Paroisse-Kibilizi-Corriger
September 16, 2015
Iyo intama zonnye hafatwa abashumba
June 24, 2016
Paroisse-Kibilizi-Corriger
September 16, 2015
Iyo intama zonnye hafatwa abashumba
June 24, 2016

Pastorale kubumwe n’ubwiyunge muri Paroisse Mushaka nyuma ya Gacaca mu Rwanda 

Nageze muri Paroisse Mushaka muri 1998, mu gihe mu Rwanda hose  hakorwaga sinode ku kibazo k’irondakoko mu banyarwanda. Iyo sinodi ndi  mu batumye iba kubera inyandiko nari nacishije mu kinyamateka yavugaga  ngo Rohomutagatifu ntazihanganira ko abanyarwanda baguma kuba  abagaragu b’ikinyoma. Muri iyo nyandiko nanengaga uko abakristu  barikwitegura Yubile nta gacaca ikozwe ku kibazo k’irondakoko mu  banyarwanda. Ngeze muri Paruwasi Mushaka aho nari ntumwe kuba Padiri  Mukuru nafashije abakristu gukora sinode ku kibazo k’irondakoko nkurikije  uko nabyifuzaga. 

Uko sinode yakozwe muri Paruwasi Mushaka. 

Abakristu bafashijwe kwinjira mu kibazo batagica ku ruhande ; bafashwa  kureba mu byukuri icyo bapfa cyatuma abantu bagera aho batifuza ko  bagenzi babo babaho, basanga nta gifatika gihari, ari na bwo babonye ko  kuba umuhutu cyangwa umututsi nta kibazo kirimo, ko ikibazo aho kiri ari  irondakoko kandi ko irondakoko ribangamiye umubano wa kivandimwe mu  bakristu. Muri Paruwasi Mushaka, abakristu muri sinodi basanze  amatwara ya PARMEHUTU yaravangiye Ivanjili. PARMEHUTU yigishije  inzangano. Abatutsi mu Rwanda barameneshwa, barahunga, abasigaye  bagahora batotezwa. Bakicwa igihe bashakiye mu gihugu. Abakristu muri  Paruwasi Mushaka bafashijwe kwinjira mu bibabazo by’inzangano byo  byakuruwe na PARMRHUTU, basanga abantu bose atariko barangwa n’ayo  matwara. Abahutu bose si abaparmehutu, harimo abatagendera muri ayo  matwara y’inzangano. Basanze udashobora kuba umuparmehutu ngo ube  n’umukristu. Aho umuparmehutu ari usanga yigisha kwanga uwitwa  umututsi, yigisha kumwishisha. Ibyo bikazamura ibyiyumviro by’ubugome  n’inabi mu batutsi nabo. Nguko uko muri Paruwasi Mushaka basanze  PARMEHUTU yaravangiye Ivanjilil mu Rwanda, batandukanya kuba  umuhutu n’umuparmehutu. Umuhutu w’i Mushaka ntaterwa isoni no kuba  umuhutu, uwo muganiriye akubwira yemaraye ati ndi umuhutu ariko sindi  umuparmehutu. Urabaze nta rwango rw’abatutsi rundimo. Kuba abakristu  gatorika barafashijwe kuganira badaca kuruhande ikibazo k’irondakoko  byatumye babona ko bavangiwe, basanga icyo bapfana kiruta kure icyo  bapfa, n’abakristu mbere ya byose. Muri Paruwasi Mushaka mu gihe cya  sinode habaye imyiherero myinshi yahuzaga abakristu ku cyumweru Missa  ya mbere iyo habaga hari umwiherero yabaga iy’abana, abakristu bakuru  bakaza mu ya kabiri hakabanza gutangwa ikiganiro cyagirwagaho impaka  mu matsinda, ibivuye mu matsinda akaba aribyo twemezako aribyo tugiye  kujya tugenderaho muri Paruwasi. Kubuza abantu kuvuga ngo baganire ku  bibazo nibyo bituma bijundika inabi mu mutima. Twari twumvikanye ko  byose bigomba gukorwa mu bwubahane, ko igitekerezo cyose kigomba  gutegwa amatwi, icyubaka kigashyirwa imbre, nyuma y’ibyo biganiro  havuyemo imyanzuro myinshi yagiye ifasha abakristu guhindura imyumvire,  biyemeza kuva mu kinyoma mu mutima bakagendera mu kuri, bakinjira mu  mwaka wa Yubile y’i 2000 nta buryarya mu mutima.

