A swift delve into the history of the Catholic Church reveals her intellectual cum spiritual treasures and heritage which, though deeply rooted in Christ, are evident in the life and works of renowned personalities, with particular reference to Thomas Aquinas, Augustine, Anselm, Justin de Martyr, and a host of others. The preoccupation of these icons of Christian faith is geared towards a fuller knowledge and understanding of the nature of God and the sacred mysteries. This quest, which is chiefly the goal of theology, has continued up till this present time, evident in the various platforms, through which the Church seeks to appreciate the teachings of the Christian faith. It is within this ambience, therefore, that the National Association of Catholic Theology Students (NACATHS) finds its relevance.

The renowned association, NACATHS, is not alien to the Seminary of Ss. Peter and Paul, Bodija, as the body consists of major seminarians who have begun their studies in Theology – as part of the requirements to the Catholic Priesthood. However, the 13th – 20th of May, 2018, was marked with a different atmosphere in the Seminary community, as the NACATHS organized her one-week long celebration, wherein various activities ranging from the spiritual, intellectual and social spheres were organized in appreciation to God for the successful running of the affairs of the association during the 2017/2018 academic/formation session. Included in the activities of this period was a symposium on the 15th of May, 2018, where the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Francis Veritatis Guadium was exposed by four theology students of the seminary – Francis Ikechukwu Isaac, Fatimehin Alexander, Chidozie Valentine and Amakhodike Damian. The document which was signed on the 8th of December, 2017 and was promulgated on the 29th of January, 2018, is an update of the 1979 Apostolic Constitution Sapientia Christiana. The new norms, which it presents, are to take legal effect on the first day of the 2018/2019 academic/formation session, and are binding on 289 ecclesiastical faculties and the 503 related institutions that issue Vatican-recognized degrees. This accounts for the choice of this document for exposition during the NACATHS week, as the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul is included in the aforementioned institutions.

Furthermore, the 17th day of May, 2018 witnessed a football match between the members of the Philosophy department (NIMSAPS) and the members of the Theology department (NACATHS), which ended 0 – 1 in favour of the theology students.

Remarkable also was the lecture, held on the 18th of May, 2018. The paper which centred on the extent to which Christians are expected to involve in politics without compromising the demands of their faith, was delivered by Rev. Fr. Ezekiel Owoeye, of the Archdiocese of Ibadan, and ably moderated by Dr. Remi Aiyede, of the University of Ibadan. It was indeed an enriching encounter that had the presence and active participation of priest-formators, lecturers, seminarians of various religious communities and those of Ss. Peter and Paul. The week-long celebration attained its terminus with the sublime celebration of the Holy Mass and thanksgiving session on the 20th of May, 2018. The memories of this event would indeed linger in the hearts of its observers.