Vedastus Martine Machibula is a seminarian from the Archdiocese of Mwanza, in Tanzania.
He was born in a small village and was raised in the Catholic faith by his mother. Vedastus used to attend Sunday worship in a small church due to the fact that the parish was a long way from his village.
Sunday worship was led by catechists and they had mass only once a year. This is due to the lack of priests: there were only two to serve more than 30 parishes.
"The fact that the faithful needed a priest for Mass, confession and other spiritual services, but did not get one, made me feel obliged as a baptized person to join the seminary for priestly formation.
I asked God every day to make me a good priest, if he so desired, so that I could serve the people whose affection for me as a priest has never faded today.
I faced some challenges before joining the seminary because my father, although he gave us the freedom to worship, was not baptized until 2016. I thought to myself that if my father was not a baptized person I would not qualify for the priesthood. Thank God, because, after a long discussion, I was allowed to join the seminary".
"I thank all those who have made me be in this wonderful seminary. I express my sincere gratitude for your support in my priestly formation, in fact, without your support I could not be here in Bidasoa.
Be assured of my daily prayers. Together we are part of God's plan for all men to receive the good news".
