Catholic Church celebrates 100 priesthood anniversary as Archbishop Ntihinyurwa turns 75 years old

By Elias Hakizimana

Thousands of Catholic Church Christians joined the crowd at Amahoro Stadium on Saturday, September 23, 2017 to celebrate 100 years of priesthood anniversary,  while Archbishop Monsigor Thadée Ntihinyurwa of Kigali Archdiocese returns 75 years of birth.

The event was attended by various people including Christias, members of the clergy, as well as government officials.

Among Rwandan first priests whom Catholic Church remembers are Aloys Bigirumwami, Mgr Michel Seyoboka known to promote traditional music and drums in Rwandan culture, Mgr Alexis Kagame, A.Sebakiga, E.Byusa, and Mathias Gahinda.

This century of priesthood is counted from 1917-2017 and the aforesaid foremost recognized pioneer priests extended their works beyond preaching and contributed to social economic development of the country such as in education, setting up infrastructures of roads and promoting traditional and modern medicine, leadership, justice, entertainment, culture and made improvement of Kinyarwanda language.

About Mgr Thadée Ntihinyurwa

Born on September 25, 1942 at Kibeho Parish, Gikongoro Diocese in Southern Province, Archbishop Mgr Ntihinyurwa was given priesthood on July 11, 1971. Since then, he achieved a lot in his native parish before and after his graduation from preaching mission ‘Missiology’ at Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium.

He became later the second archbishop of Mgr Jean Baptiste Gahamanyi, the archbishop of Butare diocese.

He was also director of Petit Seminaire Butare and later a teacher at Grand Seminaire Rutongo since 1980.

In 1981, Ntihinyurwa became the first archbishop of Cyangugu Dioseze after it was established by Pope Jean Paul II.

He was offered the shepherd’s stick on January 24, 1982.

On December 3, 1994, he became the overall-representative Shepherd of Kigali archdiocese after it lost its pastor Mgr Vincent Nsengiyumva six months before he killed at Gakurazo in Kabgayi.

Since March 25, 1996 until today, Ntihinyurwa became Archbishop of Kigali and continued to be the overall pastor of Cyangugu dioseze until 1997.

Recovering Kigali archdiocese

Mgr Ntihinyurwa contributed a lot toward economic development of Rwandan community basically forming reliable projects to support vulnerable populations; and in this regard, he created FDI fund and established its regulations on September 28, 2009.

He achieved 21 years heading Kigali archdiocese and almost 30 years in this career as archbishop.

He also created the ‘Nkunganire’Fund project as Microfinance to support 600 women grouped in small and medium enterprises in 1998.

On May 06, 2004, the NkunganireFund Microfinance project gave birth to (RMI) ‘Reseau Inter-diocesain de Microfinance’.

He contributed also in the formulation of Cartas Rwanda ‘Centenary House’ building through sensitization and follow up on the project since its construction beginning in 2000.

Speaking during the anniversary, The Bishop of Butare Diocese, Monsignor Philippe Rukamba said that celebrating 100 years of preaching Jesus Christ message is an opportunity to work harder and achieve more.

“This gives us rights to recognize our responsibilities and rights to guide Christians’ community and promote unity and partnership among families,” Rukamba said.

According to the State Minister of MINALOC in charge of welfare Alvera Mukabaramba, the 100 years of priesthood is a very important return for Catholic Church Christians and all Rwandans as white priests were pioneers in Rwanda in 1878 preaching the good news.

“We can now say that Catholic Church is very strong and still keeping the top to lead its community. We recognize efforts by some catholic church organizations that support Rwandan youth to develop their talents, I thank catholic church to help us build descent citizenship and most of Christians facilitate us in good governance, we appreciate the role catholic church plays in justice and peace gathering, on behalf of Rwandan government, we wish Ntihinyurwa a happy birth day and the government will work closely with Catholic Church,” Mukabaramba noted.

In his speech, Mgr Thadee Ntihinyurwa appreciated God’s considerable comfort to help him achieve a lot in guiding Christian community during the journey of preaching.

“Today I appreciate the gift of priesthood God gave to Rwandans though extraordinary way, in only 17 years, we had first priests, I am happy that  I make part of these God’s children, I confirm that God is my parent, my medical doctor and my overall Almighty, he gave me to make a step forward to the good life, my everything I have is from God,” Ntihinyurwa said.

“God protected me under his love and gave me the gift to guide the church-my parent, I got to know that the priest has enemies, God rescued me from many traps, I thank Him for his comfort to achieve more, with my heartfelt gratitude, I thank all episcopes who gave me hands to succeed, we thank God to be close us in 35 years of episcope. Last but not least, I thank all people who lead their families, and I thank the government officials who ensure Rwandans have security, unity, peace and true relationship based on love.” Ntihinyurwa added.

The Pope’s emissary in Rwanda Andrzej Józwowicz thanked the trustworthy Ntihinyurwa to guide Christian community with parental love and to achieve a lot toward socio-economic development of Rwanda.

“I am very grateful to speak at this moment and express my high appreciation, my respect and my admiration towards your personal gifts including wisdom, patience and paternal love to guide the community of Kigali Archdiocese as a good pastor,” said Józwowicz.