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Rwanda - Jubilee year of evangelisation
an ANB-BIA's Dossier
CHURCH
This year, the Church
in Rwanda is celebrating its centenary.
On 2 February 1900, missionaries arrived at the Mwami’s court.
One hundred years on, how are things going?
Can we really justify a celebration such as a jubilee(1)? After all, there’s a bishop in prison, and both he and the Church in Rwanda are having to defend their past actions. The Jubilee programme has had to take into account Bishop Misago‘s appearances in court. How can we possibly celebrate, keeping in mind what happened during the period of the genocide and remembering the unspeakable massacres that took place? Christians are accused of having taken part in the genocide and the Church as having initiated it. Indeed, there is reason for the Church to wonder whether the occasion of the centenary is a time of jubilee or a time of trial.
However, the needs of truth and justice call for an appraisal of the situation. We must examine our past history in both its negative and positive aspects. We must not be afraid to face up to our failures, our shortcomings, our omissions, our weaknesses. Everything must be examined in detail. It is indeed a critical moment for all of us, and it’s a real pity that the Church in Rwanda has to go through this exercise in such circumstances. There are tremendous pressures against the Church; terrible charges to face up to; the Church’s apostolic workers are killed, detained, or are in exile.
In the eyes of the public, the Church is on trial for its alleged or real involvement in politics. The fact is, the Catholic Church has been positively and actively present in many domains, for which the people remain grateful and will remain unfailingly attached to their Church.
The Church in Rwanda is present at all times, be it in times of difficulty or when all is going well. Some even accuse it of being «too present»: i.e. present everywhere...too powerful...you can’t get away from it. One ambassador put it this way to a missionary who had just been ordered to leave the country: «The Church’s presence is harmful». Others say the Church is «young, much appreciated, but easily impaired.»(2). Statistics confirm that the Church is present on all of Rwanda’s one thousand hills, in all sections of national life.
People’s memories and understanding of events, have been clouded by the genocide, and because of this, other interpretations have been given to the situation of the Church. The fact is, if there had been no genocide, then the Church’s presence in Rwanda would have been seen as a real and unquestionable success.
Christianity spread rapidly throughout Rwanda. In the 1930s, people were talking about the «Spirit blowing like a tornado across the country!» Rarely have there been so many conversions over so short a period. We may well understand the missionaries’ enthusiasm for what was taking place. In their wildest dreams they never dared hope for so much, all the more so as they had just been expelled from Uganda. Leaving aside their motivations or the strategies they adopted in their work of evangelisation, let us simply say that they wanted to «convert» and bring to Christianity as many Rwandans as they possibly could. And they succeeded.
Many «mission posts»
It was initially a question of getting established. Parishes (they used to be called «missions») were set up everywhere. Once a Christian presence had been guaranteed in the middle and around the extremities of Rwanda, the missionaries were able to spread out throughout the length and breadth of the land. Today, there are 133 parishes (with approximately 500 outstations attached to the parishes). There are 9 dioceses. Readers will get a better idea of the general picture when we explain that an average parish covers some 200 square kilometres, and a diocese an average of 3,000 square kilometres.
Rwanda was said to be the most Catholic country in Africa, some giving the percentage of Catholics as high as 80% of Rwanda’s total population. This is of course exaggerated or at least it shows a poor knowledge of available data. To get a proper appreciation, one has to take an average between parishes with a high percentage of Catholics and those which have less. The parish with the highest percentage of Catholics is, of course, Save (the first mission), totalling 85%. The parish with the lowest percentage of Catholics is Gatare in Gikongoro Diocese, with Catholics numbering only 0.7% of the local population. In this way, the Catholic population on a national level, is 51% of Rwanda’s total population.
Baptisms continue everywhere. Let’s take just one example: Byimana Parish, with a Catholic population of 82.22%, had 1,284 baptisms in 1998. The same year, Save Parish had 2,536 catechumens for baptism.
