Father Ruffino Ezama, MCCJ, has a way of turning every stranger into a friend. It’s a gift that has made him a beloved figure among the clergy and staff of the Comboni Missionaries in Anderson Township—and far beyond.

Born and raised in Arua, Uganda, Father Ruffino’s early life was marked by both inspiration and tragedy. He first met the Comboni Missionaries in his home parish, baptized by Father Jack Rafael Dellagiacoma and confirmed by Msgr. Angelo Tarantino, the first bishop of Arua, and says he was deeply influenced by their examples. The Missionaries were models of charity, helping to transform the West Nile region, and young Ruffino loved to serve at Mass.

At the same time, however, dictator Idi Amin was terrorizing northern Uganda, killing hundreds of thousands. Among the victims was nine-year-old-Ruffino’s father, who was a police officer. His mother heroically helped her family weather the tragedy; Ruffino credits her for his love of the Church and all peoples.

The charism of St. Daniel Comboni, who founded the Comboni Missionaries in 1867, remains a guiding force in his ministry. “St. Daniel Comboni used the methodology of ‘Save Africa with Africa.’ It means you need to empower the people to become change agents of their potentials in the Church and society. The ministry I carry out becomes a collaborative one,” Father Ruffino said.

“While growing up in Uganda, we were inculcated with the respect for human beings made in the image of God. This has helped me in my ministry in the U.S. by nurturing deep respect for people in [my] personal encounters. It deepens my outlook I have with people. It deepens my outlook to the dignity of people,” Father Ruffino said.

Ordained in 1994, Father Ruffino has dedicated his life to mission work, serving in Benin, Uganda, and the U.S. For the past 15 years, he has focused on fostering relationships with African, Hispanic and Italian communities in Cincinnati. His leadership reached a historic milestone four years ago when he became the first African Provincial Superior of the North American Province (NAP) of the Comboni Missionaries. At a special Mass marking this historic occasion, Father Ruffino noted, “I am a fruit of what the Comboni Missionaries from the NAP did for Uganda.”

Mike Gable, Director of Mission and Pontifical Mission Societies for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati describes Father Ruffino as “warm, friendly, insightful, holy and caring.”

Father Steve Angi, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes in Cincinnati and Vicar General for the archdiocese, said, “The Ministry of the Comboni Missionaries have been very instrumental in the Church, especially among the Hispanic and African American communities. Father Ruffino encourages the Comboni Missionaries to involve themselves deeply in the local Church and assist in any way possible. Father Ruffino’s generosity has always been a blessing to us.”

As provincial superior, Father Ruffino oversees six Comboni communities across the U.S. and Canada while also working closely with the international institute to bring more priests to serve in these regions.

His commitment to the mission is evident in his support for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s “Renew My Church” initiative; he offered the services of the Comboni Missionaries to minister to the St. John XXIII parish family in Evanston. Similarly, in Cincinnati the Comboni Missionaries now minister to the Our Lady of Guadalupe family of parishes, which includes St. Boniface, St. Leo the Great, St. Joseph, Holy Family and St. Theresa Little Flower.

Father Ruffino is not only a spiritual leader but also an accomplished academic, earning several degrees, including a PhD in philosophy from Makerere University in 2018. Like many of his confreres, Father Ruffino is a polyglot, able to communicate in many languages. But he humbly sums up his linguistic prowess by stating, “I can say words in nine languages, but I only speak one: Love God

This article appeared in the October 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.