Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kigali (Agenzia Fides)- “This has been the first Catholic Bible Meeting in the history of the Catholic Church in Rwanda” says the closing statement of the Bible Meeting held in Kabgayi 17 - 20 September. The statement explains that the Catholic Bishops of Rwanda decided to organise the Meeting as part of celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Vatican II's dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum”.
The Meeting ““The Bible in Christian life in Rwanda: achievements, challenges and prospects ”
Brought together 75 bishops, experts in Sacred Scripture, delegates for Bible apostolate, representatives of religious congregations, leaders of other Christian communities, delegates of lay associations and movements and institutions of higher education including major seminaries.
The topics for reflection included: Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church 40 years after the dogmatic Constitution “Dei Verbum”; The Bible in Rwanda, present situation and prospect; the Word of God, source of reconciliation, justice and peace: achievements, challenges, future prospects,; Bible School Tumenye Bibiliya and Bible Camps as testimony and means of evangelisation through the Bible; the Bible and the world of intellectuals; the Bible Society in Rwanda.
Among the speakers Bishop Augustin Misago, of the diocese of Gikongoro, who traced the history of the Bible in Rwanda, of which a complete translation in the local Kinyarwanda was started only in the 1980s at the initiative of the Rwandan Bishops' Conference. An inter-confessional translation used by Catholics, Protestants and 7th Day Adventists was published in 2004.
The experience of Bible Camps was presented by Sr Languida Kagoyire, a member of the Congregation of the Assumption. These camps were introduced in Africa by an Assumption Sister from America to help children begin to read the Bible with songs, mimes and drawings. The method, started in Rwanda in 2001, is used in 5 parishes.
Resolutions made public at the end of the Meeting included: support initiatives of Bible apostolate in dioceses and parishes; start and association of Bible scholars and Theologians; use Catholic media to increase interest in the Bible; valorise the annual Bible Week in May; publish a pocket book edition of the New Testament in Kinyarwanda. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/10/2007 righe 31 parole 395)
