Fr. Noel Sakie, a Comboni missionary priest from Togo, shares his vocation story.
My name is Fr. Noel Sakie, Comboni missionary priest from Togo. Firstborn in my family, I have two young sisters. My vocation journey started when I joined my uncle after my father’s passing. When I joined my uncle, the first experience which shaped my spiritual life was the moment of prayer. Every evening, my uncle gathers the family to pray for the rosary. That is where my devotion to Mary came from. Till today, praying the rosary is so important to me.
I began to attend catechism. Eager to know more about God and Jesus, I spent most of my free time reading the Bible. I recall setting a challenge for myself to read the whole Bible, from the first book to the last one. I just don’t remember if I managed. In any case, I enjoyed those moments when I immersed myself in reading the Scriptures. There were times when I felt as if I was present in the stories that I was reading. Hence, I became more enthusiastic about continuing to read.
After three years of catechism, I received my First Communion. Immediately, I joined the group of the altar servers of the parish. I was indeed happy to serve the Lord and participate in the parish’s various activities. As an altar server, I recall that serving during the Holy Hour of each month was so significant for me. Whenever I served at the altar, I often experienced a certain happiness that I cannot describe. As years passed, responsibilities were given to me in the group of altar servers.
Naturally, the desire to serve the Lord was increasing in me. That was the time I started thinking about giving my life to serve the Lord. I asked myself these simple questions: what will I do with my life? Should I continue serving the Lord for the rest of my life? Or should I do something else? As nothing was clear, I kept on reflecting on these questions.
Another key factor of my vocation was the outing organized by the altar servers during the long holidays. We used to go every year for a one-week outing to different parishes. The spirit of communion, sharing, and the joy experienced during these days set in me the desire to become religious.
Lastly, one of my classmates invited me to attend a seminar on the ‘Life in the Holy Spirit’ organized by the charismatic group of my diocese. At the end of the seminar, it became clear to me that mission is part and parcel of my Christian life. From that moment on, I expressed my desire to become a missionary. I talked with my parish priest, a diocesan priest. He gave me a short presentation of the different religious congregations present in my country.
From his presentation, I was impressed by the personality of Saint Daniel Comboni and the missionary aspect of his congregation. My parish priest put me in contact with the Comboni missionaries, and that is how my journey in the footsteps of Saint Daniel Comboni started.
I began the postulancy in 2008 while studying Philosophy for three years at the Salesian University College in Lomé (Togo). In 2011, I went to the novitiate in Cotonou (Benin). In 2013, I took my first religious profession as a Comboni missionary. I was sent to Nairobi (Kenya) from 2013 to 2017 for my theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology. After my studies, I went back to my country for one year of missionary service, after which I was ordained priest on December 22, 2018.
In 2019, the Superior General sent me to the Delegation of Asia for a mission. Reaching Asia, the Delegate Superior assigned me to the Philippines. I spent the first three months learning Tagalog in Sucat, Parañaque. After that, I went to Orion in Bataan, where I spent three months in St. Michael the Archangel parish for my exposure.
I had an excellent experience with the Christian community. I will always treasure their great sense of hospitality and simplicity. Back in the Comboni community in Parañaque, I am part of the editorial team of World Mission magazine and, at the same time, studying journalism.
