Fr. Arthur Joseph Ssembajja

My name is Fr. Arthur Joseph Ssembajja, and I am filled with joy to serve as the Pastor of St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Parish. My story begins in Uganda, East Africa, where all my family still lives to date. I’m the baby of eight children. I’ve two sisters, five brothers, eight nieces and four nephews. Our parents brought us up in the fear of the Lord, gave us a decent Catholic education and hoped that one of their children would serve the Church. Their hope came alive when I joined the seminary high school in Uganda with the intent of becoming a priest.

I was ordained a priest on June 24, 2017 for the Catholic diocese of Kasese in Uganda. Leading to my ordination and by the grace of God, I earned a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Thomas Aquinas National Major Seminary Katigondo, a B.A. in Theology from St. Paul National Major Seminary Kinyamasika & the Pontificia Universitas Urbaniana in Rome, Italy and a Master of Religious & Theological Studies with Education from Makerere University in Kampala Uganda. After ordination I served as Director of Studies in a seminary in Uganda while doing pastoral work in a parish over the weekends and during school breaks. In August 2019, I traveled for the first time to South Bend to pursue graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame on May 14 2022, with a dual degree – Master of Business Administration and Master of Global Affairs (MBA & MGA).

I’m excited and honored to serve the Church and the people of God here at St. Anthony de Padua parish, South Bend. As I share the joy of the gospel with you, I’m happy to listen, to learn and to love. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jn 13:35). I have a devotion to the Divine Mercy and the Blessed Mother of God. I enjoy playing soccer, supporting college football (Go Irish), listening to sacred music, establishing relationships and international travel. May St. Athony help us to find what is lost in our lives as we journey together towards heaven.