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Brother
Kenneth Kunditani
Location:
Ghana, West Africa
Although
Brother Kenneth Kunditani always dreamed of becoming a priest,
making the final decision was difficult. He wanted to succeed
and become respected for his wealth, but at the same time
he knew that these things would not bring the happiness and
fulfillment that he desired.
| "It
took me a long time to begin to understand that God alone
could fill the empty space within me. In me was a “holy
ground” meant for God and God alone." |
Here
is his story . . .
As
a young boy and an altar boy, all that was on my mind was
to become a priest. After completing middle school in 1977,
my mother wanted me to go to St. Basilide Vocational Institute
to learn cabinet making and carpentry. I wondered how could
a carpenter become a priest?
In
reality, my mother could not afford to pay my fees at the
secondary school. None of my relations was ready to assist
either. At my age, I thought the only way to be a priest was
to go through secondary school.
Following
in the Footsteps of Young Seminarians
I was so impressed by the young seminarians in my parish.
I respected them so much and strongly desired to be one of
them. I cultivated almost all of their ways of life at a very
early age, but then I was influenced by the worldly life after
school. I then realized that there was a great vacuum in my
life that needed to be filled.
Worldly
Ambitions Leads to Restlessness
I have always been as ambitious as any one else and I believed
that I had the talent and the guts to get anything I wanted.
But somewhere deep inside me, there was a feeling that something
was missing. There was an empty space within me, which nothing
could fill. This brought about a feeling of restlessness.
I
felt invited to turn away from worldly concerns. This was
the only way I could find myself fulfilled. I took my Christian
obligations seriously, but because I saw a promising future
ahead of me, I could not see myself in a religious habit.
This left me even more confused than before because I also
wanted to allow God to fill the space within me.
Abandoning
Ambitions Brings Fulfillment and Happiness
I became preoccupied with thoughts of joining a religious
order. At the same time, I wanted to succeed and become someone
respected for my wealth. The recognition that the only way
I can be truly happy and self-fulfilled is to abandon all
those ambitions for a life of poverty, chastity and obedience
became stronger. That was a very difficult moment in my life.
But, with the guidance of some very unique people, and through
prayerful reflection, I have found the courage.
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