Blogs
Kisubi Seminary at 75: Catholic seminaries raise responsible citizens
Beyond making priests and bishops, Catholic seminaries have played a crucial role in formatting well-disciplined law-abiding citizens.
Robert Kigongo is a sustainable development analyst and former seminarian at Kisubi Seminary
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
______________________
OPINION
By Robert Kigongo
I join laities, priests and the rest of the world to celebrate 75 years of Christ the King and St Charles Lwanga Minor Seminary, Kisubi in Wakiso district.
Seventy-five years ago, as the Catholic faith cemented her expansion in Africa in 1951, the White Missionaries led by Archbishop Louis Joseph Cabana established an excellent formation and education centre in a remote hilly and very thick forest alongside Lake Victoria for the purpose of preparing young boys to become priests. Gladly, Cabana’s new magnificent centre became a legacy of educational excellence, innovation and a discipline hub.
Before the bounty celebration, I first joined synergies with my former classmates at Kisubi to register our kind and financial support to the seminary’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
Meanwhile, as we addressed the platinum students, my thoughts went back 25 years ago, when I first reported to the compound of Kisubi Seminary with a metallic suitcase and small-inch mattress among other utilities to begin my priesthood journey.
Upon cross-checking, I had forgotten a slasher, gumboots, a hoe, fork and brooms as a boy raised in the suburbs of Kampala! I was white shocked why a school insisted a young lad present farm items instead of counting the number of books and pens I had carried.
Anyways, I later presented them, but before Senior One classes kicked off, we had two weeks of orientation about the dos and don’ts in a seminary, including table etiquette, maintaining silence, time keeping, anger management and learning the piano.
Among the co-curricular activities, it was the manual labour that hit me so hard. “Kumbe! That’s what the hoe, fork, gumboots and slasher were for!"
However, I can testify that the mandatory manual labour among the dos nurtured me into a hardworking, persevering, innovative and resilient man that I am today and so are many priests and former seminarians.
Meanwhile, as we addressed the platinum students, my thoughts went back 25 years ago, when I first reported to the compound of Kisubi Seminary with a metallic suitcase and small-inch mattress among other utilities to begin my priesthood journey.
Upon cross-checking, I had forgotten a slasher, gumboots, a hoe, fork and brooms as a boy raised in the suburbs of Kampala! I was white shocked why a school insisted a young lad present farm items instead of counting the number of books and pens I had carried.
Anyways, I later presented them, but before Senior One classes kicked off, we had two weeks of orientation about the dos and don’ts in a seminary, including table etiquette, maintaining silence, time keeping, anger management and learning the piano.
Among the co-curricular activities, it was the manual labour that hit me so hard. “Kumbe! That’s what the hoe, fork, gumboots and slasher were for!"
However, I can testify that the mandatory manual labour among the dos nurtured me into a hardworking, persevering, innovative and resilient man that I am today and so are many priests and former seminarians.
Studies went on and so did life, but guess what? I did not become a priest like a few of my classmates. I instead became part of the statistics of the many young boys across the world who join seminaries with ambitions of serving in the Lord’s vineyard but never make it to priesthood for various reasons.
Regardless of how I left the seminary or how others made it to priesthood, one thing in common is at least we all acknowledge, appreciate and commend the role the seminary played in shaping us into quality responsible citizens that serve God and humanity in different capacities.
First and foremost, seminaries play a cardinal role in formatting Catholic priests who later return to our communities for spiritual nourishment, moral guidance and social development that benefits everyone regardless of faith, gender, race and ethnicity.
I am so sure we have all certainly witnessed Catholic priests running schools, healthcare facilities, libraries, sports, recreation centres and steering environmental protection and humanitarian services.
For instance, Kisubi Minor Seminary alone has produced close to 700 priests and out of these numbers, there are five bishops, including the current chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference Joseph Anthony Zziwa, Papal Nuncio Augustine Kasujja, Matthias Ssekamanya of Kiyinda Mityana, the late John Baptist Kaggwa (former Bishop of Masaka_ and Lawrence Mukasa of Kasana Luwero — all of whom have transformed communities in various ways.
Beyond making priests and bishops, Catholic seminaries have played a crucial role in formatting well-disciplined law-abiding citizens that are shaping different public sectors, entrepreneurship landscape, diplomatic relations, multimedia and different professionals.