Ukuri kwa Jenoside yakorewe abatutsi muri Paruwasi Mushaka 

Kubera ibiganiro byari byaragiye bitangwa bifasha abakristu, mbere yo  kwinjira muri Yubile, abakristu bahuriye mu miryangoremezo muri  paruwasi bagaragaza ukuri k’uko jenoside yakorewe abatutsi yagenze mu  muryangoremezo wabo. Batekereje kubantu babo bapfuye mu  muryangoremezo, batekereza ku bantu bo mu muryangoremezo wabo baba  baragize uruhare mu rupfu rwabo, batekereza ku bantu b’ahandi baba  baragize uruhare mu rupfu rwabo. 

Batekereje no ku bantu bahandi baba baraguye mu muryangoremezo wabo,  bareba niba ntabo mu muryangoremezo wabo baba barabigizemo uruhare,  batekereza no kubahandi baba barabatsinze mu muryangoremezo wabo.  Byose byakozwe neza kuburyo gacaca mu gihugu igihe yategurwaga,  

muri Paruwasi Mushaka bari bararangije.  

Gacaca ya Leta kenshi yagendeye kubitekerezo by’abakristu.  Byatumye Yubile y’i 2000 ikorwa neza muri Paruwasi Mushaka. 

Uko Yubile y’i 2000 yakozwe muri Paruwasi Mushaka  mu mwaka wa 1999 

Abakristu batangiye kuwufashwamo kwiyunga. Mu miryangoremezo,  abakristu batangiye gufashwa gutanga imbabazi, no gusaba imbabazi.  Haboneka abakristu biyemeze kujya gutamba imbabazi ku bagororwa bari  barabiciye bari munzu y’abagororwa mu cyahoze ari Cyangugu. Habonetse  abakristu bajya kwemeza abagororwa bari mu nzu y’abagororwa icyaha  cyabo. Muri Paruwasi Mushaka abakristu bakoze Yubile y’imyaka 2000  bumva nta pfunywe ry’ikinyoma mu mutima. Nyiricyubahiro Musenyeri  Yohani Damaseni, Umushumba wa Diyosezi ya Cyangugu yasabye ko mu  gihe cyo kwizihiza muri Diyosezi Yubile y’imyaka 2000 hazaboneka  abakristu bahamya ku mugaragaro ko biyunze. Muri Paruwasi Mushaka,  icyo gihe twatoranije ubuhamya butatu bw’abantu bafashijwe kwiyunga,  njya kubaza Nyiricyubahiro Musenyeri niba abo bantu batandatu nzabazana  bose kuri Stade ahagombaga kubera ibirori bya Yubile. Icyo gihe yarambwiye ati :« Ba uretse tuzabanza turebe n’ubuhamya buzava ahandi ». Yubile  yegereje neza nasubiye kumubaza abo nzazana gutanga ubuhamya,  ambwira ababaye ati : « ugirango hari abandi baje ! yungamo ati :  ndibaza niba hari utagira icyo akora muri ibi, hari ikindi akora muri 

paruwasi !». Musenyeri ashobora kwibagirwa ko yabivuze, ariko hari ibintu  umuntu atibagirwa cyane iyo bimukora ku mutima, njye sinigeze  mbyibagirwa. Nishimiye ko njye mbonye abatanga ubuhamya bw’ubumwe  n’ubwiyunge muri paruwasi ariko kandi mbabazwa ku mutima nuko abandi  bapadiri batabigize umwihariko wa pastorale icyo gihe.  

Ubutumwa bwo kunga abantu bwarakomeje, abakristu bashishikarizwa  gutanga imbabazi no kuzisaba. Haboneka amabaruwa menshi yagiye  asomwa muri Kiliziya y’abagororwa basabaga imbabazi imiryango bari biciye. 

Turashize, za nterahamwe zose zaraye zirekuwe ! 

Ayo ni amagambo abatutsi barokotse jenoside bambwiye mu gitondo mvuye  gusoma Missa, bantegeye ku muryango uva mu sakaristiya, bambwira  bakebaguza. Narababwiye nti munkurikire, tugeze iwanjye ndabicaza nti  nimumbwire neza. 

Bambwira ko ababiciye baraye bafunguwe ko ubwo bagiye kuzajya babica  umwe umwe ngo bazimanganye ibimenyetso byerekana uko jenoside  yakorewe abatutsi yakozwe. Ubwoba bari bafite nabumvishije ko bufite  ishingiro kandi ko ngiye kwinjira muri icyo kibazo. Niko byagenze. Hongeye  gukorwa imyiherero. 

