Historical background of Usa Seminary
The present Usa Seminary has a long History for the Holy Ghost Missionaries in Eastern Africa Region and for the entire Congregation.
From 1950s up to 1974, the current Usa Seminary was an outstation of Kilema Parish and then later on became an outstation of Usa Parish which is found about a kilometre away from the Seminary. The Parish still run by the Holy Ghost Congregation until today. During that time Fr. Michael Witte C.S.Sp established at the same place a vocational Training School, unfortunately, Fr. Witte left the place soon after establishing the school consequently the school did not find the personnel with the same interest making it not to survive.
Thus, Usa Seminary became the birthplace of the East African Foundation of the Holy Ghost Congregation in 1971.
Along with the East African Province house there was the first Novitiate of the East African Province. In 1978, the novitiate moved from Usa River to Magamba, Lushoto in Tanga region. Usa River then was changed into a Postulancy House where candidates spent one year before they joined philosophical studies. Postulancy was necessary to address the need of thorough preparation before philosophical studies. The programme was to address the failing performance both moral and intellectual standards of those candidates who studied in some government schools and some other private schools. Candidates were to be helped in improving their, English language command, critical thinking, knowing some basics in Holy Scriptures, liturgy, history of the congregation and engage in manual work preparing them for self-sustainable projects. The postulancy was to accommodate students from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The whole program took one year but later was changed to two years to give postulants enough time to cover the programme sufficiently.
In 1981, Usa River status was changed by the East African province administration to become a High-level seminary namely, an advanced level Seminary/school. The seminary aimed at preparing those students who would wish to join the Spiritans or any other congregation and or attracted to other ways of life not necessarily becoming religious members and priests.
Since the beginning of the seminary, there has been a growing trend of young men joining the seminary aiming at becoming Spiritans or join other congregations with their free volition. Other motivation for students joining our seminary was the seminary’s formation. The formation brought up individual holistically therefore attracted many parents to send their students to the seminary.
In the seminary academic aspect has been emphasized. Other extra curricula activities offered to make the seminary unique have been spiritual conferences, psychological training and short seminars always offered by a noted Spiritan confrères. Above all the seminary is easily accessed from the Moshi-Arusha road and offers a quiet and green environment for studies.
The total number of the applicants has been varying from 50 to 100. The seminary however has the capacity of up to 120 students as for the moment after accomplishment of renovation of some classes and dormitories. This year 2020 it has been witnessed for the first time in its history the seminary registering 110 students with the expectation that the numbers will increase this coming January.