Christian communities from different walks of life today, December 25, mark Christmas Day, a day that signifies the birth of Jesus Christ and the most popular religious festival.
The birth of Jesus Christ is the most powerful sign and message of hope in a world darkened by the shadows of fear and uncertainty, religious leaders have said.
Particularly for Rwanda, several church leaders who spoke to The New Times urged Christians to embrace the true meaning of christianity and incarnation, as the country join the rest of the world to mark Christmas Day.
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"The savior is born for us. Christmas is the day of the family because the savior was born in the family. He came to reveal to us the great love God offers and it is in the family that we see the greatest bond of love among people,” Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, the Archbishop of Kigali, told The New Times in an exclusive interview.
While 2024 has been filled with major milestones and for some, different hardships, Cardinal Kambanda maintained that "may the joy and peace of the Saviour born spread in your hearts and homes and accompany you as you cross to the new year, the year of the Jubilee of 2025 year of the birth of the Lord on earth.”
Pastor Chrispine Banda Katiyi of New Life Bible Church, reflected on the past year, citing that her preparations to mark Christmas Day had gained momentum.
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"Tonight (Christmas Eve), we begin with Christmas carols, songs, a sermonette, and a celebration. Tomorrow, we’ll hold two special services instead of our usual three, allowing families time to celebrate together,” he said.
The church has planned services in English and bilingual formats, with separate activities for children and teenagers.
Pastor Banda added; "Christmas is a time for people to open their hearts to the word of God. Our message centers on the Savior’s birth and its transformative power.”
Message of joy, hope
Many other church leaders say this Christmas Day will be a day of spreading the message of hope, with many saying they were optimistic about the future filled with stronger social cohesion.
Rogers Rukundo of City Church stressed that celebrations will be held under the theme Joy to the World, as a sign of new hope and a reminder that darkness never reigns.
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"The birth of Jesus Christ brings joy into a world often filled with chaos, trauma, and sadness. This is a season of new hope, a reminder that darkness no longer reigns,” Rukundo reiterated.
He added; "Our services will be shorter this year to give people time to celebrate with their families. But we’re keeping the message clear and powerful: the birth of Jesus brings new joy and hope to our lives.”
For Father Jean Nepomuscene Maliyamungu Kwizera of Stella Maris Parish based in Gisenyi, Rubavu District, Christmas is the most popular Christian religious festival in the world. Still, many non-religious people celebrate it too, including many non-Christians.
He said that his church, standing at a capacity of 500 congregants per gathering, is expecting a larger-than-usual turnout due to the holiday spirit.
"We have arranged multiple gatherings to accommodate everyone, especially considering that some churches are still closed. These services will include baptisms to welcome children into the faith, celebrating the birth of baby Jesus alongside them,” he said.
Unlike the usual Parish sessions, Father Kwizera maintained that the parish will host five programmes at different times —7 am, 9 am, 11 am, and additional sessions for French speakers and evening attendees.
"Normally, we have a single Sunday programme, but for Christmas, we extend our schedule to ensure everyone can participate,” Father Kwizera said.
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christian calendar is based on counting the years since the birth of Jesus.
Christian years used to be known by the Latin words Anno Domini (abbreviated as AD), meaning ‘the year of the Lord’.
The Christian God is also commonly known as ‘the Lord’.