Br. Charles’ desire to become a priest began to grow while he was in Form Two in 2012. During that time, he admired his parish priest, who regularly visited his school every Friday to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the students. The priest’s dedication to serving God and ministering to the spiritual needs of the students deeply inspired him. One day, after Mass, Br. Charles gathered the courage to approach the priest as he was preparing to leave the school. He expressed his desire to become like him in the future. The priest encouraged him to complete his Ordinary Level education with good results and promised to help him join the seminary for Form Five and Form Six.

However, Br. Charles’ desire to become a priest was also rooted in his personal experiences and his compassion for vulnerable people. Having witnessed his mother struggle to raise school fees for his education, he understood the difficulties faced by families living in poverty. Even today, his mother continues to struggle to provide school fees for his younger sisters. These experiences strengthened his desire to help children who face educational challenges, especially orphans and children from families struggling to meet their basic needs. He also felt deeply concerned about widows and other vulnerable members of society. Having witnessed some children receive assistance from priests, he began to see priesthood as an opportunity to dedicate his life to God while serving people in need and helping them overcome the hardships he had personally experienced.

Br. Charles first learned about the Capuchin Franciscans through Br. Francis Ssekulima, who visited his village to celebrate the second anniversary of his priestly ordination at his parents’ home in Masaka. Br. Charles was privileged to serve as one of the altar servers during the Eucharistic celebration. During the meal that followed, Br. Francis requested to share the meal with the altar servers. It was on this occasion that Br. Charles was introduced to him by his aunt, who explained that he had completed Form Six but had not received his examination results because of outstanding school fees. By then, many of his former classmates had already proceeded to the major seminary, leaving him uncertain about his own future.

After learning about Br. Charles’ situation and his desire to pursue priesthood, Br. Francis advised him to first complete the outstanding school fees so that he could obtain his results. He further encouraged him to prepare to join the Capuchin Franciscans the following year, in 2018. This encounter gave Br. Charles renewed hope and strengthened his determination to pursue his vocation despite the financial challenges he was facing.

Throughout this difficult period, Br. Charles continued to pray to God through the intercession of his patron saint, St. Charles Lwanga, asking for the grace to fulfil his desire to become a priest. His prayers and perseverance were eventually rewarded when he joined the Capuchin Franciscans on 15 March 2018. His journey reflects his faith in God, his determination to overcome financial obstacles, and his commitment to a life of service to God and others.

As Br. Charles continues his formation towards priesthood, he remains committed to serving the Church and reaching out to the poor, particularly orphans, vulnerable children, and widows. However, the financial demands of religious formation present a significant challenge. Sponsorship support would help him meet the costs of his formation and education, enabling him to continue his vocational journey and prepare for a future ministry dedicated to serving God and His people, especially those experiencing poverty and hardship.