Umwiherero w’abatutsi barokotse Genocide yabakorewe 

Natumije abatutsi barokotse jenoside, tumaze gusenga mbasaba kugendera  kuri rya jambo Paulo Mtgfu yandikiye abaromani« Ntukareke inabi  ikuganza ahubwo inabi uyiganjishe ineza » Rm 12,21. mbasaba  kugaragaza akababaro kabo batewe na bariya bantu bafunguwe. Si ukuvuga  biva inyuma, kuko nari mbabwiye ko nzabiranga mu missa ku cyumweru.  Byose birangiye narababajije nti : Ese mwifuza ko ubwo babiciye nabo  babica !nashimishijwe n’uko rya jambo ry’ineza igomba gutsinda inabi ryari  ryamaze kubacengera kuko bamwiye bagira bati reka da ! « twe turi  abakristu, turabababariye ariko nabo nibaduhe amahoro » . icyo gihe ineza  yatsinze inabi. Iyo kurinjye yari inkuru nziza yo kugeza kuri abo  bavandimwe bari bamaze gufungurwa. 

Umwiherero w’abagororwa barekuwe 

  

Nyuma y’umwiherero w’abatutsi barokotse jenoside yakorewe muro  paruwasi, hakurikiyeho umwiherero w’abagororwa bari bamaze gufungurwa.  Nabagejejeho imyanzuro n’ibyifuzo byaro byaturutse mu mwiherero  w’abatutsi barokotse jenoside, mbereka kobo batabifuriza ikibi, nabo  nabasabye kugendera kuri iryo jambo rya Paulo Mtgfu yandikiye  abaromani« Ntukareke inabi ikuganza ahubwo inabi uyiganjishe  ineza » Rm 12,21. Bamaze nabo kujya mu matsinda bagaraje ibyemezo  n’ibyifuzo byagomba kurangwa mu Kiliziya ku Cyumweru. 

Icyemezo cya mbere cyari uko baje baje kugaragaza ukuri kubyabaye,  abantu bakava mu kinyoma. Icyemezo cya kabiri nta muntu wagombaga  kongera kwicwa, bari biyemeje nabo kwamagana ubwicanyi. Icyifuzo cyabo  nicyo cyagaruye ikizere mu batutsi barokotse jenoside, aho bagiraga bati :  « utubabarire uzadusabire abakristu bongere baturebe byibuze  nk’abantu ». nanyje ubwanjye aha hankoze ku mutima numva nshatse  kurira. Na bo ubwabo ntibari bakibonamo abantu. Byagaruye mu barokotse  jenoside umutima w’impuhwe kuri bo, aho kubatinya. Abakristu gatorika  muri Paruwasi Mushaka binjiye muri gacaca ya Leta bose biyemeje  kugendera mu kuri. 

Uko Gacaca ya Leta yakozwe muri Paruwasi Mushaka 

Muri Paruwasi Mushaka, abakristu gatorika biyemeje kugendera mu kuri  mu gihe cya gacaca. Ukuri k’uko jenoside yakorewe abatutsi gushyirwa  ahagaragara. Abakoze jenoside baburana basaba imbabazi abayikorewe,  biteguye kubabarirwa. Aho byashakaga kugenda nabi numvako hari  inyangamugayo zaba zikekwaho ruswa byarampagurutsaga nkajya muri iyo  nteko. Sindi mubarebereye gacaca, njye nayikoranye n’abandi baturage.  Gacaca muri Paruwasi Mushaka, yakozwe neza irangira ishyize ahagaragara  ukuri k’uko jenoside yakorewe abatutsi yagenze, byihutisha ubumwe  n’ubwiyunge muri Paruwasi Mushaka.

Reka nihute mve mu nzira y’abandi. 

Aya ni amagambo yavuzwe n’umwe mu bakristu bari bamaze gufashwa  kwiyunga by’ukuri n’uwo yiciye muri jenoside yakorewe abatutsi. Mu  by’ukuri n’ubwo gacaca ya Leta yabaye, ukuri ku byabaye mu gihe cya  jenoside kugashyirwa ahagaragara, haracyari urugendo k’Ubumwe  n’Ubwiyunge. Kiliziya akaba aribwo ikenewe.  

