Martyrs Church in Rwanda 13 Testimonials Neocatechumenal brothers Enrico Zabe
Kigali, September 5 , 1994
dear brothers:
Peace be with you all. For just over a week I meet again in Rwanda, Burundi step. The Lord has provided us all and opened the doors for us to find the remaining brothers and hear from others. The brothers are recovering slowly. Some have lived these three months of hidden war, starvation, stress, and everything that entails. All have been marked by the presence of the Lord at his side.
The word of God, psalms, songs of Easter echoed Inside, they have given encouragement and hope. Is not the same experience these terrible events with a little "salt" that gives the Lord, to live them nothing! In general, the Neocatechumenal communities of the south, ie Lungombwa, Butare and Nyanza there are so many brothers dead in Kigali things have gone a little better: to us, but especially to the brothers of the capital, has seemed clear that God has for them a design for the days to come, in the sense that they have escaped unscathed out of this storm is due solely to the grace and the Lord's will, so they become salt and light ferment of this city and this country. This has pushed immediately the brothers to look for each other and begin to gather for celebrations. They claim to have experienced the Resurrection have passed from death announced in death foretold, watching the Easter came true, ie, seeing God's intervention that saved them from death were where they should have been humanely killed. First Fresh Scrutiny and especially by the celebration of Easter night, in these liturgies were strong for food and source of hope alive and real.
In Nyanza, though they killed many who have survived the Passover: two girls, in different situations, twice were thrown into the hole with other bodies, full of wounds and beatings, and twice made it out of him finding salvation. Another girl, who was last year in Denver died praying for the murderers who made pieces. With her was her father, also of the community, and a brother of meat: the mother and other brothers and sisters fled to take another direction and were also killed. The whole family is just a boy. In Butare knew a boy who killed the way to agreeing not to kill, otherwise willing to die for having hidden two sisters sought by the murderers.
Listen to testimonies of the brothers has been a great comfort to me. See the illumination of some brothers and sisters has been catechesis unique: made life events, not empty words.
recent days were also in Gisenyi and Goma. In Gisenyi brothers could find, some are living, but we lacked time to find material. But there also have killed many. Remember that only the dead are diocesan priests 3l! There is now a church apparently destroyed, beaten shepherd and scatter the flock. Also here in Kigali and in general in the country has a great sense of disarray and disappointment too had been built with bricks and cement little true faith! Now everyone says they do catechesis lack of Neocatechumenal also those who previously were too severe for us to say that no Christian faith or love. Many people outside the road, also including bishops, priests and religious, have been as stunned in disbelief and incapable of any reaction after such a tragedy. We believe that siblings are more or less numerous as the places are good and new leaven which will remake the fabric of this Church and this country.
In the coming days still try to see and find a celebration of the Word and the Eucharist to the brothers, before leaving Cyanguye and Bukavu, and then to Burundi, where we hope to accomplish something with the Archbishop.
However, the situation for one who had not known before it happened, it seems almost standard, except for some obvious signs of war debris, collapsed houses, etc. But people coming from Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Zalre, filled (full) the city there is an air of victory and of novelty, but in this apparent normality huge gaps exist: some have lost 10, another 15, 20, 30 or more families. And these losses are making the heart bleed, and no trade or other things that could heal, so there is need for preaching, proclaiming the love, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. We expected a lot of work and maybe some persecution. But the Lord watches over us and nothing can harm us.
See you on October 25th, nothing unexpected. We're fine. Ignacio and Jeanne greet with a holy kiss.
Peace. Enrico
Zabe
Brief notes on the recent visit to the brothers who are Neocatechumenal communities in Rwanda (25/19 - 24/10 94)
El Camino in its first phase is present since October 1989 in 5 dioceses of (9), 8 parishes, 19 communities, of which one is in the Shema, and three in the first ballot.
