Rev. Fr. Vedastus Martine Machibula was born on 13/09/1992 in Ng'hundya village, Kwimba district, Mwanza region, as the 6th child among 8 of Father Martine Masupana and Mother Lucia Machibula.

**CATHOLIC FAITH:**

He was baptized on 25/04/1993 at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Sumve, Mwanza Archdiocese, by Father Bullemare, Baptism No. 9019 "B". He received his First Communion on 25/12/2003 at the Sumve parish. He was confirmed on 1/8/2004 by His Grace Archbishop Anthony Petro Mayala at the Sumve parish, L.C 18020.

**EDUCATION:**

He attended Ng'hundya Primary School from 2000 to 2006. After graduating from primary school, he was selected to join Bungulwa Secondary School, where he studied until 2008. He then decided to join minor seminary studies and in 2009 was admitted to the preliminary seminary of Sayusayu in Shinyanga region. From 2010 to 2013, he studied secondary education at St. Mary Nyegezi minor seminary. He studied Form 5 and 6 at Mafinga minor seminary in Iringa Diocese from 2014 to 2016.

**PRIESTLY FORMATION:** He joined the St. John Paul II Formation House in Kawekamo, Mwanza Archdiocese, in 2016. From 2016 to 2019, he studied Philosophy at St. Anthony of Padua Major Seminary in Ntungamo, Bukoba. He then studied Theology from 2019 to 2020 at St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary in Segerea, Dar es Salaam.

From 2020 to 2024, he continued his theological studies at the University of Navarra in Spain, while being formed at the International Major Seminary of Bidasoa, Navarra, Spain. On 7/3/2022, he was officially accepted as a candidate for the priesthood (Admission to the Candidacy of Sacred Orders) by Msgr. Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

On 13/11/2022, he received the ministry of Reader at the International Major Seminary of Bidasoa, Spain, from Msgr. Santos Montoya Torres, Bishop of Calahorra and Calzada Logroño, Spain. On 10/12/2023, he was granted the ministry of Altar Server by Rev. Fr. Javier Ruza-Gambera of the International Seminary of Bidasoa, Spain.