Nyuma ya gacaca mu nama nagiranye n’abayobozi b’imiryangorenezo muri  Paruwasi Mushaka, twibajije niba umuntu wiyemereye ko yishe abantu  yaguma guhabwa amasakaramentu!!! Abakristu bose bemeje ko umukristu  gatorika muri Paruwasi Mushaka wagaragaweho muri gacaca ko yishe  abantu cyangwa se akajya mu bitero byishe abantu, mbega uwahamwe  n’icyaha agomba guhagarara guhabwa amasakaramentu, akabanza  akongera akigishwa mu gihe cy’amezi atandatu, akagarukira Imana. 

Ibi byahumurije abakristu b’abatutsi bakorewe jenoside, kuko bahoraga  bibaza ukuntu umukristu wanyiye ku nzoga z’abishyingiye ahagarikwa  guhabwa amasakramentu, uwishe umututsi mu gihe cya jenoside,  ubyiyemerera ku mugaragaro agakomeza kwihererwa amasakramentu.  Abakoreye jenoside abatutsi nabo ubwabo kuba barahagaritswe guhabwa  amasakramentu bagafata igihe cyo kubanza gufashwa gutekereza,  bakagarukira Imana, bagahuzwa nabo biciye, bakaganira nta buryarya,  bagahana imbabazi, bagasabana imbnabazi, bivugiye bo ubwabo ko  byabagaruriye ituze mu mutima. Ntawe ugarukira Imana yijujuta,  bagarukira Imana mu byishimo.  

Umunsi wo kugarukira Imana wabo, aba ari ubukwe budasanzwe muri  Paruwasi Mushaka. Abagarukiye Imana basubirana ikizere mu bakristu,  bagashingwa imirimo ya gitumwa ntawe ukibacira urubanza ku mutima.  Bamwe muri bo bafite inyigisho batanga bafasha abakoreye jenoside  abatutsiku garukira Imana nibo ubu bajyana nabo biyunze gutanga  ubuhamya bw’ubumwe n’ubwiyunge hirya no hino muyandi maparuwasi  ashaka gufashwa. 

Nyuma ya gacaca, byanze bikunze hagombe habe pastorale nshya igamije  kunga abantu, guhagarika abakoreye jenoside abatutsi, si igihano ni umuti  uvura abakorewe jenoside n’abayikoze kandi byumwihariko  amasakramentu. Hari ibyaha n’ibyaha!! Umuntu yice umuntu amuziza uko  Imana yamuremye mu Kiliziya turebere nkaho ari ibisanzwe! Muri Paruwasi  Mushaka abakristu barambiwe no kurebera hashyirwaho pastorale yihariye  kandi ntibyaguye abakristu nabi. 

Padiri Ubald RUGIRANGOGA 

Centre Ibanga ry’Amahoro. 

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SPECIAL RETREAT OPPORTUNITY
JUNE 15 2024

Our very own Bishop Edouard Sinayobye, Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese, Rwanda, and Center of PeaceBoard member is coming to NYC to join Immaculée Ilibagiza for her New York Retreat.

February 2024 Newsletter

In this Issue: Update from the ED; Commemorating Fr. Ubald; Fr. Ubald statue installation; Welcome Bishop Ricken

November 2023 Newsletter

In this Issue: Update from the ED; Messengers of Peace; Our three fold plan; Fr. Ubalds friends around the world; $85,000 matching grant

February 2023 Newsletter

In this Issue: Update from the ED; Remembering Fr. Ubald; Lent has begun; Rwanda Pilgrimage

Winter 2022 Newsletter

Update from the board. Growing and expanding Fr. Ubalds legacy with New Leadership

Katsey Long

Board Chairman

Katsey Long is a retired Clinical Social Worker, where she worked with children, adults and families. She did her undergraduate work at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA and her Master’s Degree work at the University of Denver. She worked to integrate the theological and spiritual framework of her Catholic faith into her profession. She worked with a team of professionals teaching and working with families in the areas of inner healing, generational and family healing, across the United States and Canada. For over 12 years she worked and traveled in Rwanda with Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga, working in the areas of trauma, forgiveness and healing with genocide survivors. She was the US contact for Fr. Ubald and saw the power of his testimony and prayer wherever he preached in the US and Rwanda. She was the Executive producer for the Documentary film on Fr. Ubald’s life, Forgiveness, the Secret of Peace, which won several awards in the USA and Africa. She is the current Board Chairman of the USA nonprofit foundation that works to support the Center for Peace in Rwanda and to promote the message and work of Fr. Ubald on forgiveness and healing.

