In partnership with the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Butare, the first phase of the “Journey of Healing, Unity, Reconciliation, and Resilience” was concluded on Sunday, November 30, in Busoro Parish, located in Nyanza District. 9 received forgiveness from the families they wronged during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, while 11 granted forgiveness.
The ceremony, which involved asking for forgiveness and granting it, took place during a Eucharistic celebration led by Monsignor Jean Marie Vianney Gahizi, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Butare, who represented the Bishop of the Diocese. In his message, he emphasized the value of reconciliation and urged the participants who completed the teachings to build their lives on love.
He said, “Everyone should understand that they have a duty to build a solid foundation rooted in love and respect for their own life and that of others. When people receive good teachings, they cannot destroy. And if you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you cannot do harm.”
Fr. Edmond Habiyaremye, the Director of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Butare, commended those who took part in the program and successfully completed it. He encouraged those who have not yet participated to join, stressing that the commission will continue contributing to reconciliation efforts and peaceful conflict resolution.
He stated, “To those who completed the journey of healing, unity, reconciliation, and resilience, I thank you sincerely; continue to bear good fruits among others. To those who have not yet joined, please come and learn so that you may be set free. Even if you think no one knows what you did, your heart knows, and God knows. It is good to approach the person you hurt, ask for forgiveness, and be freed, and that person will be freed as well. Forgiving also liberates people and allows them to live together in peace without suspicion.”
Patrick Kajyambere, the Mayor of Nyanza District, highlighted the importance of these teachings in strengthening unity among Rwandans.
He said, “This is an important day for the district and for the country in general. Completing the healing journey renews relationships and strengthens the unity of our people. I thank the Justice and Peace Commission for making this possible.”
Ndayambaje Anastase, who publicly asked forgiveness from Mukashyaka Vestine, narrated that although he had served his sentence and performed community service as required, he did not feel at peace until he approached the person he harmed during the Genocide, asked for forgiveness, and compensated part of the property he had looted.
He said, “I was imprisoned and later released to carry out community service (TIG). But true peace only came when I personally met the person I had wronged, asked for forgiveness, and compensated for the property I damaged during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Since then, I feel at peace even when walking at night, I no longer fear meeting the person I wronged.”
Mukashyaka Vestine, who granted forgiveness, said that forgiving him also brought peace to her heart.
She said, “Hearing the person who hurt me knock on my heart and come to ask for forgiveness helped me see that he still has humanity. My heart is now at peace because I forgave him wholeheartedly; there is no longer any suspicion.”
Busoro Parish is now the 15th parish out of the 26 parishes in the Butare Diocese to complete the Healing and Reconciliation Journey. In this parish, 20 people completed the teachings on healing, unity, reconciliation, and resilience. Across the entire Diocese of Butare, a total of 6,066 people have participated in the program. Among them, 3,794 requested forgiveness, while 2,272 granted it.
