I was born in Ttimba Village, in the Diocese of Kasana-Luwero, to a Catholic mother and an Anglican father. I am the firstborn in a family of five children. Growing up in a household of mixed Christian traditions, I was exposed to both Catholic and Anglican practices. Over time, however, it was the Catholic faith that began to resonate more deeply with me, even as I remained under the influence of both traditions.
In 2008, I made a life-changing decision—I converted to Catholicism. I was baptized and received the Sacrament of Confirmation at Lwaggulwe Parish in the Diocese of Masaka. That moment marked a major turning point in my spiritual journey.
My earliest inspiration to serve God came through an Anglican pastor. Her passionate and powerful sermons stirred something in me, and as a child, I often thought,
When I grow up, I want to be like her—to stand before people and share the Word of God.
Later, I was enrolled in a nearby Catholic school. One day, the school chaplain, Fr. Polycarp Ssebbowa from Natyole Parish, visited us. He was lively, joyful, and deeply engaging with children. He wore a yellowish cassock that left a lasting impression on me. That day, a new dream took root in my heart—I wanted to wear a cassock like his, to become a priest, a missionary, and to share God’s love with the same radiance.
When I shared my dream with my parents, they did not receive it well—especially my father, who reminded me that priests do not marry. He dismissed my aspiration, and from that moment, I kept the calling quietly tucked away in my heart.
Though I was forbidden to attend Catholic Mass—even though the church was just a few steps away—I continued nurturing my desire. My mother went to the Catholic Church on Sundays, while the rest of us attended Anglican services. Eventually, I drifted away from church altogether and began spending Sundays playing football with friends. I tried to bury the call I felt within, believing it was impossible to pursue priesthood as a non-Catholic.
During my Senior One year, financial hardships forced me to drop out of school. I stayed home for nearly a year. It was during this period that God sent a beacon of hope—a Catholic sister, moved by our family’s situation, pledged to support my education through Senior Six. She owned two secondary schools rooted deeply in Catholic spirituality. We prayed together, joined charismatic prayer sessions, and listened to student preachers. These moments rekindled my faith and gave me a new sense of belonging.
It was in that environment that I decided, once and for all, to become Catholic. I no longer feared my father’s reaction. After learning about the Eucharist and its profound spiritual meaning, I yearned to receive it. I understood that receiving the Eucharist was receiving Jesus Himself—entering into perfect communion with Him.
I joined catechism classes, and after much prayer—especially through the Rosary and a novena to St. Jude Thaddeus—the parish priest agreed to baptize me, despite earlier concerns about my age and the absence of parental consent. Receiving the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confirmation were moments of immense grace in my life.
From then on, I attended Mass regularly. Once a month, I would walk nearly 30 kilometers to attend Eucharistic Adoration during the Sacred Heart Movement’s gatherings. My love for God deepened, and with it, my desire to become a priest was reignited. Though I initially kept my conversion a secret from my father, he eventually found out. It caused a painful rift, and when I told him I wanted to join the seminary, it felt to him like the worst possible news. Still, I remained undeterred. I prayed every day for the conversion of his heart and entrusted my journey to God.
At Namugongo Parish, I became an altar server, later joining the choir and a prayer group. These communities became my spiritual home, nurturing my faith. I eventually shared my vocation story with Fr. Joseph Muwonge, who became my spiritual director and helped me discern God’s call more clearly.
After completing Senior Six, I was referred to the Congregation of Holy Cross by Sr. Lisa of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross. She introduced me to Fr. Luke Muhindo, C.S.C., the vocations director. I initially approached Holy Cross thinking only of becoming a missionary. Fr. Luke explained,
In Holy Cross, we are a religious congregation. We live as a family in community, profess vows, share everything in common, and own nothing individually.
I asked if I could still serve as a missionary, and he assured me that Holy Cross is an international congregation, serving God’s people around the world.
I was admitted to the Holy Cross postulancy program in 2016, beginning my journey of formation toward priesthood. Three years later, I entered the novitiate—a year that laid the spiritual and emotional foundation for the person I am today. Though the solitude was challenging, it deepened my prayer life. I fell in love with silent prayer, which became my daily connection to God.
After making temporary vows, I began my theological studies—demanding, yet filled with grace. The Eucharist, the Rosary, and the support of the community gave me strength and perseverance. Upon completing my studies, I was assigned a pastoral year at St. Felista Utegi Parish in Tanzania, where I applied everything I had learned, growing in faith through service.
Looking back, I can now say with conviction: God’s ways are not our ways. He led me through fear, rejection, and hardship to reveal His purpose for my life. It has always been Him—guiding, shaping, and walking with me.
Today, I joyfully proclaim:
This is my God, and I will praise Him. (Exodus 15:2)
— Seminarian Katongole Ronald, C.S.C.
Shared with gratitude by the Vocations Office, Congregation of Holy Cross, Province of East Africa
