Reverend Father receives a doctorate
A Reverend Father from Motupa Catholic Church has received a Doctorate after spending years in Rome, Italy.
Reverend Father Doctor Masilo John Selemela was honoured by the members of his community who gathered with him to celebrate this great achievement. Born and raised at Magoebaskloof, Selemela was raised a catholic where he began showing interest in becoming a priest.
He moved to Moleketla Village, in Bolobedu South in 1986 where he matriculated at Kgwekgwe High School in 1990. He became an active member of the Youth Movement at Motupa Catholic Church immediately after arriving.
After matriculating, Selemela enrolled at St Paul’s Seminary at Hammanskraal where he began his journey into his priesthood. He completed his philosophical studies in 1993. In 1994 he began his theological formation at St Vianney Seminary in Pretoria. He did his pastoral internship at Sibasa Parish in Louis Trichardt. He completed his theological formation in 1998 where he obtained his Degree in Theology. In June 1999 he was ordained a priest for the dioceses of Tzaneen at the hands of his Lordship Bishop Hugh Slattery.
He served as a priest in a number of parishes until he left for Rome to further his studies in 2006 where he completed a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology and a Doctorate at the same time. He obtained his Doctorate in 2013 from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy. He was appointed a formator in the in 2011 at the St John Vianney Seminary where he still serves as a formator and vice rector.
“This is a special moment because the greatest plan that God had for me has manifested. I come from an ordinary background but with resilience I have achieved a lot. Our youth should focus on issues that build them rather than issues that distract them from achieving their goals. I am not the only one with a talent, we have a lot of talented youth out there and with discipline, focus and dedication to God you will go far” said Selemela when asked what this achievement means to him. The day was a huge success where his family, friends and community members came in large numbers to celebrate with him.
