RECTORS OF HOLY GHOST JUNIRORATE SEMINARY, IHIALA FROM 1953 TILL THE PRESENT WITH DATES OF THEIR TENURES IN OFFICE AS RECTORS:

Rev. Fr. Wilfred Chamberlain, C.S.Sp was the first Rector of Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala. He held office from 1953 – 1957; Rev. Fr. Christopher O’Brien, C.S.Sp took over from 1958 – 1961; meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Joseph Prendergast, C.S.Sp stood for Fr. O’Brien in 1959 when he went on leave. Rev. Fr. James Breen, C.S.Sp held the post from May 1963 - January 1964.Rev. Fr. James Murphy, C.S.Sp worked as the Rector from 1964 -1966. Rev. Fr. James MacNulty, C.S.Sp took over from 1966 – 1970. It was during this tenure, due to the outbreak of the Nigeria / Biafra civil war, that a great part of Holy Ghost Juniorate structures were converted into sickbay, refugee camp and a feeding center for the Biafran citizens. With the expulsion of the white ex-patriate missionaries from Nigeria by the then Federal Government of Nigeria when the war ended, the management of Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala was left to the indigenous Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers. To these great Spiritan missionaries who have gone before us, may God reward their good works and grant their SOULS ETERNAL REST AND PEACE. AMEN.

The first indigenous Holy Ghost Father to manage the affairs of Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala was late Very Rev. Fr. Aloysius Obi, C.S.Sp, who was appointed Rector from 1970 – 1971. Late Very Rev. Fr. Philip Aguh, C.S.Sp took over the affairs of the Seminary from 1971 – 1972. Late Rev. Fr. Damian Nwanyia, C.S.Sp held the post from 1972 – 1973. Rev. Fr. Lawrence Tete, C.S.Sp was appointed Rector from 1973 – 1975. Late Very Rev. Fr. Aloysius Obi, C.S.Sp was reappointed as Rector from 1975 – 1980. Rev. Fr. Casmir Eke, C.S.Sp took over as Rector from 1980 – 1983. Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Ogbonna, C.S.Sp held the position from 1983 – 1985. Very Rev. Fr. Gabriel Ezewudo, C.S.Sp was appointed Rector from 1985 – 1989. Very Rev. Fr. Josephat Ezeanolue, C.S.Sp was appointed an interim administrator from 1989 – 1990. Late Rev. Fr. Boniface Chilaka, C.S.Sp assumed office as Rector from 1990 – 1993. Very Rev. Fr. Leo Okeke, C.S.Sp was appointed Rector of Juniorate from 1993 – 2005. Rev. Fr. Fabian Adindu, C.S.Sp took over the administration from 2005 – 2012. From February 2012, Very Rev. Fr. Christopher Chukwu, C.S.Sp was appointed to serve as Rector of Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala till date. He came in with a Provincial mandate to rescue Holy Ghost Juniorate, what the then Provincial, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Peter Agbo, C.S.Sp, called “Rescue Mission” of Holy Ghost Juniorate. And to say the least, our Spiritan minor Seminary was a shadow of itself with total dilapidation of her entire physical structures, loss of Spiritan values and objectives as a Seminary. Since 2012 till date, the growth and improvement of Holy Ghost Juniorate Seminary, Ihiala in areas of administration, sound moral, intellectual, physical structures, etc have known no bounds. Very Rev. Fr. Malachy Eleanya CSSp was appointed to be the Rector of Holy Ghost Juniorate Ihiala by the provincial superior, Very Rev. Dr. Greg Olikenyi CSSp from May 1st 2022.

Above all, we keep to mind and appreciate with gratitude the courageous efforts of noble Spiritans who through their administrative skills, have valiantly spurred on the developmental programmes of Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala over the decades; they struggled to navigate and to surmount the huddles, challenges, difficulties and painful experiences in order to keep alive the noble dream of the Holy Ghost Congregation. Holy Ghost Juniorate has progressively risen to great heights through the instrumentality of these erstwhile and able Rectors. God Bless Them! And to those who have gone before us into eternity, may God grant their souls eternal peace and rest. God Bless Holy Ghost Juniorate! God Bless the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and her members! God Bless the Catholic Church.