Multi pertransibunt et augebitur Scientia.
Many will travel and knowledge will be increased.
Citing Daniel, 12:4 on his title page of the Novum Organum (1620) Lord Francis Bacon is suggestive that, yes, knowledge acquisition is a methodical process devoid of pure apriori deductions as a means of discovering truth in Natural Philosophy. In his philosophical trend of thinking he states “Now my plan is as easy to describe as it is difficult to effect. For it is easy to establish degrees of certainty, take care of the sense by a kind of reduction, but to reject for the most part the work of the mind that follows upon sense; in fact, I mean to open up and lay down a new and certain pathway from the perceptions of the senses themselves to the mind” . Thus for Lord Bacon, the emphasis on beginning with observation pervades his entire work. The journey to knowledge acquisition / wisdom, begins by observation, builds upon that empty mind [“tabula rasa”] right from infancy all through the formative years to Adulthood. The candidates to Alokolum National Major Seminary have their opportunity to pursue multiple, methodical acquisition of knowledge / wisdom through the three cycles of their philosophical intercourses. By the time the candidates complete their third cycle, they are commissioned, graduate with an Internal Diploma and a Baccalaureate Degree in Philosophy of the Urban University – Rome. Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary distinguishes as one of such Higher Education Institution (HEI) of the resident Catholic Church in Uganda with the sole objective and purpose of training and forming to the Catholic Priesthood the qualifying candidates. As an affiliate to the Pontifical Urban University, the institution offers academic education wherein the successful candidates, after their third cycle are awarded the Bachelor Degree in Philosophy of Urban University. Owned by the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), Alokolum Seminary is one of the four National Major Seminaries owned and controlled by the Uganda Conference of Bishops. Most candidates to this learning centre do come from all dioceses (parts) of Uganda, the others do come from dioceses from foreign countries e.g. South Sudan and even Kenya. In terms of its quality assurance, Uganda Martyrs’ Alokolum National Major Seminary is regulated by the wealth of the basic principles and guidelines on academic matters, among other aspects of holistic and priestly formation outlined in documents issued by the central authority of the Catholic Church in Rome which are universally binding for all institutions of priestly formation for the entire Catholic Church, inclusive the local UEC. These major documents include:
- Decree on the training of priests, optatam totius, Vatican II, 28th October 1965
- Apostolic exhortation, “I will give you shepherds”, Pastores Dabo Vobis, by Pope John Paul II, 25th March 1992
- “The gift of priestly vocation”, Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, by the Congregation for the Clergy, 8th December 2016
- Decree on the reform of Ecclesiastical Studies of Philosophy, by the Congregation for Catholic Education, 28th January 2011
- Seminary Charter for Priestly Formation, by Uganda Episcopal Conference, November 2009
It is for this matter that I take this opportunity to welcome all the visitors to this website to consciously engage not only with the administration of our learning and formation institution, but with the candidates and all the stakeholders in our formation network as well. For the candidates interested in methodical growth in knowledge and stature, consider coming to Alokolum National Major Seminary – Gulu and your knowledge will increase as we form to Serve for The Common Good “Pro Bono Communi Laboramus”.For the complete rooting in to the dynamics of the realities of our local population/country, Uganda Martyrs Alokolum National Major Seminary is also being accredited by the Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in Uganda and Eastern Africa.
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