In his own words…..

Father Ubald's Vision for the Center for the Secret of Peace

Dear friends:

On August 5/016 Excellence Bishop Jean Damascene Bimenyimana, Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese in Rwanda has blessed  statues of Our Lady of Kibeho, Merciful Jesus, Our Lady Queen of Love and Saint Josephine Bakhita at the Secret of peace Center. He blessed also Rosary way stations, the way of cross stations and the seven sorrows rosary stations at the same center.

The Secret of Peace Center becomes pilgrimage center, very attractive; people come from everywhere to come and pray at that center and get peace.

This is the daily schedule at the Secret of Peace Center.

Monday at 9:30 AM it is Rosary prayer through rosary way stations; at the end there is mass, adoration after the mass and at 3PM the Divine Mercy chapelet.

Tuesday at 9:30 AM it is seven sorrows rosary through the seven sorrows rosary stations; at the end the pilgrims have mass and after the mass it adoration. At 3PM it is Divine Mercy chapelet.

Wednesday like Monday.

Thursday it is pilgrimage of people with Holy Spirit devotion.

Friday it is the prayer through the way of cross stations with the mass at the end, adoration  and the divine chapelet at 3PM.

Saturday like Monday and Wednesday.

Every 13th of month, it is Fatima day, people come from every where to pray God through Virgin Mary. At the end of the mass it is healing prayer.

At the last Sunday of the month, there is mass with healing prayer at the Secret of Peace Center.

 

The Idea to found the Secret of Peace Center came to me after genocide against people from tutsi ethny. I remembered Virgin Mary when appearing to visionaries at Kibeho, I was seminarian at Nyakibanda Major Seminary; she wept because of the calamity which had to happen in Rwanda if people are not converted and love sincerely each other. Her message has not been understood. And the calamity occurred in Rwanda, it has been genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. What horror! More than one million people from Tutsi ethny in Rwanda have been killed in 3 monthes. From babies to old people, they have been killed without any mercy. We understood why Virgin Mary wept during apparitions at Kibeho. I survived miraculously genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. I witnessed evil spirit of hatred at work during genocide time. Evil spirit of revenge was spying right time to go on destroying Rwandese society after genocide against people from tutsi ethny. We had to fight it. There was nothing else to do instead of preaching forgiveness and reconciliation. I began such experience at Mushaka parish where I have been pastor after genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. That experience bore a lot of fruits. People have forgiven one another and begged pardon after Genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. I had  to go forward and  found a congregation  of people who had to work for peace after genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. When thinking at about how to begin with it I learnt that there is a sister, Sr .Donata who has had the same vision and had already begun with the community  “Missionaries of Peace of Christ the King”. I went and met her, after the meeting I promised her that instead of creating an other congregation with the same objective as hers better was to come and help her, thus I became co-founder of Missionaries of Peace of Christ the King. That congregation is working actively in peace making, helping in forgiveness and reconciliation after genocide against people from tutsi ethny, listening to people with inner wounds after genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. I bought the land next to the lake Kivu with intention to create a center, the “Secret of Peace Center ” that name I had it from God when praying. The money to buy that  land has been for me a gift from God. I can’t explain how I have got that money.The Secret of Peace Center stays a secret and has really a secret of peace.

Last August 5, 2016 after blessing the statues and stations of different spiritual ways told above the Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese declared that the Secret of Peace Center was a gift of Merciful Year, thus people have to come and make their pilgrimage and pray for peace.

Pray so that the vision on the Secret of Peace Center be realized, so generous people can help and sustain it.

Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga

Founder of the Secret of Peace Center.

 (See pictures taken at August/5/2016 in the gallery)

Jeffrey Black

Board Member

Jeffrey Black is a native of Mountain View, California. He is a graduate of Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science and Commerce degree in Finance. He retired in 2019 as an Executive Vice President in the Silicon Valley office of CBRE, a national real estate company, where he was a leader in the commercial real estate industry for 42 years. Jeffrey specialized in tenant representation of high technology companies in Silicon Valley, assisting them in the management of their real estate portfolios worldwide. Jeffrey has also served as a Director of Bella Vista Capital and Downtown College Prep, the oldest charter school in San Jose, California. Jeffrey met Father Ubald on a trip to Rwanda. He spent time with Father Ubald there, and on several of Father Ubald trips to the US where he learned about Father Ubald’s mission of peace through reconciliation and forgiveness. Jeffrey is excited to assist the Center for the Secret of Peace as they execute their strategic master plan to develop the Center in pursuit of Father Ubald’s mission.

