Rwandan Catholic Diocese Moves to Foster Healing, Reconciliation among Genocide Victims

“The idea of ​​preparing this manual is rooted in the call of the Church, to help people reconcile, and reconcile with God,” the Bishop said.

“After the Genocide against the Tutsis in 1994, the Church did many activities aimed at helping people to recover from their wounds, achieve justice, admit their sins and repent, ask for forgiveness, grant forgiveness, reconciliation,” the Rwandan Catholic Bishop said.

He continued, “After realizing that there is a need for a manual to guide those in the mission in preparing dialogues and activities aimed at healing wounds and strengthening unity and integrity, the Commission for Justice and Peace began to prepare that activity.”

“This guide was developed based on feedback from a multi-stakeholder panel aimed at improving the way the message is delivered,” the Catholic Church leader added.

Bishop Rukamba sexplained the manual was prepared first and foremost for “Priests, those in charge of the Justice and Peace Commission and others who work in the diocese and in the parishes, to help them participate in helping to heal the wounds resulting from the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, to support the perpetrators and those who were subjected to it, in order to build the unity of Rwandans and to help them achieve independence.”

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He said the manual can also be used to find solutions to other problems the Rwandan community is facing including. He highlighted domestic and family conflicts, traumas, injuries of various kinds, the problems of orphans and helpless widows.

“This manual aims to strengthen the culture of peace, unity, harmony and simplicity in the Rwandan society, for the purpose of sustainable development,” the Local Ordinary of Butare added.

Copies of the manual were distributed to Priests and other stakeholders present during the June 5 event.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.