My name is Benedict Fredrick PatrickMy father's name is Fredrick Patrick Nyundo and my mother's name is Edwina Evarist Muzi. I am the second child born among the nine children in my family, of which seven are boys and two are girls. I was born on August 7, 1998 in Kibondo district, Kigoma region in the country of Tanzania.
My diocese is Kigoma and my bishop's name is Joseph Mlola. I studied primary education at Nengo elementary school, my secondary education at St. Joseph Iterambogo Seminary in Kigoma Diocese and finally I finished advanced level studies at St. Mary's Nyegezi Seminary which is in Mwanza Diocese in Tanzania.
Since my childhood I liked to go to church to collaborate as an altar boy and chat with the parish priest. After finishing primary school, I had the opportunity to go to the seminary where my vocation grew stronger.
Holy celebrations such as celebrating the Holy Mass The daily confession, the retreat and living the fraternity with the priests made my vocation grow more and I had the desire to wish to be a priest someday.
Benedict Fredrick Patrick tells us about the main apostolic and social needs in Tanzania, especially in his diocese of Kigoma. "There is a great need for many priestly vocations and many young men who like me, do not have enough capacity in their families to help them get better education in the seminary where they could find a good environment to nurture their vocation."
As a result of My family was not able to financially support my studies, Patrick Mahinja who, knowing my family's condition and my vocation intention, allowed me to finish the seminary, although without paying all the required fees.
After all that, the light of my vocation continued to be lit thanks to my Bishop Joseph Mlola who, together with another sister named Sr. continue with the Seminar at an advanced level.
Later I entered the propaedeutic seminary for a year in the diocesan priestly vocation formation house, to discern my vocation as a priest at the service of others. Thanks be to God, in the year 2021 my Bishop sent me to Spain to the University of Navarra for philosophical and theological studies. May God help me to attain the priesthood.
The main apostolic and social needs of my country, especially of my diocese of Kigoma, are the following: there is a great need for many vocations to the priesthood and many young people who, like me, do not have enough capacity in their families to help them get a better education in the seminary where they could find a good environment to nurture their vocation.
But also, many places do not have enough priests to give people spiritual services to strengthen their faith and see God in their lives, which also influenced my vocation a lot.
"I would like to thank my bishop, my formators in Bidasoa and in a special way CARF and all the other benefactors for being our sponsors for our studies at the University of Navarra."
Bidasoa is a very good place to live and to see God. The people live more in brotherhood, helping those who need help and the people are very humble. As for the formators, they are all very good and always help us to grow spiritually and physically with a lot of charity. I like living in Bidasoa.
I would like to thank God for this gift of a priestly vocation. I would also like to thank my bishop, my formators here in Bidasoa and in a special way CARF and all the others. benefactors for being our sponsors for our studies here at the University of Navarra. May God bless you.
Marta Santín, Journalist specializing in religious information
