The October Synod of Bishops not only covers young people, but also the vocational calling on their life. One seminarian explains a little bit about his call to one day be a priest.
This seminarian's vocation story started from the very beginning. Coming from a very religious family in Tanzania, Africa, he had a good background and the growth of the Church in country to assist him.
DEOGRATIAS NYAMWIHULA
Seminarian from Mwanza, Tanzania
“Soon I started to feel like God is calling me, but I was feeling like it is, like I was a child, no, I was not thinking straight in life. My friends told me, 'maybe because you are a kid... you don't know what you are thinking about.' For me actually, it was something very serious. Unexplainable. I could not even explain how. For me, I can explain like it's like a love. You cannot explain in details, but you know that you love. ”
He describes it as a love that grew over the course of his life, due in part to the example of others.
He says in his country of Tanzania, vocations are growing, and the number of faithful are multiplying. His archdiocese of Mwanza is among the top three with most seminarians and he has an inkling why that is.
DEOGRATIAS NYAMWIHULA
Seminarian from Mwanza, Tanzania
“I can say maybe from good examples from those who are priests already or maybe from the cares of those who are caring for vocations for the young people. Because the vocations of young people are very strong and the young people are taught to love the Church, to love their faith. So someone can discover that God is calling him.”
This strong religious community also helped him when he was discerning his call. He originally told his parents about his desire to be a priest, but they directed Deogratias to speak to the priest in his archdiocese. He says the help he received there, motivated him for his future
DEOGRATIAS NYAMWIHULA
Seminarian from Mwanza, Tanzania
“From my point of view, I would like to work with young people. Not because I'm young, but because there are so many people who helped me in my life and to reach where I am now, and I think I can do the same. I think if you want to change the generations, you should not go to old people. Go to young people, full of energy. And you can change, from the point of view of faith, from the point of view of life; and you can do something great.”
Deogratias has been in seminary since he was 19, nearly 10 years, and says he is still discovering more of what God wants from him every day. That's why he advises young people to take the time to listen, and expect to be surprised of where God can lead.
