I am Fr. Justus Musinguzi, a Ugandan national. I was born on December 6, 1971 in Kabale, Uganda, and ordained a priest on April 29 2001 for Butare Catholic diocese in Rwanda. I am one of 12 children of my parents of which only nine of us are living presently. I was born a very Catholic family and both of my parents are devout practicing Catholics who raised us accordingly.

At an early age, I felt called to the priesthood and began meeting with my parish’s vocation group on that met on Saturdays when I was ten years old. Feeling called to be a missionary I joined the minor seminary in northern Uganda of a religious congregation called the Apostles of Jesus when I was 17. I continued in formation with this congregation by going to their major seminary for philosophical studies and to Tangaza theological College for Religious both in Nairobi, Kenya. During my philosophical studies, I felt called to be a missionary of a different sort not as a member of a religious congregation but as a diocesan priest. In particular, I felt called to at the invitation of the then bishop of the Diocese of Butare. Transiting to study for that diocese, I made a pastoral year there in 1997-1998 and was finally ordained a priest in 2001.

As a priest, I have served the Church in different countries, dioceses, parishes and under different capacities. After my priestly ordination, from 2001-2004, I served as Assistant Pastor of Kansi Parish of the Diocese of Butare. From April 2008-March 2010: Resident formator and Lecturer in the Theological Seminary of the Rwanda Episcopal Conference. From March 2010-August 2012, I served as Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary, Lecturer in the Theological Seminary, Lecturer in the Catholic University of Rwanda, Diocesan Vocations Director and one of the Bishop’s Consultors. In Italy, between 2012-2018, I served as Associate Priest at the Cathedral Parish of the Archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia, and from 2018-2019 I served as Associate Priest at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, of the Diocese of Tivoli. From Sept. 7, 2020 I served as Assistant Pastor of Save Parish, Diocese of Butare, at the same time working as Chaplain of the Visitandines nuns and of the Noviciate of the Benebikira Sisters and between 2021-April 2022 I served as Administrator and Parish Priest of Butare Cathedral Parish. From May 13 2022 up to today am serving as Parochial Vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Northeast Minneapolis.

About my academic formation besides the diploma in philosophy and Baccalaureate degree in Sacred Theology earned during my basic seminary formation, I also hold Licentiate degrees in Sacred Liturgy and Dogmatic theology obtained respectively from the Pontifical University of St. Anselm in Rome. I am also a holder of doctoral degrees one in Dogmatic Theology and the other in Sacred Liturgy respectively obtained from the Pontifical University of St. Anselm in Rome.

In about 22 years of being a priest, I have had pastoral experience in different places, among different persons and peoples in Rwanda, Italy and presently in United States of America. From these I have learnt how to work and be effective in difficult conditions. I have also learnt how the People of God love their priests and have thirst for the Word of God and Sacraments. I learned and enjoyed working together with the laity, ministry among the youths, visitation of families, the sick and in hospitals, dispensaries, caring homes and the home bound, and working with Catholic Action Movements. I have enjoying educating and forming young people and seeing them becoming good and illustrious priests in the Church, accompanying couples for marriage and many other edifying moments, activities and events in good and bad conditions.

During these years, I have been enriched by actively being involved in the Sacramental life of the Church, which is and must be the joy of every priest and source of one’s spiritual growth.

All to the praise of God’s glory!

- Fr. Justus Musinguzi