When Raphael Makori was finishing the Seventh Grade
in Iramba Parish in Musoma Diocese in Northwestern Tanzania he wanted to enter
the high school diocesan seminary. But the application forms for the seminary
never arrived so no young men in his parish took the entrance exam that year.
Everyone was very disappointed. What to do? What was God’s plan for Raphael?
Maybe a vocation to the priesthood was not meant to be. But Raphael waited
patiently. The next year he asked again. This time Father Godfrey Biseko, the
Parish Priest and his assistant Father Joe Healey went to see Father Justin
Samba, the Rector of St. Pius X High School Seminary, to ask special permission.
Samba immediately accepted Raphael into the seminary based on the high
recommendation of the two priests.

    Raphael’s long seminary journey began in January, 1984…
four years of high school…two years of advanced high school…two years of
philosophy…four years of theology. During the special pastoral year between
3rd and 4th Theology Raphael wrote: "The faithful demand more from a priest that
what he learned in the seminary. However, this will be granted to him if he
remains in God’s power rather than depending on himself." Finally on 12 June,
1997 in Musoma Cathedral Raphael was ordained a priest by the now Bishop Justin
Samba. The wheel had come full circle. Surely God had a special hand in Raphael
Makori’s vocation.