Africa's First Seminarian John Cross Anyogu

John Cross Anyogu was the first African seminarian admitted to a seminary exactly 100 years ago, on July 23, 1924. In 1912, John Cross and his brother approached Father Shanahan, expressing their desire to become priests. At the time, there were no African priests in the Vicariate of Southern Nigeria, and no plans were in place to establish a seminary.

Due to the lack of secondary schools in the region, in 1913, John Cross and his brother were sent by their father to England to receive their secondary education. Unfortunately, John's brother Luke later lost interest in becoming a priest.

When John Cross returned from his studies in England, there was still no seminary or institution where he could pursue his philosophical and theological studies. Father Shanahan initially sent him to a school in Ogoja to teach, requiring him to trek on foot between parishes, working as a catechist.

Finally, on July 23, 1924, a seminary was founded in Igbariam, and John Cross was admitted as the first seminarian. He was ordained a priest in 1930.
After his ordination, an interesting incident occurred. One day, a man in Onitsha saw Anyogu and ran up to him, staring intently. When Anyogu asked how he could help him, the man simply said in
broken English, "I say, make I come look you." Anyogu later recounted this story to the seminarians during his first retreat with them in 1930.

Following his priestly ordination, Anyogu became the first bishop of Enugu.

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