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Our Lady of Kibeho

Our Lady of Kibeho

Our Lady of Kibeho refers to a series of Marian apparitions that occurred in Kibeho, Rwanda, beginning in 1981. Three schoolgirls—Alphonsine Mumureke, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, and Marie Claire Mukangango—reported visions of the Virgin Mary, who identified herself as “Nyina wa Jambo” or “Mother of the Word.” The apparitions conveyed messages emphasizing prayer, repentance, and conversion, with warnings of impending violence that many believe foreshadowed the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. In 2001, the Catholic Church officially recognized these apparitions as authentic. Today, Kibeho is a significant pilgrimage site, with the Feast of Our Lady of Kibeho celebrated annually on November 28.

History of Our Lady of Kibeho

Kibeho is known to be a small town which is found in the southern part of Rwanda in Nyaruguru district. It’s a few meters from the residence of Gikongoro’s bishop as well as the Bishop of Butare. Kibeho is famous because of the Apparitions and pilgrimages.

On 28^th of November 1981, the first apparition of Mary was when a student of Kibeho High school by the names of Alphonsine Mumureke saw a lady who presented herself with the name Nyina wa Jambo” which means Mother of the word. Alphonsine recognized her as the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. This happened subsequently and many times where she asked everybody to convert, keep faith and to pray without hypocrisy. At first, she was considered to be mad or unhappy girl who is possessed by demons. Some took it as a mediocre student who wants to play a prank so as to be accepted in the school conducted by the congregation of Benebikira sisters.

On 21^st march 1965 Alphonsine was born in Cyizihira in Zaza parish. Her mother was Mary Immaculate Mukagasana and the father was Thaddee Gakwaya. At 12 years Alphonsine was baptized on 27^th July 1977 and by the time of the apparitions, she had just been admitted at Kibeho High School. Later on, two other alleged seers appeared in the high school and these were Nathalie Mukamazimpaka on January and Claire Mukangango on march 2^nd 1982.

Nathalie was born in 1964 in Munini in the present district of Nyaruguru and her father was Laurent Ngango and the mother Gaudence Mukabaziga. She was baptized on February 2^nd 1968 at the age of 4 years. By the time of the apparitions, she was registered in the Kibeho High school in the 4^th class. She became famous because of the message of redemptive suffering and unceasing prayer for a world that is very bad and at risk of falling into a pit.

When Marie Claire Mukangango declared herself as a seer of the virgin Mary in march 2^nd 1982, it was like a bomb exploding within the school. Marie Claire was Born in 1961 and her father was Baseka while her mother was Veronique Nyiratuza. At the age of 5 years, Marie was baptized on 12 1966. During the apparitions, she was schooling at kibeho high school. As a seer she was known for the message of the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary which was associated with a call to repentance.

On the increased number of the overseers solved the situation that was created by Alphonsine where the other two cases mostly the one of Claire was a good sign coming from heaven to show that the prayers of Alphonsine were answered. After, different witnesses began to believe in the apparitions after the extra ordinary experience of Marie Claire. However the number of new seers outside the school increased and after July 1982, there was a question on the alleged apparitions of Jesus which was seven months after the first apparitions

The apparitions were characterized by abundance of words, prayers of intercession, songs, length of ecstasies, repeated falls during the same apparition on certain days and blessings especially by means of water. Alphosine took up a mystical journey on march 20 1982 where she spent several hours with the virgin Mary in places that she describes in symbolic languages which one can think of purgatory and heaven but with a different vocabulary. Nathalie Mukamazimpaka as well had a similar experience on October 30^th 1982 which was observed by a team from the bishop`s theological commission.

On 28, 1989, the apparitions of kibeho officially ended where Alphonsine experienced the virgins last apparition in public where she clearly stated that she will not have more apparitions publicly. This date is kept by the ecclesiastical authority as the time-limit for the occurrence of these phenomena.

The issue of numerous self-proclaimed seers emerging, particularly around Kibeho, and spreading alleged divine messages without official church approval. These seers often left their homes to stay in religious households or travelled to various regions, sometimes even abroad, claiming to have missions from Jesus or the Virgin Mary. They sought to gain the attention of religious and civil authorities, though their messages were often repetitive and unsettling.

In response, church authorities including Bishop Jean Baptiste Gahamanyi of Butare and Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, made it clear that the events at Kibeho were still under scrutiny and that no seer had been given any official mission or endorsement by the Church. Both bishops cautioned the faithful to use common sense and discernment when dealing with these self-proclaimed visionaries, as many were considered suspect or false. Over time, some pilgrims became more adept at recognizing which seers were credible and which were not.

Structure of Our Lady Of Kibeho

The structure of the Our Lady of Kibeho Church can be understood in terms of its physical architecture, spiritual significance, and its role as a pilgrimage site. Here’s an overview:

1. Physical Architecture

Location: The church is situated in Kibeho, a small town in southern Rwanda, known for the Marian apparitions that took place in the 1980s.

Design: The architecture of the church is typically simple yet profound, reflecting the humble and spiritual nature of the apparitions. It often includes traditional elements common in Rwandan religious structures, such as a spacious nave for congregational gatherings and a prominent altar area.

Sanctuary: The focal point of the church is the sanctuary, which houses the altar and is the site where religious ceremonies and Masses are conducted.

Shrines and Statues: The church features statues of the Virgin Mary, particularly Our Lady of Kibeho, and often has shrines dedicated to the visionaries and key aspects of the apparitions, such as the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows.

2. Spiritual Significance

Altar: The altar is central to the spiritual life of the church, where the Eucharist is celebrated. It symbolizes the presence of Christ and serves as the primary location for liturgical rituals.

Stations of the Cross: The church may also feature the Stations of the Cross, reflecting the journey of Christ’s Passion, which is integral to the devotion and prayer life of pilgrims

Confessionals: Spaces for the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) are also part of the church’s structure, emphasizing the themes of repentance and forgiveness highlighted in the apparitions.