The Catholic Church in Rwanda is mobilizing Rwf3.5 billion for expropriation to expand the 'Kibeho Holy Land' sanctuary in Nyaruguru District, according to Bishop Célestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro Diocese. We need a large parking lot, a clinic, a library, conference halls, security checkpoints, and a path to the blessed water source located in the valley of the forested hill, among other infrastructure. These facilities will accommodate and facilitate pilgrims, Bishop Hakizimana explained. Kibeho, a renowned site of apparitions and pilgrimage, is expected to host a 10,000-seat basilica, a significant church within the Roman Catholic Church, with privileges granted by the Pope upon completion. The proposed basilica, currently under design, will have a seating capacity of 10,000 and a compound that can accommodate up to 100,000 pilgrims. The entire facility, estimated to cost $70 million, will also include parking for 700 buses and 2,000 smaller vehicles, along with other essential service facilities. The apparitions of Mary, the mother of Jesus, were first reported in the 1980s. The initial apparition occurred on November 28, 1981, when Alphonsine Mumureke, a young student at Kibeho High School, saw a lady of incomparable beauty who identified herself as Nyina Wa Jambo, meaning Mother of the Word. ALSO READ: Catholic Church celebrates 40-years of Kibeho apparitions Shortly thereafter, two other alleged seers emerged at the high school: Nathalie Mukamazimpaka on January 12, 1982, and Marie Claire Mukangango on March 2, 1982. Kibeho Holy Land is the first site in Africa and the 15th worldwide to be recognized for apparitions of the Virgin Mary. In 2001, Pope John Paul II declared the site holy. Currently known as 'Our Lady of Kibeho Sanctuary,' named after the apparitions by the Mother of Jesus Christ, the site is slated for expansion through 21 infrastructure projects. So far, we have mobilized more than Rwf300 million, but we still need Rwf3.5 billion for expropriation to secure 10 hectares of land for these 21 projects. If every baptized Catholic in Rwanda donates at least Rwf1,000, the required budget could be raised within two weeks, Bishop Hakizimana emphasized. On August 15, over 60,000 Catholic believers from around the world gathered at Kibeho Holy Land in Nyaruguru District to celebrate Assumption Day. During the gathering, Bishop Hakizimana urged the faithful to donate towards the expansion of the 'Our Lady of Kibeho Sanctuary.' ALSO READ: Why Assumption Day carries special meaning for Rwandan believers Exploring Kibeho Holy Land Pilgrims visiting Kibeho Holy Land can purchase souvenirs such as devotional medals, paintings of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, tiny crucifixes, Christian rings, rosaries, and books about the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The site features a hill representing Calvary, the place outside Jerusalem's walls where Jesus was crucified, according to the Gospel. Visitors can read the seven last words of Jesus, displayed on the crucifix atop the hill. Nearby, the Chapel of the Holy hosts worshippers after their visit to Calvary. The shrine also contains a forested area with stations representing the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, reflecting her compassion for the suffering and death of her Divine Son, Jesus. During her apparitions in Kibeho, the Virgin Mary instructed visionary Marie-Claire Mukangango to promote the devotion of the Seven Sorrows Rosary. As visitors walk through the Rosary path, they eventually reach the blessed water source in the valley, where many pilgrims collect water believed to hold spiritual significance. Bungalows, including one with an altar surrounded by gardens, have been built near the water source to host religious ceremonies. GS Mere du Verbe Kibeho, an all-girls school, is where the three visionaries studied. The compound where the Virgin Mary appeared is located near a former dormitory, where one of the visionaries used to sleep.
