Mathias Msonganzila is a young seminarian from the Archdiocese of Mwanza, in Tanzania. It was born in 1999, in Nyamangana, on the shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake on Earth, located between Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. At only 23 years of age, this young man left his country to study at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross - thanks to a scholarship from CARF, Centro Academico Romano Foundation - which supports him in his formation. He is studying the philosophical biennium, before enrolling in the Baccalaureate in Theology. He is a very diligent young man, always with a smile, very kind and, at the same time, attentive to the administrative, spiritual and academic requirements that every seminarian and student must take into account. He tells us his story in this July which, with over 40 degrees, has been the hottest in Rome's history.
"It is a great joy to be able to share something of myself with those who are helping me in this beautiful and difficult process, which is to leave the life I knew to come to the other side of the world, and to open my mind to new knowledge and new experiences.
I was born on September 23, 1999 in the district of Nyamagana, which is in the city of Mwanza. There were six of us in my family and I was the third. However, my youngest brother passed away at the age of two in 2007, so on earth in total we are five, two brothers and three sisters, but one of us, the sixth, is already in heaven. I have spent my childhood in Lwanhima village with my parents: my mother, Letisia Msonganzila, and my father, Faustine Luswetula, who passed away in 2018″.
"I was baptized in 2000 in the parish of Nyegezi, and received my first communion and the sacrament of confirmation in 2009 in the parish of Mkolani. I come from a very Catholic family, as my parents have always been very religious and have educated us in the faith and in the doctrine of the Catholic Church.
I entered the preparatory seminary of St. Gregory the Great of Sayusayu in 2013, and then entered the minor seminary and finished my high school education there, advanced level, majoring in physics, biology and chemistry studies. I have always loved science, but the desire to be a priest has been within me since my childhood, which pushed me to be closer to the Church and as a child, I was an altar boy in our chapel in Lwanhima.
God was the one who encouraged me and led me to enter the minor seminary to pursue my studies, where I was able to my thirst to become a priest was increased by the observation of a few very attentive priests and devotees, who made every effort to offer their service in spite of the scarcity of means of our poor reality and the difficult general situation".
"In particular, at the boys' seminary of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, which was a new seminary, with many things still to be completed, and with only two priests who faced the heavy burden with courage. This example was a breakthrough in my vocation, because it made me realize and feel the need to work in the vineyard of the Lord because there is much need.
Therefore, after completing secondary education, in July 2020, two months later, I informed my mother about my decision to join the seminary to become a priest and she gave me her permission. This helped me to go ahead and share my decision with the vocation director, whereupon I formally requested to join the Archdiocese of Mwanza formation house in Kawekamo, where I stayed for almost a year.
Mathias Msonganzila is a young seminarian from the Archdiocese of Mwanza, Tanzania. He is 23 years old and the third of six siblings. The youngest died at the age of two and is already in heaven. He comes from a Catholic family whose parents have educated them in religious values and faith. "The thirst to become a priest was driven by the observation of some very attentive and devoted priests, who were trying their best to offer their service despite the scarcity of means in our poor reality and the difficult general situation," he recounts.
"In May 2021, I was informed by the bishop about the possibility of studying in Rome, and I immediately began to prepare everything necessary to travel in July. I left Tanzania on July 30, and arrived in Rome safe and sound by the grace of God on July 31, and the same day at the International College Sedes Sapientiae. At this International Seminary I attended the Italian language course for two months and, later in October, I began my studies. of first year of philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome".
"My diocese, which is located in the city of Manza and is witnessing a remarkable increase in population which is accompanied, on the other hand, by a high degree of decline in moral values with other social problems such as drug abuse. However, the Church, and particularly in my diocese, is trying to overcome these difficulties by opening more parishes so that religious services are available to the people in the various places. The church also engages in lecturing and encouraging meetings for young people in order to teach them how to behave in the various tasks of their lives, and to prevent them from getting involved in things that lead to the deterioration of the moral conduct of our society. This involves teachings about religion and also to keep the faith alive in everyone."
"Thanks to my benefactors of CARF - Centro Academico Romano Foundation. Sometimes it may be normal for a young European to have the opportunity to be educated in such a prestigious university as the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, but I can assure you that it is not so for the people of my country: His help has allowed me to have the opportunity to study in Rome and to share my life and my faith with other young seminarians from all over the world. So truly, my wish is that God blesses you in your daily work and keeps that wonderful heart in you".
Gerardo Ferrara
BA in History and Political Science, specializing in the Middle East.
Head of the student body at the University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
