Timothy Katende is a priest from the diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana in Uganda.
"When I was still an altar boy in the parish called Our Lady Refuge of Sinners in Maddu (Uganda), my parish priest at the time one day brought up the idea if we would like to enter the Seminary after my elementary school in 2005.
I was with other altar boys who were not interested in the idea, but I was, although I didn't tell them at the time.
I thought about it a lot and when we returned home, I told my aunt (I lived with my aunt and uncle after my parents passed away) who liked it a lot but first we had to wait a little bit to finish elementary school well.I kept this idea all my senior year of elementary school and during the vacations, I reminded my aunt about it and we went together to talk about it with the parish priest.
Then I took the entrance test at the minor seminary and the results came out very well. In December 2005 we received the letter of admission to Sacred Heart Seminary Mubende with the list of things we had to buy. There we became desperate because we could not get all the things we needed to enter the seminary. It seemed very expensive and we almost gave up. But when we explained it to the pastor, he offered to help us wherever he could.
On Sundays after mass, the parish priest spoke to the parishioners about the matter and so we were able to get something. So we were able to buy some scholastic articles and I was able to enter the seminary. And once I entered the seminary, my uncles and the parish priest paid my tuition while I was still in the seminary and I remember going back to the house many times to collect the money.
I don't remember paying my tuition in full at one time. It was always done in installments thanks to seminary Rectors who understood my situation and so I was able to finish my six years of minor seminary from 2006 to 2011."
That is why I always give thanks to the Lord who has taken such good care of me and to my aunt and uncle and the parish priest who supported me with the little they had to support me in the seminary. Also to my bishop, the rectors and formators who have always formed me until now.
And I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for having supported my vocation to the priesthood in every way. Without your support I don't think I would have reached where I am now in the fifth year of Theology at the University of Navarra..
Thank you very much and God bless you always".