Nyanza Diocese of Butare
1st Community
- JUSTIN Furaha , priest, killed with sticks and machetes on May 30 when he and two other brothers, made them out of prison in Butare "to return to freedom "through a side passage. They went out behind the wall, was a group of militants (or prisoners themselves) waiting for: a mass grave was there beside, were killed.
priest since 1980, Justin had known the Neocatechumenal in London, where he made the catechism with Paul and his wife. Back to Rwanda was at first at the minor seminary professor; then, from 88 to 93, pastor of Nyanza, where, while in 89 team, immediately asked the catechism. I knew it was hated by the regime (a Tutsi royal family) and was expected to stop him and kill him, given the influence he had exerted in Nyanza, especially through the ministry of Neocatechumenate. It was a miracle that would achieve in October 90 to avoid prison, following a search and interrogation. Also because in Nyanza communities, linked to Justin, they took a particular hatred for the massacres.
Justin since September 93 was in Save, historic First Parish Church in Rwanda. Massacres erupted, Save the catechism was completing the final living to which they had gone about 150 brethren.
jovial and optimistic, determined and combative, Justin gave encouragement to everyone and said, especially in recent times: "We must fight against fear, if we are not finished too soon!". He escaped murderers and saved a woman, leaning over the group at full speed and getting threatening an iron bar.
The more than 150 monks gathered Benebikira Save to a refresher course after Easter week, threatened with looting and violence, fled dispersed and hiding in the hills. Justin confronted the militants, he deals with them, and when they left was to find the sisters and got him back to the convent.
He was warned that they were seeking, and he reported it to the bishop, but could not get help because of the situation as deteriorating. Taken prisoner under the gaze of his brothers as they left the dining hall after lunch, he was taken to prison in Butare. He asked the brethren breviary and he wrote that it was full of joy because I could praying for them, this made him feel in communion with all and made him happy.
hope to collect some manuscript of Justin and the note he wrote to them his brothers in prison. Mindful
how I know to be his catechist and brother in the priesthood, I believe that Justin died a martyr. I suggested that talking to the Rornain seminarian, who hoped the keys and the "secrets" of the parish before being taken by the military in civilian clothes and who had committed particularly in those last days Save Justin said: "It's time: the river reaches the end of its course now serves no fight! '. In this seminary have asked him to write a detailed account of the last days of Justin and send it to us.
Justin always had welcomed and housed in Nyanza and helped us with great generosity Neocatechumenal sincerely loved, especially by what he had helped him. The Lord has given you a hundredfold!
- JEAN-BAPTISTE and Bernadette: marriage responsible. The first killed in Nyanza. Their home pitch on the floor. The soldiers and militiamen took it out on them as leaders of the First Community, embodied in the Neocatechumenal Nyanza.
22 or April 23, Jean-Baptiste and Bernadette made them out of house and ground to a pulp. While being beaten, Jean-Baptiste shouted: "Why I do this?, What evil have I done?". Remember the Passion. Bernadette rather silent, and every hit had run a bead of the rosary. In a moment of pause Jean-Baptiste tried to escape into the woods nearby, but the shots they cut off the pace. They caught him and beat him again, then lowered it to Bernadette at the slaughterhouse and there killed them with machetes and threw them in the huge mass grave dug by hand.
I note that the slaughter were led many other brothers in Nyanza. In line with Isaiah 53. Emphasize the cruelty against the brothers accused of meeting communities at night (the celebrations!) To plot against the regime in favor of the rebels of the Patriotic Front. Was naturally a pretext, one of the brothers, Augustin Nyamurinda, tried in vain to undo the commander of the gendarmerie and the vice-prefect of Nyanza.