Stuart Palmer

Board Member

Stuart Palmer was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona where he attended the University of Arizona earning a degree in Production Management with graduate work in Finance and Real Estate. A job at the Teton Valley Ranch, a summer ranch camp for boys and girls in 1967 led to his career as a camp director at the ranch for 20 years beginning in 1977. Married to Susie for 44 years, they are proud parents of three daughters.

Stuart served on boards of various community organizations (Rotary Club of Jackson Hole, Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Children's Learning Center, Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Parish, Latino Resource Center, Diocese of Cheyenne (WY) Bishop's Advisory Council, Wyoming Catholic Ministries Foundation, Jackson Hole Marian Conference, Hispanic Outreach - Mentoring and Education Center, and the local parish Knights of Columbus.) Stuart volunteered with the St. John's Hospital Spiritual Care/Chaplain team, Cub Scouts and the Jackson Police Department, He even conducted the 2000 winter U.S. Census in Yellowstone National Park by snowmachine. With 38 years as a member of Rotary International, Stuart has served in various club and District leadership capacities, including Rotary Governor. He led an extensive Rotary Cultural Exchange team to Brazil (1998). Susie and Stuart visited Russia (2009) with a Rotarian Humanitarian team, supporting a rural hospital, orphanage and school for the blind. He later traveled to Mexico (2008) delivering ambulances to the Red Cross south of Mexico City.

Stuart and Susie are long-distance walkers, having completed over 25 trails in the U.K. and Ireland. Rotary International recognized Stuart for his community and international service with the Service Above Self Award in 2021, an honor given annually to only 150 Rotarians worldwide with a membership of 1.3 million. Fr. Ubald healed Stuart of cancer in 2016 for which he is grateful to have been chosen by Fr. Ubald to serve on the Board of Directors for the Secret of Peace Ministries.

Amy Polasky

Trustee and Secretary of the board

Amy Polasky serves as a trustee and secretary of the corporation for the Center for Secret of Peace. Mrs. Polasky has worked in public policy and international relations for the past thirty years, serving in leadership capacities in the private sector, educational and not for profit organizations, as well as working for the United States House of Representatives. She founded and served as President of the Legislative Leadership Institute, which hosted an advanced degree program for Members of Parliament from around the world. She is also an award-winning issue expert in the field of health care policy, international relations, and genocide. 

Mrs. Polasky began her work with Fr. Ubald in 2009, serving as one of his initial hosts during his inaugural visit to the United States of America. She was instrumental in facilitating his forgiveness and healing mission at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States. She witnessed firsthand many miracles that God worked through Fr. Ubald at the shrine, and saw his masses in the area grow from just a few dozen faithful to thousands of people from across the country who came in search of healing, and to hear his story of faith and forgiveness.

Mrs. Polasky serves on a number of other boards, including the Our Lady of Kibeho Basilica Foundation, and is a national advisor to the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute. Mrs. Polasky lives in Green Bay, WI with her husband and their two children.

Bishop David Ricken

Board Member

David Laurin Ricken was born on November 9, 1952, to George William “Bill” and Bertha (Davis) Ricken in Dodge City, Kansas, the second of three children. He received his education in Ohio, and graduated from Conception Seminary College in Missouri. He conducted his theological studies at St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana and the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, where he earned his graduate degree in sacred theology and completed his seminary formation.

Bishop Ricken was ordained a priest in 1980 by the Bishop of Pueblo, Arthur Tafoya, at La Junta Catholic Parish in Colorado. Then in 1987, the then-Father Ricken attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received his Licentiate degree in Canon Law. He was nominated to be an official of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican in 1996, where he served through December 1999.

On Jan. 6, 2000, Bishop Ricken was ordained for the Diocese of Cheyenne at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, succeeding Bishop Joseph Hart as the seventh leader. During his tenure in the diocese, Bishop was one of the founding members of the Wyoming Catholic College. In July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Ricken the twelfth bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay. During his tenure, he issued several important letters, including “A New Moment for Catechesis in the Diocese of Green Bay," among other key documents.

Bishop Ricken is a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and presently serves on the Pro-Life and Evangelization and Catechesis committees. He is a member of the Bishops' Advisory Council for the Institute for Priestly Formation and the Catholic Mutual Relief Society, and serves on the Board of Director’s for Relevant Radio.

