Rwamagana Catholic Parish is set to celebrate 100 years since its inception by Monsignor Jean-Joseph Hirth in 1919 on September 21.

Officials at the parish called ‘Our Lady of Victories’, revealed that preparations are ongoing that include renovating the church building that was constructed in the early 1930s.

The renovation of the building has cost more than Rwf65 million, with the funds having been raised by the congregation.

Rwamagana Parish Priest, Fr Theophile Ingabire, said preparations for the centenary celebrations are nearly done. / Jean de Dieu Nsabimana

The Vicar, Fr Théophile Ingabire, noted that the preparations were also characterized by strengthening prayers, peacebuilding, reconciliation and supporting needy families, among others.

"This centenary should leave Christians with firm faith in their hearts and people living cordially and supporting each other.

"As you know, Christianity is founded on one word, which is love; to love your neighbor as you love yourself, and sometimes more than you love yourself as Jesus Christ did,” the priest explained.

Impact on community

The church has not only been preaching the gospel over the last 100 years but also introduced many initiatives and facilities that have impacted on how people in Rwamagana live.

They have constructed 12 primary and secondary schools, a school for visually impaired persons, vocational training schools, and a nursing and midwifery college.

Jeannette Mukabaranga, a teacher at St Vincent de Paul, in Rwamagana town, said the Catholic institution has boosted education in the area with the school she teaches in being one of the best performing schools in the 12-year Basic Education system.

"Education, knowledge, and success is much better thanks to children’s discipline, which they get from the school’s direction, into which the Parish adds the knowledge of God,” she said.

Jeannette Mukabaranga, a teacher in Rwamagana says her school is one of the best performing schools in 12-year Basic Education. / Jean de Dieu Nsabimana

The church also supports needy students at the schools through different projects, such as Caritas.

Matias Mbayiha, 84, a retired nurse in Rwamagana town, who said that he grew up when mass was conducted in the Latin language until 1963 when the Vatican decided that it should be done in local languages, says lives have changed, for the Catholic worshippers and other people in general.

"There were schools where our children were able to have an education. The Catholic Sisters came to serve at the sanitarium that had just been established [by the Parish as well], they also founded a school for nurses which has now become a university. That is a great boost to the community,” he highlighted.

Mbayiha also noted that the more the institutions were created, the more jobs were available for people from Rwamagana and beyond.

"Where there are jobs, there is development,” he emphasized.

The church and the institutions around it are built on the land that the missionaries were given by Rwabutogo, then Chief of Buganza Territory.

The chief also gave guidance on some decorations on the church building, which can still be seen today, according to Ingabire.

On Christmas Day in 2009, President Kagame prayed with the church faithful and asked the government to develop the church’s surroundings.

Since the missionaries’ arrival in 1900, Rwamagana Parish was the 12th  parish in Rwanda, after Save and Zaza in 1900, Nyundo in 1901, Rwaza and Mibirizi in 1903, Kabgayi in 1906, Runda and Rulindo in 1909, Kansi in 1910, Kigali in 1913 and Rambura in 1914.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com