11/01/2026
2026 NASPID RESOLUTION AT BIGARD MEMORIAL SEMINARY, ENUGU.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS (NASPID) OF THE CATHOLIC MAJOR SEMINARIES AND HOUSES OF FORMATION IN NIGERIA GATHERED AT BIGARD MEMORIAL CATHOLIC MAJOR SEMINARY, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE FRaOM JANUARY 5, 2026 TO JANUARY 9, 2026 FOR THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE WITH THE THEME: "SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND THE JUBILEE OF HOPE”.
PREAMBLE
The topic of this year’s Conference of Spiritual Directors reminds us that hope is a deep confidence in God’s faithfulness, even in the midst of suffering. We see this Jubilee Year of Hope as a spiritual journey to a sacred place in order to renew commitments to God and others. At the Conference we have 36 Spiritual Directors from 17 Major Seminaries, Male Houses of Formation and Spiritual Year Seminaries in Nigeria.
We came up with these resolutions to furnish the Nigerian Church about the new development in spiritual direction in Nigerian Seminaries anchoring our hope in the truth that God’s love for us will never come to an end. At the end of our 5-days meeting, the Conference came up with the following resolutions.
RESOLUTIONS
1. Spiritual Direction occupies a central place in Christian life and priestly training. It is a prayerful relationship that help individuals become more attentive to how God is working in their lives, especially through prayer, daily experiences, and interior movements of the heart.
2. Spiritual Directors play critical roles in shaping matured, discerning and Christ’s centred seminarians. They help the seminarians to recognize the inspiration of God’s grace and arrive at the end to which God is leading them.
3. We reiterate the need for proper training of Spiritual Directors so that they can function effectively.
4. Spiritual Direction and the Jubilee of Hope are like two sides of a coin. This is because both of them assure us that fatalism is not a good road to follow, and that despair has no place in Christian life. Hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).
5. Formation team should acknowledge and accord spiritual activities its prime place in the formation program and give spiritual Directors necessary support. On days of sacrament of confession, manual labour or games should not be scheduled so that the full participation of the seminarians will be experienced. There should be no interruption on days of any spiritual exercises.
6. Some present day seminarians question the relevance of Spiritual Direction and other religious activities. It is necessary all the time to acknowledge that spiritual Direction is a prayerful encounter with God that helps us to become more attentive to the work of God’s grace in our lives through prayers, Confession and frequent participation in the Eucharistic celebration.
7. We realize the eroding of faith among the young ones in the Church. In order to reinvigorate the faith of the people priority should be laid on their spiritual and faith formation in the parishes, especially the young ones instead of concentrating solely on building structures.
8. In moments of challenges, seminarians should find Hope in spiritual direction. The Director uses the Jubilee as a framework to help seminarians on how God's redemptive love works through suffering, making them to see Christian meaning of human suffering.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We appreciate the presence and active participation of the Spiritual Directors from the various Seminaries, Males Houses of Formation and Spiritual Year for their presence and commitment. We thank Bigard Memorial Seminary, the Host for their great hospitality. We thank the Bishop of Enugu Diocese. His Lordships Most Rev Callistus Onaga, for his powerful and inspiring homily and for his generosity. We thank the Bishop in charge of spiritual Directors in Nigeria, Most Rev Prof. Godfrey Onah and Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria for their guidance, supports and encouragements.
CLOSING
We reaffirm our unity, our shared vision and commitment to the growth and spiritual development of our seminarians and the people of God. We continue to be beacons of hope to our seminarians even as the Jubilee of Hope has ended our hope does not come to an end. We, therefore, implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope and Patroness of Nigeria in our ministry as Spiritual Directors.
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Rev. Fr. Dr. Paschal-Paul OKEKE
(National President)
