Augustine Tah is a seminarian visiting this summer from the diocese of Kumbo in Cameroon. He is from the village of Lassin, an agricultural community of approximately 500-600 people. He is the sixth of seven children, with two sisters and four brothers.  Augustine noted that his family lost his brother William at the age of 25, to diabetes, which was diagnosed too late. Augustine mentioned that Father Jude Lawsamba, who was here last summer, is his cousin. Their mothers are sisters.
 
Augustine graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Lassin, where he studied geography, economics, history, philosophy and religious studies. He admitted he didn’t much like math, nor studying French in high school.  Augustine speaks three native languages, in addition to English. He said that not many people in the area speak English, so one needs to learn another’s native language in order to communicate.
 
Augustine began his studies for the priesthood in Cameroon, where he completed six years of training, including three years study in philosophy, and a pastoral year teaching in a school. He has just completed his first year in theology at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.  He said it took him two weeks before he began to understand the American accents of his instructors. There were cultural differences as well. In Cameroon, cell phones are not allowed in classes, and seminarians study from books, not on the internet. In the U.S., seminarians are expected to have cell phones to stay up-to-date and the internet is a resource which is heavily used.  Augustine indicated that he has three more years of study before ordination.  
 
Augustine has been able to visit some of the northeastern region of the US during his time in the States. He travelled to Delaware for an ordination and was also able to visit Washington, D.C. He’s been to New Jersey for a soccer competition and has also visited Virginia.
 
Augustine indicated that there is always plenty of intellectual work to do in the seminary, When he takes a break from that, he likes to go for walks, contact his family, pray, play soccer and chat with friends.  
 
Please be sure to welcome Augustine when you see him around the church this summer.