Paul Sabaganga Samuel is a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Mwanza. He was born into a farming family and has eight siblings.
"I remember when I was in fourth standard in elementary school, my grandmother, who is a very strong and good Catholic, one day told me that "my grandson, I believe a lot in prayers and I pray that someday you will be a priest. "
I took that statement as a joke, because in our tribe there is a tradition that a grandson and grandfather can make rational jokes to each other. At that time I was 10 years old. Although I took such a statement as a joke, the words remained in my head and were repeated several times.
In the same school, when I was in the seventh standard, the last year of primary education, one day a catechist and a teacher came to our class. After the teacher introduced us to the catechist, the catechist without wasting time, said to the class: "I know that here in the class, you are students of different religions, but as the teacher had introduced me, the parish priest had sent me to find good boys who can join the minor seminary to prepare to become priests. Who do you think can be part of the minor seminary? the catechist asked. The whole class answered, "Paul Samuel." The teacher quickly asked, "Where is he?" I answered standing up, "I am present." Come and write your name here.
Then, after a month, we went to the parish and met with the parish priest where on the same day we were given an exam so that those who passed the exam would be admitted to the minor seminary. We were about 60 students in total with other students from different elementary schools in the parish. We took the exam but only three were selected, I was among those who were selected.
The pastor sent a message to the principal and the principal came to our house to inform us that in the coming year I was to join the minor seminary for ordinary secondary education. That day I was very happy and remembered my grandmother's words. "My grandson I believe a lot in prayer and I pray that one day you will become a priest". Everything went well, I joined the seminary, St. Mary's seminary, Nyegezi Mwanza and I finished my seminary studies very well in 2016.
I then went to advanced education at a government school, Moshi Technical High School, where I studied Physics, Biology and Chemistry as major subjects, with the idea that after finishing my studies I will return to the major seminary.
After finishing high school I had no desire or vocation to join the major seminary because at that time I was only thinking of entering university for my medical studies. In the same year I applied to join the university and was admitted to the university, Bachelor of Pharmacy and got government sponsorship for my studies in the university. Everything went well and I joined the university.
Everything was going well, but after two months at the university, I began to feel that I had escaped from an important mission, at that time I was not settled and I had no peace. Especially when I was in church for Sunday mass: when I saw the priest celebrating holy mass.
I started to feel that I was missing something very important not only for me but also for my fellow Christians and that college was not the right place for me at that time. I tried to seek advice from different friends and even priests and my parents, but they all told me that I had to finish college first and then join the major seminary. I decided to pray for a week and I remember that on the last day of my prayers, I did not eat or drink anything it was Sunday, so that the Lord, God would show me the right path.
Then the following Monday I went to meet the vocation director, Archdiocese of Mwanza and he told me the same thing that I had better finish college because I had already started it. But he added that if I no longer felt like being in college, I was ready to present myself to the Bishop and next year I would join the major seminary for his priestly vocation.
I left the university and joined the diocese as a priestly vocation.
"In 2017/2018 I did a year of formation before the Major Seminary and in 2018 I joined the Major Seminary of Philosophy, Ntungamo Major Seminary for the 2018/2019 academic year. When I was in my second year at the major seminary, my bishop told me that I had to prepare for priestly formation and studies in Spain.
This year, I have come for priestly formation in Bidasoa and studies at the University of Navarra. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all the prayers and financial help that you so generously give us to achieve our formation and studies in Spain. Thank you for your kindness in supporting us in these difficult times. May the Lord grant you his blessings and grace in all your activities."
