“My vocation began as a gentle stirring in my heart and blossomed into a living testament to grace, perseverance and divine providence”.  A Comboni deacon Nicholas Mbithi talks about his vocation journey. 

I am the youngest of eight children, with five brothers and three sisters. I was raised in a devout Catholic household firmly rooted in Christian values. Two of my sisters are nuns serving in different Catholic congregations.

Growing up in a faith-filled environment had a profound impact on my vocational path, shaping my life through prayer, community sharing, and unity. My parents and siblings taught me the virtues of respect, hard work, and responsibility. My vocation was nurtured from an early age. My parents’ deep involvement in church life inspired in me a strong commitment to serving the church.

One Sunday, after my catechism class, my parents asked me to stay for Mass. I was deeply moved by the priest’s chanting and the congregation’s responses, an experience which left a lasting impression on me. Encouraged by my parents, I joined the altar servers and youth group. As I served at the altar, my desire to become a priest grew stronger, inspired by the priests.

During my time at secondary school, I was the leader of the Young Catholic Students (YCS) movement and the altar servers. Even after leaving secondary school, I continued to nurture this vocation, which had become evident to many through my devotion at the altar.

After leaving high school, I met a Consolata missionary student who gave me brochures from various congregations following our discussion about the differences between diocesan and missionary priesthoods. I applied to several of these. While I was awaiting university admission, I stayed with my brother in Huruma, Nairobi, and did some computer training.

One day I was attending Mass at St Martin de Porres Church in the Kariobangi parish, I noticed a nearby church named after St Daniel Comboni. Curious, I participated Mass there and one Sunday, a Comboni priest invited me to a missionary vocation meeting. I was captivated by the simplicity, missionary spirit, and charism of the Comboni Missionaries in serving the poor and most abandoned. In April 2014, I attended the ‘Come and See’ programme, which marked the beginning of my formal discernment journey.

I began my formation with the Comboni Missionaries in September 2014. This involved a year of reflection and pastoral activities. In August 2015, I began my three-year Postulancy. During this time, I studied philosophy while deepening my understanding of the Comboni spirituality through academic study, pastoral work, and spiritual exercises. This period was a profound time of self-discovery, during which I confronted my fears, doubts, and desires. With the guidance of my formators, it laid a solid foundation for my vocation.

In August 2018, I joined the novitiate in Namugongo, Kampala, Uganda, for two years marked by silence, discernment, and spiritual growth. During my first year, I volunteered at a care home for the elderly, caring for residents by feeding, cleaning, and listening to them. In my second year, I worked at Mulago Hospital, where I encountered people burdened by suffering and illness – an experience that stirred deep empathy and compassion within me.

In May 2020, I took my temporary vows, officially joining the Comboni family in a moment of profound joy and surrender to God. After taking my vows, I was assigned to the Uganda Martyrs International Scholasticate in Nairobi, Kenya, where I pursued theological studies at Tangaza University College for four years. This period enriched my biblical understanding and strengthened my faith through encounters with marginalised people, the elderly, the sick, and the youth. These real-life experiences brought theology to life.

I completed my studies in May 2024, marking a significant milestone in my vocation journey. I started my pastoral service in July 2024. This involved deep cultural immersion and living out Gospel values by collaborating with Small Christian Communities, youth groups, the elderly, and the sick. On 17 August 2025, I made my perpetual vows, dedicating my life entirely to God within the Comboni family. Two weeks later, on 30 August 2025, I was ordained a deacon.

Amidst the challenges and joys of daily life, I continue to witness God’s enduring faithfulness. My vocation began as a gentle stirring in my heart, blossoming into a living testimony to grace, perseverance, and divine providence.

Reflecting on my eleven years of training, I am deeply grateful for God’s faithfulness and constant support. From my experience, I have come to understand that a vocation is a divine calling that requires personal dedication, is honed through daily challenges, and should be embraced with faith, joy, hope, and love.