A younger brother, Innocent Habyarimana, a survivor of the massacre with his wife and her daughter Eugenie, told us that during his flight had heard militias, who are also fugitives from Nyanza, having admired the way in which the brothers communities had died. A militia had clashed with dignity and serenity that the brothers faced death: a totally different way to others. The brothers, in fact, surrendered without resistance, without despair, without insulting and without hate. And this attitude, certainly did not mean the absence of fear, was also very young children of the brothers, children, in fact, small steps, head down, the closed hands, arms folded across his chest, faced with the horrific death parents. For these militants, mocking them, they shouted: "I have taught you well in your night sessions discipline (military) to deal with death."
back to Jean Baptiste and Bernadette, his 15 children, some adopted, the smallest were saved because they were hidden in a first time home of a couple of brothers Twa (pygmy), Anastasia and Joseph, and then the orphanage Parents' Rogacionistas under a false name. Older children were killed almost everyone. A daughter, Rosina, 16, of the 2 nd Community, was hit twice, one bullet pierced his shoulder, thought he was dead and was thrown into the pit, and left it around for hours, at night The city, among untold suffering and fear, hiding and then with some acquaintances and finally in the orphanage of praying.
- brothers Francois: superior of the local community of Benebikira, catechist brave. Normally, the night before giving catechesis Road, could not sleep and even vomited at times I had eaten, because of stress. Always sickly, was transformed when he gave catechesis and people impacted much preaching.
shattered on April 24 afternoon and left for dead, with another sister was thrown on a pile of corpses in a very deep hole. For 3 days we heard their cries. In vain the surviving nuns, the elderly and fearful, they tried to take it out by throwing a rope: middle of the hole could not help but also because of the fractures and wounds of the arms. The sisters then turned to the police station, instead of sending relief workers sent to the militants, who threw stones at the hole, finishing with her sister Françoise and closing the hole with soil. Sister Françoise
was closely linked to Neocatechumenal and therefore had fought stubbornly to their major superiors who wanted change, always getting in the end, stay in Nyanza, making the road.
Thinking about your physical and personal weakness is to exclaim: truly the Lord is the strength of those without strength, He gives the weak strength of martyrdom!
Nyanza's sister promised to give us safe testimonials on how he died soeur Françoise. In fact we have asked all surviving brothers Nyanza testimonies make us get insurance, real, authentic about how they killed their brothers in the community, evidence that can comfort and build faith.
- (Marie-) UWERA GRACE, Grace for the brothers, aged 25, teacher, catechist. Gorgeous girl, enters the road in the first catechism of October 89. It was already its fifth year of road and had enough experience of catechesis, both the first and the second team of catechists in their community. Last year he came to Denver, together with the youth group in Paris. Those who have known at that time (Danielle) noted how Grace came up in a call from the Lord. In "Fort Collins" Grace had responded with joy to the vocational call, but thought rather a roaming call.
Grace had thrown us a big hand in the translation of the initial catechesis Kinyarwanda (now running away, we lost everything: the translation and the diskettes on which were recorded), had always accepted gladly accompany his team in the catechesis outside the parish (in Gakoma, 45 km from Nyanza, twice), with attendant risks and discomfort: traveling in the back of the truck in the cold and rain, the insecurity of night (one night he accompanied the team to help with the confessions in the penitential around, and later, ran into two armed guards pointing their rifles and charged for shooting, I cried with my voice still! Us! ... but scary!) pay themselves rent a car to take them and bring them, gasoline, etc. Grace had obeyed us regarding a decision to be taken with regard to a French guy who was behind it after Denver.
least three times I've asked the father Bosco and Helene in the convent to tell me everything they knew of the death of Grace. The story, as simple and beautiful, is worthy of the martyrs of the early Church, which has nothing to envy, and converge on one point: Grace died asking God for his murderers.
After April 6, the day of shooting down the presidential plane and the beginning of the massacres, Grace took refuge during the night with a couple Hutu community, Michel and Berthilde, marriage who came to Rome for the coexistence of Bishops from Africa. later, there was no longer safe there, slept with their parents and siblings, out, outdoor, hidden, to avoid being caught in the house. When they reached the murderers fled with her sister Letizia, 20, the second community, bringing the Bible. His parents and his younger brothers escaped in another direction. All were arrested and killed. Grace's family is just a boy, Delphin, 18 or 19, who is in the third community if I'm wrong. Trapped by the militants, Grace was brought to a checkpoint where the executions were made and where was the mass grave. Before being killed requested time to pray. He told his murderers: mundekere Akanya, nisabire nkabasabira: "leave me a moment to pray for me and also for you." Taking the Bible opened ("random?), Read, prayed, and then went to the murderers saying moo icyo ímoneho Mushak!:" Now do as you please. " Y offered his head. It seems that was hit first with a blow hoe (all utensils were used to beat and kill!) On the head, then finished with her machete. I have heard his martyrdom came to mind Ariwarite Negapeta Sister Clementine, Zaiter, Isiro dead at the hands of Simba in 64, died praying and forgiving their murderers ...