Personnel — of good quality and numerous
Once the missionaries had established their «parish plants», their next priority was to bring as many people as possible to the waters of baptism. They genuinely wanted to develop a flourishing local Church. The missionaries were preoccupied with training good quality and numerous local personnel — first of all to assist the missionaries and then eventually to replace them. All credit to the White Fathers and the White Sisters who, as a matter of policy, refused to look for vocations for their own Congregations. Rather, they were concerned with building up a true local Church with its own leaders. Their pastoral methods differed from other missionary Congregations elsewhere which prioritised the recruitment of local priests and nuns for their own Congregations and institutes. In Rwanda, the first Rwandese White Sister was professed only in 1961, and the first Rwandan White Father was ordained priest only in 1983.
Very soon, Rwanda had its own local diocesan clergy as well as local Religious Congregations for nuns, priests and religious. The first two local priests were ordained on 7 October 1917. Note that the Rwandan clergy were very soon placed in positions of responsibility within the Church. In sharp contrast to the colonial power, the Church was the very first organisation to entrust Africans with important responsibilities. In 1919, the diocesan clergy took over Murunda parish. In 1935, three Rwandan priests were asked to found a new parish (Janja). On 25 March 1956, for the first time in the whole of Africa and even in the world, a black bishop consecrated a white bishop. On 18 April 1961, for the first time in Africa, the local clergy took over the running of the seminary.
Regarding the Religious in Rwanda, Bishop Hirth wanted to found two local congregations — one of men and the other of women. In 1912, he founded the Josephite Brothers and the First Profession in the Congregation took place in 1916. The first Josephite Superior General, Brother Laurent, was elected on 11 January 1953. Bishop Hirth founded the Benebikira Sisters in 1913. In 1919 the first Sister was professed in the Congregation. The first Benebikira Superior General, Mama Teresa, was elected on 12 January 1953. On 24 April 1956, Father Raphaël Sekamonyo founded a totally Rwandan congregation, the Bizeramariya. Other foundations took place in recent years — some in response to a call from young people who wanted to consecrate their lives to God, but who lacked a more advanced education (they possibly had only been to primary school) and who at the same time, didn’t see the necessity of catching up on their education for their future apostolate among the rural population. (Bishop Blaise Forissier and Bishop Louyis Gasore founded such Congregations to cater for these needs).
Regarding personnel; in recent years, quite a number of international religious Congregations, both male and female, have come to our dioceses to work within the context of our diocesan charitable services (also for state-run charitable services). In Rwanda, they saw the possibility of attracting many vocations to their ranks, so much so that they established a number of training houses (29 for Sisters and 19 for mens’ religious Congregations). Butare Hill is called the «Little Vatican» because of its numerous training houses.
Education
The Church is said to be omni-present in education and the medical/social field. What’s the reality of the situation?
Regarding education; the Church has taken on the responsibility of running many schools from primary level upwards — private schools such as seminaries; grant-in-aid schools run by the Church but subsidised by the State; state schools which the state has entrusted to the Church such as the famous Butare School Group. The National University was founded by the Dominican Fathers, who ran it until 1974. The Church was asked to take on this responsibility because the colonial power, Belgium, was unable to do so. The first Education Agreement between the State and the Churches was signed in 1925. The Catholic Church did its best to increase the number of schools. There was a dire necessity for qualified personnel to train the teachers needed in the schools, so the Josephite Brothers and Benebikira Sisters saw a major part of their vocation dedicated to the field of education.
Unfortunately, as in many other countries, youth unemployment is a major concern in Rwanda, and the Church has risen to the challenge by establishing education programmes for the unemployed outside the regular school system. In colonial times these took place in «Social Centres»; following independence, the Church established Rural Education Centres (CERAI) for young people who had to leave school without completing their education and who had to make a «go of it» for themselves.
The Church’s involvement in the field of education has always been a ticklish problem in Rwanda. Already in colonial times, a number of people were calling for the schools to be freed from the influence of dioceses and parishes. Following independence, some were talking about an «intolerable situation». Today, the State is being urged to shake-off the Church’s hold over education.
If the Church wanted to hang on to the schools, it was because it was able to influence young people. All the children attending Church-run primary schools, had to attend catechism classes and were baptised in Primary Five (there was no obligation to be baptised but I’ve never known anyone who refused). In secondary schools, however, it was quite common to come across non-Catholic students. The Church made sure it was present among those who had successfully completed their education, as in every aspect of an educated society.