Bishop Édouard Sinayobye

Board Member

Mgr Édouard Sinayobye was born on 20 April 1966 in the District of Gisagara, Diocese of Butare. After primary school in Higiro, he did his secondary studies at the Petit Séminaire Saint-Léon de Kabgayi (where he graduated in Latin and modern languages). From 1993 to 1994, he studied at the Grand Séminaire Propédeutique de Rutongo. From 1994 to 2000, he studied philosophy and theology at the Grand Séminaire Saint-Charles Borromée in Nyakibanda. He was ordained a priest on 12 August 2000. After being ordained a priest, he exercised priestly ministry at Butare Cathedral Parish as parish vicar and director of the diocesan Justice and Peace Commission. In 2005, he was appointed parish priest of Gakoma Parish. From 2008 to 2013, he studied theology at the Instituto di spiritualita Teresianum in Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in spiritual theology. He is the author of several publications, including “Jean-Paul II, Pèlerin de l’espérance” and “Mère du Verbe à Kibeho, Un Charisme de renouvèlement spirituel pour notre temps. From 2013 until his appointment, he was Rector of the Regina Apostorolum Major Propaedeutic Seminary in Butare. On 06 February 2021, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Edouard SINAYOBYE as Bishop of the Diocese of Cyangugu. His consecration took place on 25 March 2021. His episcopal devotion is FRATERNITAS IN CHRISTO.

Elisabeth Sütter

Board Member

Traude Schröttner was born in 1943 in Austria, Europe. From a young age, she felt a deep compassion for those in need and initiated various charity projects in addition to her work as a payroll accountant. Since 1978, she has been working to aid the poor in Rwanda, driven by her faith. She has initiated numerous charity projects and, to this day, has built schools, kindergartens, houses, sanitary facilities, churches, and more in Rwanda. Traude met Father Ubald through a partnership with her home parish, and they have maintained a profound spiritual friendship. Traude supported Father Ubald’s mission in Europe and developed many of his projects in Rwanda. The Center for the Secret of Peace holds special significance for Traude, as she carries Father Ubald’s mission of peace in her heart and shares his message throughout Austria and Europe. Traude resides in Austria and regularly travels to Rwanda. Her granddaughter, Elisabeth, represents her on the board.

Betsy Ackerson, Ph.D.

Executive Director of the Center for the Secret of Peace Foundation

Betsy Ackerson is the inaugural Executive Director of the Center for the Secret of Peace Foundation. She has an extensive background in leadership, strategy, fundraising, and program development in higher education, secondary education, non-profit, and Christian ministry. Previously she served as President of a nationally recognized Catholic college preparatory school, in senior university administration at University of Virginia, and as co-principal of a start-up venture in Catholic education in Ireland. Earlier in her career Ackerson developed professional cross-cultural programming in Central and South America and Turkey, and served as a youth minister for 500 teenagers. She holds an undergraduate degree from Duke University, MBA from William & Mary, PhD from University of Virginia, and leadership certification from Harvard University.

Fr J. Robert Rubayita

Director of the Center for the Secret of Peace in Rwanda

Fr. Robert is a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Cyangugu, and serves as the Director of the Center for the Secret of Peace in Rwanda. He was ordained in 2002 in Mwezi, his home parish. Before being asked to serve at the Center for the Secret of Peace, he was Director of Caritas for the Diocese of Cyangugu, pastor in three different parishes in the Diocese, and Instructor of French and Latin Music in the Diocesan minor seminary. He holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University.

Solange Furaha

Secretary and Treasurer at the Center for the Secret of Peace

Solange was born in Nyamasheke, Rwanda and is married with four children. She was a Personal Secretary and Treasurer for Father Ubald Rugirangoga from 2009 until his death in 2021. She enjoys the work she does for the Center for the Secret of Peace. She holds a Degree from Kibogora Polytechnic University. In her daily life she loves peace, unity and reconciliation. Seeing people living well together makes sense. She loves morality and helping people both spiritually and physically. Solange also loves singing.

