Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenza Fides) - On January 23, 2026 Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches),has appointed Father Viateur Gitongana, of the clergy of Kigali, as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rwanda, for a five-year term (2026-2031).
Father Gitongana, born in 1976, completed his primary education at the Janjagiro School Complex (1983-1991), his secondary education (Latin and science section) at Saint Vincent de Paul Minor Seminary in Ndera (1991-1998), and his preparatory year at Saint Mbaaga/Kampala Grand Seminary in Uganda (1999-2000). He earned a licentiate in philosophy from Saint Mbaaga/Kampala Grand Seminary in Uganda (2000-2003), completed his pastoral internship at Saint Kizito Minor Seminary in Zaza (2003-2004), and received a degree in theology from Saint Mbaaga/Kampala Grand Seminary in Uganda (2004-2007).
Ordained a priest in the parish of Musha/Kigali in 2007, he earned a master's degree in theology of Christian life from the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, San Luigi-Posillipo Section, in Naples, Italy. He served as bursar of the Minor Seminary of Zaza Kibungo in Rwanda (2007-2008) and as assistant bursar in the diocesan administration of Kibungo in Rwanda (2008-2009). He was general bursar of the Diocese of Kibungo (2009-2015), and also served as a pastoral collaborator in Naples, Italy, at the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine (2016-2019); in Rwanda, at the Parish of Rwamagana (2022); and finally in Tivoli, Italy, at the Parish of San Gregorio Magno (2022-2025). (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2026)