The medical/social field
The Church is also present in the medical/social field. But unlike the Church-run schools where the Church’s policy was to actively proselytize among the students, in the medical/social field, the Church put everything it had at the service of the entire population, especially the poorest and those living in the remotest areas.
The Church is running hospitals and health centres where health care is provided for the people; where very ill people are admitted to hospital; where pregnant women are taken care of until they have given birth or who have just given birth. The health centres are also nutritional feeding centres for poorly nourished children and where mothers are given some training in providing basic dietary needs for the family. There is, of course, a programme for family planning. However, the Church won’t allow its health centres to get involved in large-scale contraception programmes which are extremely expensive and which need a medical follow-up. An under-developed country such as Rwanda is unable to afford such a programme. The Church, instead, insists on responsible parenthood (education and information instead of simply distributing mere gadgets the population will have to buy and, of course, has no means of doing so).
The Church is committed to the social sector through several charitable organisations (too many to be listed here). These organisations help destitute and elderly people, the blind and the handicapped. There are also specialised Centres for development purposes. Butare diocese, under the leadership of Bishop Jean-Baptiste Gahamanyi, is to the forefront in this type of work — the other dioceses have soon followed suit. Why? Because the Church is convinced that it has a mission to the «whole person» — body and soul, and so must concern itself with the individual’s physical well-being as well as his/hers spiritual needs. You often hear it said: «Mens sana in corpore sano — a sound mind in a sound body». The Encyclical «Populorum Progressio» added that development is a new name for peace. The Church must concern itself with the entire person and involve itself in every form of human advancement. That’s why parishes are involved in development issues. The risk is, of course, that the Church, instead of appearing to be poor in itself and concerned with the needs of the less fortunate, is seen to be rich and powerful (a State within the State); at the same time it is continually begging for money it needs for its charitable work, from abroad.
CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES
The ethnic problem
No report on Rwanda is complete if it does not mention the ethnic problem. All the more so, if such a report were to refer to the Church’s action and influence in this area, and were to accuse the Church of having aggravated, if not caused the ethnic problem. First of all, I would have liked to have said that the Church regrets the thesis put forward by Bishop Classe who, in order to gain the sympathy of the royal court and the tribal chiefs, stated that the «Tutsis are superior». All I can do is to affirm that on this occasion, Bishop Classe certainly didn’t speak for the whole Church in Rwanda. It’s unfair to judge the Church and all its work during 100 years in Rwanda, on the basis of a few unhappy positions adopted by some of its representatives.
What’s being said today and the accusations spread around, would have us believe that in 1994, the Church in Rwanda was largely Hutu. Figures show just the opposite. The clergy and the Religious Congregations were mainly Tutsi.
The ethnic problem remains a major challenge for the Church. So what’s to be done? The Church must root out all tribalism in its own ranks, and then in Rwandan society in general. The Church must co-operate with civil society, with the educated classes, with the leaders, indeed, with anybody who wishes to achieve reconciliation among the Rwandan people. Even if a certain kind of propaganda is still circulating which continues to cast aspersions on the Church, the people have never lost confidence in it. The Church is there to help the country be reconciled with itself. If Rwandans want to achieve reconciliation with each other, they must be reconciled with the Church. Why? Because the Church in Rwanda is not a foreign body in Rwandan society; it is not a handful of expatriate missionaries. Rwandans form the Church. The number of Catholics in Rwanda is such that it would be a gross error to exclude them from the work of achieving national reconciliation and reconstruction. It should be noted that when preparations for the Jubilee were underway, Catholics were to the forefront in emphasising the need for reconciliation.
A Christian in today’s Rwanda, especially the priests and Religious, all belong to a particular ethnic group, but, more importantly, they belong to Christ, and in Christ we are all brothers and sisters, no matter our tribal origin. In Christ there can be no divisions.
