Don Théogène Ndagijimana comes from Rwanda and is a priest of the Diocese of Nyundo. He discovered his vocation thanks to his family and is studying at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.

"I am Théogène Ndagijimana, a diocesan priest of the Diocese of Nyundo in Rwanda (Africa). I was born on July 11, 1988 in Bwishyura-Karongi, (Rwanda), and I grew up in the same region. I have no doubt that the Christian education I received in my family is the main root of my priestly vocation. However, every life does not last without being nurtured, so my Christian life was nurtured by participation in the Mass and family prayers that we had at home. 

After my first communionI started serving at Mass as an altar boy. This helped me to observe the priests of our parish, who did their best to bring hope to the community wounded by the genocide against the Tutsis in 1994. Seeing the priests giving of themselves in this way, while some were orphaned and witnessing the death of their loved ones in the most atrocious way, I wondered how I too would contribute to this work of God to bring life back to such a wounded society as ours.

After elementary school, I had the opportunity to enter the minor seminary, where I had enough time to meditate on my vocation, pray and observe. At the end of my studies in the minor seminary, I wrote to our bishop a letter of request to enter the major seminary. After a year, he responded positively.

During the course of the major seminary, I spent my vacations in many parishes and there I also learned a lot about the ministry that awaited me. As you can see, many things have contributed to nurture and strengthen my vocation.

We are all members of the same Body and that is why I want to thank the benefactors who help us so much. I would also like to ask you to pray for me, so that I may be faithful and serve the Lord in this difficult task of reconciliation in my country".