I am a living example of what the seminary offers. I have never evaded taxes nor been caught in a corruption scandal, and most importantly, I am one of the leading writers in major leading dailies in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Oh yes, if you are in doubt, just Google Muck Rack/Robert Kigongo.
You may have heard of John Chrysostom Muyingo, the acting Minister of Education and Sports (and higher education state minister) and his outstanding individual contributions in the education landscape of Uganda.
There is also Prof. Justinian Tamusuza of Makerere University and Prof. Peter Kimbowa, a Harvard University lecturer, founder of CEO Summit Uganda and former board chairperson of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
The list of quality noblemen transforming society that have been formatted by Kisubi Seminary and other seminaries is endless.
For someone who is not a Catholic or an atheist may ask, what do these so-called seminaries even do? Are they even still necessary in this AI age and time? Well, let me enlighten you: seminaries play a critical fundamental role in shaping quality responsible citizens with very high self-conscience, integrity and decision-making that any organisation or society needs to flourish.
Quote me well: "Priests and former seminarians make the best human resource".
Again, if you are doubting, visit Centenary Bank Uganda or examine how the Catholic Church is organised as an institution for the last 900 years.
Catholic seminaries continue to be the footnote of a tradition fostering distinctive disciplined responsible citizens with humility, integrity, high morals and ethics in this ever degenerating world of immorality, impunity and indiscipline.
Wherefore, as Kisubi Seminary celebrates 75 years of existence, Archbishop Joseph Cabana’s vision-turned-into-a-legacy is now our full responsibility.
(Robert Kigongo is a sustainable development analyst and former seminarian at Kisubi Seminary)
Regardless of how I left the seminary or how others made it to priesthood, one thing in common is at least we all acknowledge, appreciate and commend the role the seminary played in shaping us into quality responsible citizens that serve God and humanity in different capacities.
First and foremost, seminaries play a cardinal role in formatting Catholic priests who later return to our communities for spiritual nourishment, moral guidance and social development that benefits everyone regardless of faith, gender, race and ethnicity.
I am so sure we have all certainly witnessed Catholic priests running schools, healthcare facilities, libraries, sports, recreation centres and steering environmental protection and humanitarian services.
For instance, Kisubi Minor Seminary alone has produced close to 700 priests and out of these numbers, there are five bishops, including the current chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference Joseph Anthony Zziwa, Papal Nuncio Augustine Kasujja, Matthias Ssekamanya of Kiyinda Mityana, the late John Baptist Kaggwa (former Bishop of Masaka_ and Lawrence Mukasa of Kasana Luwero — all of whom have transformed communities in various ways.
Beyond making priests and bishops, Catholic seminaries have played a crucial role in formatting well-disciplined law-abiding citizens that are shaping different public sectors, entrepreneurship landscape, diplomatic relations, multimedia and different professionals.
I am a living example of what the seminary offers. I have never evaded taxes nor been caught in a corruption scandal, and most importantly, I am one of the leading writers in major leading dailies in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Oh yes, if you are in doubt, just Google Muck Rack/Robert Kigongo.
You may have heard of John Chrysostom Muyingo, the acting Minister of Education and Sports (and higher education state minister) and his outstanding individual contributions in the education landscape of Uganda.
There is also Prof. Justinian Tamusuza of Makerere University and Prof. Peter Kimbowa, a Harvard University lecturer, founder of CEO Summit Uganda and former board chairperson of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
The list of quality noblemen transforming society that have been formatted by Kisubi Seminary and other seminaries is endless.
For someone who is not a Catholic or an atheist may ask, what do these so-called seminaries even do? Are they even still necessary in this AI age and time? Well, let me enlighten you: seminaries play a critical fundamental role in shaping quality responsible citizens with very high self-conscience, integrity and decision-making that any organisation or society needs to flourish.
Quote me well: "Priests and former seminarians make the best human resource".
Again, if you are doubting, visit Centenary Bank Uganda or examine how the Catholic Church is organised as an institution for the last 900 years.
Catholic seminaries continue to be the footnote of a tradition fostering distinctive disciplined responsible citizens with humility, integrity, high morals and ethics in this ever degenerating world of immorality, impunity and indiscipline.
Wherefore, as Kisubi Seminary celebrates 75 years of existence, Archbishop Joseph Cabana’s vision-turned-into-a-legacy is now our full responsibility.
(Robert Kigongo is a sustainable development analyst and former seminarian at Kisubi Seminary)