Self-supporting
It must be said that when it comes to the question of financing the Church in Rwanda, the missionaries gave us the bad example of expecting everything to come from Western countries; they did not teach us to take care of ourselves even if the offertory collection during Mass was an established fact by 1928. So, when it comes to running our schools and hospitals, or when a new church has to be built, or scholarships must be provided for needy students, then we’re only too quick to hold out our hands for «manna from heaven» i.e. from Europe. And that’s not normal. We should be prepared to accept responsibility at the very least for ordinary recurrent expenses such as running our parishes and paying our apostolic workers. What’s happening at present, shows we’re living over and above our means.
It’s not just a question of money. It’s a whole pastoral strategy. My past experiences as former Vicar-General of Butare Diocese only strengthens me in my viewpoint. In my time I instituted an awareness programme that the Church in Rwanda must be self-supporting, that we must not continue to live like expensive irresponsible people. I insisted that every time a parish priest agreed to establish a parish financial council (with an open and above-board accounting system), the parishioners for their part, must agree to pay for certain parish activities, from their small means available. This did help to reduce the money the priest had to find, for example, for running the parish vehicle. Parishioners began to feel they were responsible, together with their priests, for the smooth running of their parishes. Thus, there was a commitment by the laity towards their parish at a local level.
The fact is, parishes must become self-supporting, whether they want it or not, because Europe will not go on and on sending «bank transfers» to their brothers and sisters in Africa. In Europe, the younger generation is growing increasingly fed-up with supporting «the missions». And this is only normal. The Church must take care of itself.
The laity
The present-day pastoral strategy of the Church in Rwanda, means that the laity must play its true role as members of the Church. Particular mention should be made of our catechists and our community leaders in the Small Christian Communities. Vatican II insisted that the laity, by the very fact of their baptism, must be prepared to take on responsibility in their Church. Also, in many places there are fewer priests and we’re not getting any younger! This particular problem does not, as yet, apply to Rwanda as our seminaries are absolutely full. But acknowledging the laity’s rights and duties has nothing to do with the lack of priests.
It’s important to educate lay people to play their role in the Church of God. The Bishops of Rwanda have set up an ad hoc Commission to study this issue, but so far, it hasn’t produced much by way of results. Pressure is mounting on the Bishops from various quarters such as former seminarians, catechists, Small Christian Community leaders, members of Catholic Action and the Charismatic Renewal and from others among the laity, to ensure that the laity’s true role as the «people of God», is recognised. The Church in Rwanda could avail itself of the local Pastoral Centre, but we can only note that those who regularly attend the conferences and updating sessions in large numbers are sent by the bishops from Burundi and Congo RDC‘s Kivu Province, rather than from Rwanda. Also, more Sisters than laity attend the conferences.
If we want the laity to become truly responsible, we have to train them. And the training provided must take into account that the laity do not only belong to the educated section of society.
Inculturation
There was a time when the Church wanted to up-root traditional religion (indeed, do away with all idols and signs of what was once described as «vain observances»). That time is now over. Traditional religion is now seen as a «stepping stone» to Christianity.
God’s word needs to be part and parcel of Rwandan culture, so much so that Rwandan Christians think, pray and act both as Rwandans and as Christians. We are a Roman Catholic Church, but this is first and foremost Christ’s Church established in Rwanda.
It is high time that current theological thinking, our catechism and our liturgy become specifically Rwandan, while remaining faithful to the teaching of the Universal Church. People have to be imbued with the Spirit, and feel they can express their faith in Jesus Christ according to the genius of their own culture. Why not teach theology in Kinyarwanda at the major seminary, in the religious training centres and in catechist schools? Don’t forget, Rwanda has the enormous advantage of having the same language throughout the country.
The People of God in Rwanda have already made great progress in the field of inculturation, especially among groups which have been influenced by the Charismatic Renewal or by their experiences in Kibeho (apparitions are said to have taken place here). People sing and dance during liturgical celebrations, but all this remains a bit too «cosmetic». The Bishops have made some steps towards inculturation by publishing the Bible in Kinyarwanda. But it’s not enough.
Human rights: a prophetic church
The Church in Rwanda has been blamed for keeping silent. This is only true in part. Many people, especially those who set out to criticise the Church, are unaware of the Bishop’s many statements.