Fr. Ubald Habimana

Chaplain at the Center for the Secret of Peace

Fr. Ubald Habimana is a diocesan priest of Cyangugu Diocese, Rwanda and serves as a chaplain at the Center for the Secret of Peace. After secondary education, he attended priestly formation, where he studied Philosophy and Catholic Theology in Major Seminary. He was ordained a priest in July 2017. After his priestly ordination, he have been appointed to be a vicar in a parish, where he served two years, before starting his mission at the Center for the Secret of Peace in September 2019. He is thankful to serve the Center as it helps him to put into practice Christ's Gospel, where he says: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God"! So he is happy to provide a noble service that helps people not only to have peace but also to be peace messengers. Moreover, the late Father Ubald Rugirangoga is like a parent for Fr. Ubald Jr., as he is affectionately called, as Fr. Ubald Jr. was one of many whom the late Fr. Ubald financially assisted in his educational studies. Fr. Ubald Jr first came to know the late Fr. Ubald in 2002 and learned many things from him both in priestly vocation in general and in peace building culture specifically. 

In his own words…..

Father Ubald's Vision for the Center for the Secret of Peace

Dear friends:

On August 5/016 Excellence Bishop Jean Damascene Bimenyimana, Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese in Rwanda has blessed  statues of Our Lady of Kibeho, Merciful Jesus, Our Lady Queen of Love and Saint Josephine Bakhita at the Secret of peace Center. He blessed also Rosary way stations, the way of cross stations and the seven sorrows rosary stations at the same center.

The Secret of Peace Center becomes pilgrimage center, very attractive; people come from everywhere to come and pray at that center and get peace.

This is the daily schedule at the Secret of Peace Center.

Monday at 9:30 AM it is Rosary prayer through rosary way stations; at the end there is mass, adoration after the mass and at 3PM the Divine Mercy chapelet.

Tuesday at 9:30 AM it is seven sorrows rosary through the seven sorrows rosary stations; at the end the pilgrims have mass and after the mass it adoration. At 3PM it is Divine Mercy chapelet.

Wednesday like Monday.

Thursday it is pilgrimage of people with Holy Spirit devotion.

Friday it is the prayer through the way of cross stations with the mass at the end, adoration  and the divine chapelet at 3PM.

Saturday like Monday and Wednesday.

Every 13th of month, it is Fatima day, people come from every where to pray God through Virgin Mary. At the end of the mass it is healing prayer.

At the last Sunday of the month, there is mass with healing prayer at the Secret of Peace Center.

 

The Idea to found the Secret of Peace Center came to me after genocide against people from tutsi ethny. I remembered Virgin Mary when appearing to visionaries at Kibeho, I was seminarian at Nyakibanda Major Seminary; she wept because of the calamity which had to happen in Rwanda if people are not converted and love sincerely each other. Her message has not been understood. And the calamity occurred in Rwanda, it has been genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. What horror! More than one million people from Tutsi ethny in Rwanda have been killed in 3 monthes. From babies to old people, they have been killed without any mercy. We understood why Virgin Mary wept during apparitions at Kibeho. I survived miraculously genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. I witnessed evil spirit of hatred at work during genocide time. Evil spirit of revenge was spying right time to go on destroying Rwandese society after genocide against people from tutsi ethny. We had to fight it. There was nothing else to do instead of preaching forgiveness and reconciliation. I began such experience at Mushaka parish where I have been pastor after genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. That experience bore a lot of fruits. People have forgiven one another and begged pardon after Genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. I had  to go forward and  found a congregation  of people who had to work for peace after genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. When thinking at about how to begin with it I learnt that there is a sister, Sr .Donata who has had the same vision and had already begun with the community  “Missionaries of Peace of Christ the King”. I went and met her, after the meeting I promised her that instead of creating an other congregation with the same objective as hers better was to come and help her, thus I became co-founder of Missionaries of Peace of Christ the King. That congregation is working actively in peace making, helping in forgiveness and reconciliation after genocide against people from tutsi ethny, listening to people with inner wounds after genocide against people from Tutsi ethny. I bought the land next to the lake Kivu with intention to create a center, the “Secret of Peace Center ” that name I had it from God when praying. The money to buy that  land has been for me a gift from God. I can’t explain how I have got that money.The Secret of Peace Center stays a secret and has really a secret of peace.

Last August 5, 2016 after blessing the statues and stations of different spiritual ways told above the Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese declared that the Secret of Peace Center was a gift of Merciful Year, thus people have to come and make their pilgrimage and pray for peace.

Pray so that the vision on the Secret of Peace Center be realized, so generous people can help and sustain it.

Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga

Founder of the Secret of Peace Center.

 (See pictures taken at August/5/2016 in the gallery)