Felix Toppo, Bishop of Jamshedpur, hands over the certificate to Pradip Kishore Minj at the convocation at St Albert?s College. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, July 10: All the 17 students who were declared successful in the postgraduate diploma in theology by St Albert?s College today, the largest theological college under the Roman Catholic Church in the country, have opted for priesthood.

At the convocation of St Albert?s College, held at the Social Development Centre on Purulia Road for the 2003-06 sessions, 17 students were conferred with the PG diploma in theology, 20 were awarded the bachelor of theology while all the 40 students who had appeared in bachelor of philosophy examination were declared successful.

The certificates were given away by the Bishop of Jamshedpur, Felix Toppo.

College rector C.R. Prabhu told The Telegraph that the bachelor courses in theology and philosophy are full-time three-year degree courses. For the PG diploma, students are required to undertake an additional year after completion of their bachelor programme.

Of the 17 students who had appeared in the PG diploma in theology, Xavier Topno and J.T. Topno, who scored 83 per cent, were awarded first class with distinction.

Nine other students got first division marks while the remaining six passed in second division.

Of the 22 students who had sat for the bachelor of theology, two students failed to qualify. Ten students got first division, while another 10 were declared passed in second division.

Pradip Kishore Minj and Pradeep Marandi, who scored 76 per cent were awarded first class with distinction.

In the bachelor of philosophy, a three-year degree course, five students got first division while 35 were awarded second division.