The Church must change its way of speaking. It must be prepared to «risk all for the sake of Jesus» and not limit its prophetic role to ex-cathedra statements and pastoral letters. The faithful must feel that all the pastors speak the same language and share the same boldness.
The Church must be present in human rights issues. It’s not enough simply to set up Justice and Peace Commissions. Father André Sibomana and his fearlessness in speaking out must not remain an isolated case, never to be replaced when he disappeared from the scene. Even a bishop must not be left to speak out alone. The Church in Rwanda must be prophetic in the service of justice and peace. It must have the courage to speak up for those who have no voice; it must have a preferential option for the poor; it must pay due attention to present appeals emanating from the people. Some people will always accuse the Church of involving itself politics — even when keeping silent, the Church will be accused of practising a policy of silence. Far better to take a stance on human rights issues, to adopt a policy for justice, peace and unity. The Church must learn to side with its laity who know the issues at stake.
And what about the Media? Here’s a working tool just waiting to be of service. Sad to say, the Church doesn’t make much use of the Media, and when it does, only utilizes it poorly. Don’t forget, there are some publications such as Dialogue and Kinyamateka, which could be better availed of. We (clergy and laity), have really got to see how we can make better use of the Media. We must dare to speak out!
A missionary Church
The Church in Rwanda is also criticised for not being sufficiently «missionary». The same was said when Sekou Touré drove the missionaries from Guinea and, again, when Bagaza did likewise in Burundi. «Rwanda», it was stated, «could have sent some priests to lend a helping hand to their brothers and sisters in need». Even within Rwanda, it’s not right that a diocese such as Gikongoro can’t get any help from neighbouring dioceses, which, while not having an overwhelming number of personnel to spare, could lend a hand. On the other hand, it’s rather curious that Gikongoro is said to be lacking priests when one of its parishes, Kibeho, had at least one priestly ordination per year from 1970 to 1990.
Following the events in 1994, Rwandans are now to be found in the four corners of the world, but it certainly wasn’t planned. Before this diaspora, the only Rwandan missionaries were Religious from international Congregations. Those who «lend to God» will be repaid a hundredfold. The Church in Rwanda must learn to give freely beyond its own frontiers. A Church must be missionary or does not exist.
In-depth evangelisation
The genocide proved one thing vis à vis the Church: Christianity in Rwanda is still rather like a flock of sheep following one another, and is still present on a superficial level; in-depth evangelisation has still to be done. But this doesn’t mean the Church, in preaching love and the brotherhood of humankind, tolerance and «togetherness», has failed the people. It rather shows that a long road still lies ahead.
The Church has arrived. It has established its structures and institutions. Now it has to build on the message that has already spread throughout the country. And that’s proving no easy matter, even in a Europe where the Gospel has been preached for nigh on 2000 years and where Pope John Paul II has launched the second evangelisation.
What’s now needed is proper planning and a comprehensive, soundly-reflected pastoral strategy — sadly lacking for the moment. We look to the new generation of Bishops for guidance in this matter.
Conclusion
On 10 November 1959, Pope John XXIII established the Catholic Church’s hierarchy in the Belgian Congo and Rwanda-Burundi. Yes, the mustard seed has already grown high, it has already produced some fruit, but it needs more fostering: we still need to trim it, to dig around it and to add some fertiliser. With God’s help, the harvest looks promising. May it prove so in the future.
(1) «Some people, suffering from recent events, felt that they had to protest against the celebration of the jubilee. They said: “The time for rejoicing has not yet arrived”. But their understanding of jubilee as simply a time for rejoicing, is wrong. In fact, it is a time for repentance, for pardon and reconciliation (Leviticus 25, 8-22). The present jubilee has come at just the right moment, to help us come to terms with our history. The condition being that we admit that we are “ill” and that we turn to Jesus whose love will heal us». Message read by Bishop Kizito Bahujimihigo on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year 2000 in Notre Lien, nº 3 (January -December 1999). — (2) Title of a video-cassette published in 1990 as a preparation for the Pope’s visit to Rwanda.
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