October 27, 2024. The meeting took place at the residence of Dr. Clement Emudainowho, the Chairman of the branch. The Chaplain, Fr. Uche Oguike, S.J., attended the meeting as a school official.
A NEW WELL OF HOPE AT JMC—CHAPEL UPDATE: There has been a deep longing for Our Lady of the Way Chapel to be roofed. The college community even had a 33-Day Novena of Our Lady of the Way last academic year praying fervently for this. It has been a steep journey, but gradually, there is light at the end of the tunnel as the roofing commences. The twenty heavy aluminium fins have all been lifted and installed to form a cornice. The aluminium dome and aluminium cross have also been lifted and installed. Alumaco boards are being installed on the “sky well” created by the array fins. This will help direct natural light from the glass dome into the centre of the chapel. With the aluminium profiles installed around the thirty trusses, we await the covering of the chapel with aluminium cladding sheets and long span aluminium sheets. Please continue to pray for the progress of this major Catholic architectural landmark in our Jesuit-Catholic institution. It will be a centre of prayer and worship for the Phoenixes, Staff, Parents, and friends of JMC.
6TH ANNUAL INTER-HOUSE SPORTS ON NOVEMBER 16, 2024: Many thanks for your generosity of hearts to the college during the past Inter-House Sports Competitions. Sports is part of our cura-personalis for the future of the nation (our Phoenixes), and we are strong proponents of the maxim—mens sana in corpore sano—a healthy mind in a healthy body. November 16, 2024 is our 6th Annual Inter-House Sports Competition. As we look forward to the day, please be reminded that we want to optimise time during the ceremony, which is billed to start by 9:00 AM. We therefore appeal that all parents of the various Parents’ Associations branches be seated at their tents before this time. Saturday November 16, 2024 is NOT a visiting day. Sunday, November 17, 2024 is the visiting day. On the day of the Inter-House Parents, the PA branches can bring food only for parents and not for any student. There will be no food vendors, but the PA branches can arrange their own food with catering services. Please be mindful that alcoholic beverages and single-use plastics are prohibited during our Inter-House Sports Competitions and Visiting Days. Thank you for your cooperation and generosity. We count on your prayers for a successful Inter-House Sports Competition.
AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM (FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD)