From August 07 to 19, 2019, the Dominican friars of the Provincial Vicariate of Rwanda and Burundi met in Rwanda where they celebrated various happy events together. On August 07 2019, in the convent of St. Dominic of Kigali, during the 6pm Mass with vespers, six young people including two Rwandans, two Burundians and two brothers from the Provincial Vicariate of Equatorial Africa officially entered the novitiate in the presence of all the Dominican friars of the Provincial Vicariate of Rwanda and Burundi, visitors as well as some of the faithful who worship at the Kigali chapel, The six brothers made a week of retreat prior to their reception into the novitiate at the Dominican convent in Kigali.
The next day, August 8, 2019, witnessed the festivities related to the celebration of Saint Dominic. At 10am, the Dominican friars, with their guests, met again in the same chapel for the simple profession of our brothers. During the Eucharistic celebration, six novices (Four from the Provincial Vicariate Rwanda and Burundi and two others from the Provincial Vicariate of Equatorial Africa) made their first profession of vows.
This was followed by the renewal of vows by fourteen student brothers, all sons of the Provincial Vicariate of Rwanda and Burundi. In the same celebration, two brothers of the Vicariate professed solemnly. These professions were made in the hands Brother Jean DOUTRE, O.P., the Prior Provincial of the Province of Canada while those of the Vicariate Provincial of Equatorial Africa made their professions in the hands of their Provincial Vicar, Brother Jean-Paul KAMAHEU, O.P., who was present for the occasion.
On August 09, 2019, Brother Donatien NDABASANZE, O.P., (Rwandan) was ordained a priest and Brother Désiré BIZIMANA, O.P., (Burundian) and Brother Olivier KWIHANGANA, O.P., (Rwandan), were ordained deacons by Most Rev. Antoine KAMBANDA, Archbishop of Kigali, in a Eucharistic celebration that took place at the Convent of St. Dominic in Kigali.
On August 11, 2019, the Dominican friars of the Provincial Vicariate of Rwanda and Burundi celebrated their 27th General Assembly in Gihindamuyaga, in a Benedictine monastery located in the Southern Province of Rwanda. The activities of this General Assembly began with a day of recollection which was animated by Most Rev. Antoine KAMBANDA, Archbishop of Kigali, on the
theme “Consecrated persons, witnesses of hope in a changing world”. The General Assembly focused on the theme “the vision-mission of the Vicariate: towards financial independence”. Brother Benjamin Sombel Sarr, O.P., the Prior Provincial of St. Augustine Province, West Africa, moderated the proceedings. In the case of an Assembly which dealt mainly with the question of the finances of
the Provincial Vicariate of Rwanda and Burundi two other people working in this field had been specially invited. This is the Brother Stephen OGBE, O.P.., of the Province of Nigeria and Ghana, who spoke on the theme “Strategic Investment(s) for a Sustainable Economic and Financial Future for the Order in Africa”, and Mr. Sylvain Bossé, a lay Dominican of Canadian origin.
The Assembly closed on August 17 and the next day, brother Dieudonné BIGIRIMANA, O.P. (Rwandan), who was ordained a priest in Ottawa/Canada on May 5, 2019, celebrated his first Mass in his home parish.
Report by Ezechiel RIVUIMANA, OP
