Monthly Archives: May 2026

In a spirit of thanksgiving, reflection, and appreciation for the dignity of work, Caritas Rwanda celebrated the Labor Day at Centre Missionnaire Lavigerie Kigali on May 1, 2026.

The day started with the celebration of Holy Mass. In his sermon, Father Oscar Kagimbura, Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda stated that Saint Joseph is celebrated on the Labor Day because he is the role modal of workers / employees. As he stated, Saint Joseph honored his profession/job which was considered as cheap while keeping raising the son of God (Jesus).

Father Oscar invited all employees to accomplish with zeal their responsibilities but also doing well whatever they do even small chores at home. During the Mass, Caritas Rwanda staff thanked God for the blessing of jobs they are doing, but also prayed for unemployed people.

After the Holy Mass, the Employees Representative Committee was presented to new staff, followed by a presentation on the responsibilities of the Health and Safety Committee, including promoting overall health and mental well-being; ensuring appropriate conditions and support for employees to work in a safe and healthy environment; preparing for emergency situations; and protecting confidential information.

The participants also benefited from presentations on (i) promoting Caritas Spirit within the Family and beyond, (ii) Overview on Caritas Rwanda safeguarding policy and (iii) introduction to HR Policy.

The ceremony concluded with the awarding of certificates to employees marking 5, 10, and 15 years of service at Caritas Rwanda, as well as the recognition of Mr. Constantin Shyaka as the Outstanding Employee of the Year 2025.

On Thursday, April 30, 2026, Caritas Rwanda and its affiliated institutions, Librairie Caritas Ltd and Centenary House Ltd, paid tribute to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, including former colleagues, at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial.

The commemoration included reflections on the history of the genocide against the Tutsi, particularly focusing on the history of the area where the Nyanza Genocide Memorial is located, testimonies, and wreath-laying in remembrance of the victims.

In addition, participants visited different sections of the memorial while receiving explanations about its history and significance.

In the opening prayer, Fr. Oscar Kagimbura, Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda, prayed for the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, emphasizing that remembering them is an act of dignity and humanity, even though it is emotionally painful. He offered special prayers for former Caritas Rwanda employees who were killed during the genocide.

Ms. Huss Monique, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Kicukiro District, commended Caritas Rwanda for organizing an event that helps educate young people about the country’s history. “We thank Caritas for organizing this event so that the young employees can learn about our history, while older generations play their role in teaching them and strengthening the spirit of unity and resilience among Rwandans, so that genocide never happens again.”, she said.

Representing Ibuka, Ahishakiye Naphtal also thanked Caritas Rwanda for organizing the commemoration in honor of more than one million innocent victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including over 105,000 victims resting at Nyanza Genicide Memorial, while also paying tribute to its former employees. He added that it is important to appreciate the Rwanda Government for creating the opportunity and environment that allow Rwandans to remember together.

Fr. Vedaste Kayisabe, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda and guest of honor, recalled that Caritas Rwanda was founded in 1959 under the name Secours Catholique Rwandais during a difficult historical period that later culminated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with the mission of helping people in distress. He emphasized that during this commemoration period, everyone should strive for three important values: “(i) remembering, (ii) promoting unity by working together to build the nation, the Church, and humanity, and (iii) rebuilding ourselves through solidarity and mutual support.”

The former Caritas Rwanda employees who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are: Rugangura Alphonse, Niyibizi Léopold, Beneyezu Eugène, Karangwa Claver, Bunangwa Eugène, Seromba Raphaël, and Nyirababili Joséphine.

 

In collaboration with Caritas Kabgayi, Caritas Rwanda conducted an awareness session on April 29, 2026, to promote the Caritas Spirit at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary of Kabgayi.

The session included a presentation on the social doctrine of the Church, the history of Caritas, and the importance of fostering a culture of compassion and service to the most vulnerable, delivered by Sister Gaudiose Nyiraneza, in charge of Awareness and Emergency Response in the Social Welfare Department of Caritas Rwanda.

Following the above presentation, Jean Népomuscène Hakizimana, Head of the Social Welfare Department at Caritas Kabgayi, explained how the Charity Month initiative is implemented and how dioceses have been mobilizing contributions since 2019.

Jean Népomuscène also highlighted the message of Pope Francis on the role of Caritas in the Church’s mission, shared during his meeting with leaders of Caritas Internationalis on May 16, 2023. The Pope emphasized that Caritas is essential to the life of the Church, stating that without Caritas, the Church itself would not exist, underscoring the inseparable bond between Caritas and the Church.

A message seminarians will carry forward

After expressing gratitude to the delegations from Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Kabgayi, Father Claudien Mutuyimana, Rector of Kabgayi Major Seminary, affirmed that the seminarians would put the message into practice: “The poor belong to God, and God entrusts them to us so that we may serve Him through them and show them God’s love through charity acts, as Christ taught us. If we truly desire to belong to Him, we must place the poor at the center. As Pope Benedict XVI said, helping the poor means giving them what is rightfully theirs: it is restoring the dignity that God bestowed upon them.” 

During an interview with Caritas Rwanda, some seminarians shared that they already engage in charity acts among themselves. During Lent and Advent, they organize collections, make personal sacrifices, and extend support to vulnerable people outside the seminary. Their outreach particularly benefits patients at Kabgayi Hospital, prisoners at Muhanga Correctional Facility, and communities surrounding the seminary. They also regularly participate in blood donation activities.

Such awareness initiatives help nurturing future Caritas leaders committed to human dignity, social justice, and service to others.

It is worth noting that a similar awareness session was previously conducted at Saint Joseph Major Seminary of Rutongo on April 22, 2026.