ST CLEMENT FORMATION HOUSE , 2020
Where is it located?
St. Clement Formation House is situated in Agbowo, in the metropolitan capital city of Oyo State, Ibadan, in Nigeria. It is in the Catholic Archi-Diocese of Ibadan, which is under the bishopric of Archbishop Gabriel Leke Abegunrin. The house lies next to St Thomas Parish in Agbowo, which is also being run by the white Fathers. Actually, the two institutions are separated from each by a block wall. Not far from St Clement Formation is the oldest degree awarding institution in Nigeria, University of Ibadan. The university is just 1.7 kilometers from our house. Other land marks close to St Clement include Bodija Market, Dominican University, Trans-Amusement Park, Catholic Church of Ascension and “the Great Bodija”, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Major Seminary, one of premier major seminaries in Nigeria.
When was it built?
The house was inaugurated in 1998 by Archbishop Job Alaba. The first set of Nigerian students was housed at Saints Peter and Paul seminary in Bodija. Later, in 1980s, they moved to 19 Rotimi Williams Avenue House, which they rented. In the July of 1998, after St Clement Formation House was built, they moved to Agbowo. The house was named Clement in 2016 in honor of the first Nigerian Confrere, Fr Clement Alekwe, who died of cancer in Tanzania. Actually, it was Fr Clement who supervised the construction of St Clement Formation House.
What is our Mission?
St Clement is a pre-phase house in the four stages of formation (Philosophy, Novitiate, Stage and Theology). Its main purpose is to accompany and initiate young men, who are aspiring to be priests and brothers, to the mission, charism and life style of our society.
What is our Vision?
In line with the charism of our society, our desires are to form missionaries who can continue;
work of primary evangelization
work of dialogue with Islam
work of ecumenism
work of Justice and peace
work for integrity of creation
work of encounter with ATR
work of formation of the laity (catechists and prayer leaders)
youth ministry
campaign against slavery
mission to the migrants
Students at St Clement Formation House
At the moment, there are fourteen students at St clement formation house, eight Nigerians and six Ghanaians. Each year, the number increases or decreases depending on the number of aspirants admitted and also on the capacity of the house. The current students are almost finishing their one year pre-phase programme, very soon they will be recommended to start the first stage of the four stages of formation programme, which is four years of philosophy. Thereafter, in August or September a new set of students will be invited to go through the same process. This goes on every year. Students from Ghana-Nigeria province do their philosophical studies at Spiritan University, in EJisu, Nkumasi Ghana. The idea of bringing our students from Ghana and Nigeria together before they start the first phase is to expose them to internationality. Community life is an essential aspect of our identity as the Missionaries of Africa. Right from the beginning, our founder, Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, wished us to live in the communities of three. He wanted us not only to witness to the love of God, but also to support each other as brothers, “confreres”. It is because of this that we introduce our aspirants to the aspect of community life already at the early stage of their formation, so that they can be used to it. We make it clear to them that they should learn to discern and live their vocation with others, “Esprit de corps”.
Contact Details;
St Clement Fomartion House,
Adeshola Iroko Close, Agbowo, Ibadan,
P.O. Box 19460, 200 005
Ibadan
Activities
Students undergo a holistic formation at St Clement Formation House. They are formed both spiritually and humanly, so that they can become holistic persons. Spiritual information involves personal and community prayers, mass, liturgical input, spiritual direction and apostolate. On the other hand, human formation includes sports, manual work, class room work and other activities that are mental, social, physical and psychological.
Author; John William Nkhoma