Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service)- “I have been in Rwanda since 1980 and was here at the tragic time of the genocide. The mission where I was working was attacked and it is a miracle that I was not killed” Pallottine Father Stanislao Filipeck a missionary for many years in Rwanda told Fides. “I think the process of reconciliation will require more time, 10 years are not sufficient to heal the hurt suffered by these people. We Pallottines are giving priority to promoting harmony and reconciliation helping the two ethnic groups to put aside their mutual hatred”.
The Fathers of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate have worked in Rwanda since 1973 and in the beginning they were dependent on the Polish Region of their society. Today they are an autonomous region with 8 communities in Rwanda and 2 in Democratic Congo consisting of 50 Pallottine fathers and an increasing number are local men from Rwanda and Congo. The present Superior General of the Region is a Rwandan, elected in 2003.
“The long story of Pallottines in Africa started with the first Catholic mission opened in Cameroon in 1890. And it was a German Pallottine from Cameroon who in 1907 founded the community in Poland which is therefore of missionary origin” Fr. Filipeck said.
“In 1998 we opened Merciful Jesus Reconciliation Centre in Rusengo where we have perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament” the missionary said. “We are convinced that community prayer is an important way to promote reconciliation. The Centre also has a school for spirituality and lay formation, lay Pallottine collaborators in particular. We also organise Adoration in a mission in the outskirts of Kigali.”
“Efforts to promote reconciliation include a mission opened in 2003 at Kibeho where there is a Marian Shrine because we know that Marian spirituality can be an excellent means for reconciliation in Rwanda and all over Africa. Our Genezareth Spirituality Centre in Goma, in Congo, on the banks of the River Kivu is also important” Father Filipeck said. “Another initiative is our Palotti Press which publishes Catholic Church documents in Kinyarwanda and a Children’s Newspaper, the only publication for children in Rwanda”.
With regard to the religious situation in the country, Fr. Filipeck said “the number of mosques has quadrupled in recent years, also because Muslims say where there are 3 Muslims there is a mosque. Then there are the Jehova Witnesses with more than 250 places of worship. In 1994 there were 8 officially recognised religions. Today the number has grown to over 50. This is also because the state does not recognise religions, but only recognises groups which offer social services. It is strange to see the Church equalled to an NGO” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 4/3/2005 righe 40 parole 496)
