“I will give you shepherds after my own heart.” (Jer 3:15) In these words from the prophet Jeremiah, God promises His people that He will never leave them without shepherds to gather them together and guide them. The Church, the people of God, constantly experiences the reality of this prophetic message and continues joyfully to thank God for it. In Uganda today, the number of young men desiring to serve God as priests has risen. Every year over 300 young men apply to be admitted to the Major Seminary, but only 150 young men are received for formation.

The subject of “family patterns in Africa” is so broad that it cannot be adequately addressed in a few lines. The cultural and physical diversity combined with the dramatic social changes of the last three decades on the continent makes family patterns so variegated.

So my short description of the African family is only a partial view of a complex reality – because Africa is plural and it has complex realities. I am going to limit my explanation to the understanding of Ugandan families, which I believe share a lot in common with other African families found in other countries.

CARITAS For Children also has sponsorship programs to support the education of Catholic sisters and seminarians studying for the priesthood. A dynamic young man named Frank Lwanga Kyazze has had his seminary education supported by CARITAS For Children for several years. He has truly become part of the CARITAS family. He goes out of his way to look out for the children in our child sponsorship programs and serves as their mentor. We asked him to introduce himself to our global CARITAS family and write about his calling to the priesthood. — Ed.

My name is Kyazze Frank Lwanga. I hail from Nkokonjeru Parish. I am the son of the late Mr. Emmanuel Lwanga and the late Mrs. Margret Tusaba Lwanga. I have eight siblings, three girls and five boys. Currently, I am undertaking my theological studies at St. Mary’s National Major Seminary Ggaba, and am in my third year. I am a seminarian belonging to Lugazi diocese.