This Saturday, Kisubi Minor Seminary of the Kampala Archdiocese celebrates 75 years since its formation.
Also, stakeholders will gather at St Paul’s Seminary, Rushoroza, Kabale Diocese, to celebrate Seminary Day and raise funds for the completion of the school administration block.
When I was a young boy, I wanted to become a priest for two simple reasons. I dreamed of owning a car and building my mother a beautiful house.
With those childhood ambitions in mind, I joined the seminary after completing Primary Seven.
More than 20 years later, I still remember the day I first walked through the seminary gates. It was a mixture of excitement, curiosity, and nervousness.
I had only one pair of shoes, no shoe polish, and no shoe brush. My father had paid my school fees but gave me no money for transport or pocket expenses.
Fortunately, the seminary had no canteen, sparing me the pressure of watching other students spend money I did not have.
As I entered the compound, I was struck by the sight of hundreds of boys my age. Some smiled excitedly, while others clung to their parents with tears in their eyes.
The buildings appeared enormous, but what captured my attention most was the church standing at the heart of the campus. It was a reminder that faith was at the centre of everything.
Like every new student, I had to adjust to an unfamiliar environment. Thankfully, the priests and formators ensured no one was left behind.
They taught us how to pray, participate in Mass, make our beds, respect one another, and live in community.
They did much more than teach lessons in the classroom. They helped form young boys into responsible and disciplined young men.
There was a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood. Older students often became mentors, helping younger boys settle into seminary life.
The friendships forged during those years have endured long after graduation and continue to be a source of support and encouragement.
At its heart, seminary formation is about much more than academic excellence. Through daily prayer, Mass, spiritual direction, and community life, seminarians are guided to grow in faith, character, and self-discipline.
Formation nurtures virtues such as humility, integrity, responsibility, and service to others.
The seminary also provides a structured environment where young men learn the value of time, accountability, and commitment. These lessons remain relevant whether one becomes a priest or pursues another vocation.
Indeed, many former seminarians continue to serve society as leaders in their families, communities and professions, guided by the values they acquired during formation.
In today’s rapidly changing world, where many parents and educators are concerned about the challenges facing the boy child, the seminary also recognises the important role parents play in formation.
Rather than reducing school life to material comforts, seminaries encourage parents to focus on their children’s overall growth and development.
Through regular engagement between parents, formators and school administrators, seminarians benefit from a partnership that supports their academic, spiritual and personal wellbeing.
The seminary seeks to develop intellectual capacity through a strong academic programme while maintaining focus on character formation.
Smaller class sizes often allow for closer interaction between teachers and learners, creating an environment that promotes both academic success and personal growth.
Above all,the seminary remains a place where young people encounter Christ and discover their purpose in life. It is a nursery bed for priestly vocations and a training ground for responsible Christian leaders.
Looking back, what I received at the seminary was far more valuable than any material possession. Beyond academic grades, the seminary introduced me to a world of prayer, discipline, friendship, responsibility, and personal growth.
The true value of seminary formation extends far beyond passing examinations. It is about shaping lives for a lifetime.