Shyogwe Team Schedule – an account of our visit to Rwanda

We arrived safely on a Wednesday morning and drove from the capital Kigali to the Shyogwe Diocesan compound an hour to the west. The scenery was stunning - hills as far as you can see, and as lush and green as can be.

Bishop Jered Kalimba welcomed us in his office on arrival, and was genuinely so thrilled that we were there. Our mission partnership with Shyogwe is about people more so than projects. It was so important for us to be present, to show our love and appreciation for him as he retires after 27 years of episcopal ministry.  We’ve shared so much with him, both in Rwanda as well as in Ireland. 

Arriving at the Hallelujah Guesthouse, marquees were already being assembled, cables and speakers set up, and seating arranged for the consecration of the Bishop-Elect (now just Bishop!) Louis. 

On Friday we experienced our first church service, lasting three hours. It was a service of inauguration of the new church in Hanika parish, as it has been massively enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation and also upgraded to the new government building standards. Church members had done all the hard work raising the walls, and funds from the CMSI link parishes had helped pay for the roof. Bishop Jered thought he would throw in confirmation and communion to add to the celebrations!

We visited some schools and clinics as well, and were impressed by how much is being done in the diocese, as well as being shocked by some of the obvious needs.

On Saturday evening, Bishop Jered’s last day in-post as diocesan bishop, we were honoured to attend a celebration at his home, alongside diocesan staff and clergy, and the whole House of Bishops. He treated us to traditional music, dancing and food, as well as a copy of his newly published autobiography ‘My Journey’.

The following day began early.  The procession moved off at 8am with ranks of robed clergy and organisations like Boys’ Brigade and Mothers’ Union (including Sara and Rachel in their blue and white robes), all joining the main congregation around 8.30am. There were 5,000 worshippers in attendance. It was a very uplifting service, joyous for the consecration of Bishop Louis, and moving to see Bishop Jered return from the laying on of hands – not to his seat in the row of serving bishops, but among other clergy.

As a team, we were so privileged to be part of it all, representing our respective partner parishes of Castlerock and Tuam Cathedral.