30th April 2021 was another momentous day in the life of St. Clement College, an Institute of Philosophy at Nagaon, Assam. During the Convocation ceremony held on this day, 25 students were conferred the course completion certificate by His Grace, Most Rev. John Moolachira, the Chairman of St. Clement College and Archbishop of Guwahati Archdiocese. The Archbishop was all praise for the Staff and Students of St. Clement College for creating a healthy atmosphere of human formation and intellectual learning. The Chief Guest Rev. Fr. Dr. Johny Jose SDB, Registrar, ADBU, in his convocation address, through Auguste Renoir’s famous saying, “The Pain Passes, but the Beauty Remains” underscored the need to work hard, struggle and challenge life, though sprinkled with pain, for victory and achievement. In the moment of Success, the pain evaporates! Rev. Fr. Sabu Francis, the provincial of the Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales, Guwahati Province, appreciated the members of the staff for their tireless effort in bringing up the seminary and nurturing the students with quality education and formation. He also congratulated the students for their successful completion of the course. The highlight of the day was a skit titled, “What is Life” enacted by the brothers. The Skit through its protagonist sewed together various emotions like – wonder, curiosity, fascination, disappointment, frustration and never ending search- which an average student goes through their three years of life in the seminary as they grapple with the nuances of philosophy.
St. Clement College is finding a place in the North East India as a center of philosophy as well as an Institute of formation. Let us hope that his institute will cater to many more dioceses and congregations of men and women in the days to come. St. Clement Pray for us.
Fr. Emmanuel Uppamthadathil.