By Robert Kigongo

Young men always aspire to serve in the Lords Vineyard (LUK 10:12) this requires eligible and suitable candidates who eventually join seminaries, but not all candidates are ordained as diaconate and priests but many priesthood candidates don’t make it to the end of the road but this leaves with them stigma, depression, mental breakdown, a misfit in job-market and society.

The meaning of being a priest is very clear from Hebrews 5; “Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for Sins (Heb.5; 1) It’s very important to note that the first priest is Simon peter Jesus Christ’s apostle and founder of Catholic Church.

Priests are both Ministerial and Non-Ministerial in a threefold that includes preaching, sanctification and governance in that order.

 A priest diocesan priest In Konge parish stated “My Main duty is to connect Christian pilgrims to God as sinless children in heaven. 

Another priest stated “The First priest was Simon Peter himself therefore the reason Why am chosen is to represent Peter “The Simon Son of John”.

My journey and vocation started with admiring priests’ attire in mass and serving God at the Holy altar, “later in Senior One I gladly joined minor seminary and later major seminary, however the dream was shattered prematurely. 

Mr. John Kabonge (not real names) a parent to former Seminarian served as the head of Laity in Kindu Parish took his Son Miiro Juilian to Bukalasa Seminary without necessary seeking consent from a young innocent son but simply because “for parents, it’s a prestige in society for one to have a seminarian or a priest in his family”. 

A seminary is a formation house for mentoring, teaching and training Priests, ministers or rabbis.

The decisive seminary stage is the Major Level where they offer Diplomas, Degrees in Philosophy and Theology, Liturgical studies, Liturgical studies that introduce a Priest candidate to the most critical duties and life of priesthood; however, if one does not become a priest it's very hard for him to fit into the Job market.

My observation here is that the number of priest candidates that make is very minimal due to different circumstances.

I remember when I joined Kisubi Minor Seminary we were 90 in Class by Senior three we were 37 students overall after the Major Seminary only 7 made it priesthood and this is the highest number in our golden Class, this is just a statistic of the bigger picture. 

Unfortunately, the number of “Former “Seminarians is overwhelming than their priest counterparts who made it to priesthood, majority leave prematurely or expelled or discontinued at different levels with the biggest number existing at Minor that is Kisubi, Kitabi, Nyenga, Nandere, Bukalasa Seminaries a majority expelled at senior two, and after senior five respectively.

In Major seminary it’s at Pastoral work and last years before Diaconate. 

In Seminary every term, year the rector and teaching priests make reports for each single student noting his character, attitudes, aptitude, behaviors, piety and this information is reconciled at the end of each term to inform the decisions whether a student should be expelled, discontinued, repeat class;

Mr. Joseph Wagaba (not real names) says “My Mother was the reason I joined the Seminary, she died while was still on my priesthood journey, school fees became a challenge and Brian left however to-date is still facing stigma whenever he sees a priest.

 A former seminarian states the reason he left the pursuit to priesthood was the Parish Priest that refused to sign his report card which was mandatory his pursuit to priesthood came to end leading him daily alcohol consumption due to stigma. 

At major Seminary Priesthood candidates are dismissed, expelled at pastoral work mainly and before one becomes a diaconate or priest which is more heartbreaking than the junior and minor seminary level. 

 Mr. Ssebamala John (Not real names) was dismissed from a national major seminary for unknown reasons. 

Parents, benefactors to seminarians get so extremely disheartened, bitter and disappointed because they view priesthood as a prestige in family, wealthy people who drive nice cars, who can take care of siblings and parents in old age.

There are former seminarians who have made it as first class citizens contributing to infrastructure development, National Development Plan III of Uganda and Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

For instance, J.C Muyingo the Educationist and Minister of Education for higher learning, Peter Jimmy Sentongo “SPIRE’ shaping national matters, Gen. Kahinda Otafire the Minister of Internal affair, Vincent K. Musubire the Deputy Principal private Secretary to Vice President of Uganda

  Unfortunately, majority of former seminarians seem to be suffering from stigma, depression, resentment feelings, Lifelong regrets, mental health and family breakups. 

In today’s world the challenge is the same everywhere “Each one for himself but Church or Seminaries, Benefactors, parents and parish priest should know that even those who did not make it priesthood a child of God who deserve our love, they are deacons or Servants of God. 

Former Seminarians remain deacons of faith, hope and love, the Church must fellow up, make track record, be taken on beautifully accompanied with Counseling, rehabilitation and given a chance over and over again. 

I see this situation very similar to myself, that prejudice must end, and we give a second chance, love and care. 

Alternatively, the Major Seminaries and the catholic church should introduce safe spaces for former seminarians and parents interaction sessions.

Lastly, provide social entrepreneurship capacity-building programs with 21st-century skills in order to be employable elsewhere or self-employment.

The writer is a former Seminarian

Robertinez07@aol.com