This year marks my 15th ordination anniversary to the priesthood. I thank God that I was able to fulfill one of my wishes by making a pilgrimage to Kibeho in Rwanda before my July 12 anniversary. Kibeho means a lot in my vocation life and my daily life as a priest. I have no doubt that my devotion to Our Lady of Kibeho was at the source of my vocation.
I thank Mother Mary who still strengthens and supports me in my spiritual journey.
My trip to Rwanda and Kibeho was wonderful. It brought back many old memories, of course, as I met my family, old friends, and classmates. In a small country like Rwanda, it seems that everybody knows everyone. In almost every city we went to, I met someone I haven’t seen for years! My 97-year-old grandmother was the happiest of all when, after her eye surgery, she was able to see me and my cousin, Father Emmanuel celebrating Mass for our families and baptizing my nephew. This was for me an opportunity to pray for my young brother, grandfather and cousins who have passed away and whose funerals I couldn’t attend. I treasure the time I spent with my parents and everyone in my family.
As I was driving Deacon Dominic and my parents to Kibeho for a pilgrimage, my heart was full of mixed emotions and tears of pain and of joy: tears of pain as I was listening to my mother’s cries from the back seat while driving the wet, slippery and unpaved roads and seeing houses on the mountains that were partially or totally destroyed due to the April and May heavy rains. And tears of joy because that road reminded me of the days and nights of prayers to and from Kibeho with many other young people. Nonetheless, our time at Kibeho, the prayers I offered for those who entrusted me with their intentions, and for all those I saw, know, and always carry in my prayers were so precious to me. Kibeho has always been a place that reminds of the value of the Cross in our Christian life.
Nathalie, the visionary that Deacon Dominic and I had the chance to talk with, always reminds those who come to Kibeho about Mary’s message of suffering. On May 15, 1982, Our Lady told her that “No one gets to heaven without suffering,” and “Mary’s children are not separated from suffering.” We prayed for everyone of our Region that, through the intercession of Our Lady of Kibeho, we might al-ways unite our daily struggle with Jesus and Mary for our repentance and the salvation of the world. For this,
Our Lady insisted that her message is not only for those who came to Kibeho during the time of her apparition but also for the whole world!
As we concluded our visit to Rwanda, I asked Deacon Dominic what has impressed him on this trip, and he mentioned two things: Sunday Mass that lasts two hours and many young people, especially high school students, who go to 6:30 am Mass every day before work or school.
Please keep the diocese of Gikongoro and all the pilgrims to Kibeho in your prayers. In July, Bishop Celestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro diocese will be travelling to the USA for a mission appeal for his diocese. When you see him in our Region, please welcome him and entrust your intentions with him to take to Kibeho for you.
May our love for God precede us in all we plan to do and accompany us in everything we do. May we imitate our Mother Mary to always offer to God our daily joys and pain through our prayers and deeds.