I am Fr. Joachim Mugalu, Dean of Studies at St. Mbaaga’s Major Seminary, Ggaba.
I was born on April 8, 1961 to Theodore Balinaani and Paulina
Babirye of Bubanzi village, Buvuma Islands. I am the third born of the
ten children of our family. My father was a primary school teacher and
my mother a housewife.
I started admiring priesthood when I was in P3 at Najja Primary
School, where my father taught. I admired Fr. Zzimbe and the priests
from Nnyenga Seminary, who used to spend their holidays at our parish
(Nnyenga) and sometimes were guests at home. The practice of nourishing
the Catholic faith through the common recital of prayers also
contributed to my gradual unfolding of my call to priesthood.
I thus applied to join Nnyenga Seminary, in 1972, though the
arrangement changed and we were instead taken to Kisubi Seminary. I did
A’Level at St. Henry’s College Kitovu, in 1977, before joining Katigondo
National Major Seminary in 1979. I also studied Theology at the
Pontifical Urban University, Rome, after which I was ordained a Deacon
at Kippenheim, Germany, on July 28, 1985.
I was ordained a priest on February 16, 1986 at St. Mbaaga’s
Seminary, Ggaba, where I was also, shortly after, posted as a teacher. I
nonetheless had to go to Freiburg, Germany for my doctoral studies in
Philosophy. I have clocked made 25 years as a Catholic priest.
I must testify that priesthood is a wonderful and precious vocation,
for which I am grateful to God. Priesthood was an inclination that was
deep in my heart, which is why I feel joyful and satisfied to have
realised it.
Many people ask me about celibacy; true, it is a challenge because
you have to struggle against the natural desires of your body. But I
assure you, by the grace of God, one can remain celibate. Celibacy also
demands utmost commitment and prayer.
Yes, I have spent the greatest part of my sacerdotal ministry
training priests; forming priests is indeed a challenging duty which
demands responsibility. You know, you are dealing with the future
leaders of the Church and it is your duty to prepare them adequately for
this noble responsibility, taking into consideration the increasing
number of truths which are proclaimed to and into society. A trainer of
priests has to be exemplary in what he does and says.
Yes, I have enjoyed my priesthood and I don’t regret becoming a priest.
As told to Mathias Mazinga
|
No comments:
Post a Comment