- MATTMEU , curate, 68, a priest from the 56, from 87 Nyanza, always very friendly to the side (we called her, exclaiming emphatically, with arms wide open, "the apostles Travellers'), friendly communities and the pastoral Justin. I've always heard good things of the Neocatechumenal. In the last catechesis that was ending in Nyanza, it was he who followed the team during the catechesis on behalf of the pastor. Would not leave the parish on April 23 at the beginning of the massacres in Nyanza. Welcomed the military was to capture and kill him dressed in robes, leading a procession near the Gospel (or the Bible or a breviary). The soldier ahead of him carrying the gun to the back, the barrel pointing backwards. Father walked with dignity and solemnity, knew what he faced! After spending a little door that led outside the compound of the parish, a copse, left a first shot that struck the father Matthieu, then the soldier turned and ended with him a second shot.
After living in Nyanza, in the parish, some time, I can testify to the faithfulness and love for the priesthood of Father Matthieu, and his great humility in the sacrament of reconciliation, for which resorted to me often.
Nyanza
Conclusion: When you meet again to Nyanza surviving brothers, we have 51 out of the six communities. Some even came from the catechesis that was ending in the parish.
went to look for the brothers to the hills of Nyanza, the neighborhood streets, as indications that we had for possible survivors.
Nyanza has left the impression of a city specter, ghost, deserted. We had seen her alive, full of people in the market, the taxi-bus stop in the parish, etc. Now, after the massacres, was almost deserted, Everywhere a great silence. Here and there a ragged dress, some shoes left by the dead or those who escaped.
faces, few, found we were unknown. Many houses of the "Tutsi" ruined.
On our first visit to Nyanza are only 5 or 6 brothers, happy and surprised to see us, believed we muerto, porque oyeron que habíamos escapado por la colina de Kigali a pie y que habíamos perdido contacto con los hermanos de Kigall que nos alojaban y que no habían vuelto a vernos.
La mañana antes de dejar Nyanza di una vuelta durante dos horas por los barrios de la ciudad. Escombros, destrucción, silencio. Tampoco la parroquia había empezado a alojar al nuevo párroco designado, Bosco. Los domingos todavía no se celebraba la misa; se hacían sólo celebraciones penitenciales o, más bien, vía crucis... con la finalidad de reconciliar los ánimos...
La gente que viene a instalarse a Nyanza viene de fuera, quizá incluso de fuera del país: de Uganda, de Burundi...
Nyanza ancient royal city was the capital of the kingdom, and that was inhabited by many 'Tutsi' that explains the large number of people massacred there.
communities were formed by brothers of the two ethnic groups, moreover, had some brothers Batwa (pygmies). We know that a brother "Hutu refugee Zalre is in Bukavu and surrounding areas. These include: Michel and Berthilde to whom especially Ignacio, but I once stayed; Augustin Scholastique Syamurinda and who hid and escaped the slaughter to some "Tutsi", although older children do great damage . We
essentially a battalion innumerable of brothers who pray for us and for the Neocatechumenal. TE MARTYRUM candidatus laudat exercitus ......
Cyangugu - Cathedral Parish
were two communities: a more numerous in the cathedral itself and the other in a neighborhood near the airport. Cyangugu is in front of Bukavu, on the southern tip of Lake Kivu, where the river runs Rusizi which flows into Lake Tanganyika in Bujumbura. In Cyangugu
few dead brothers, 5 or 6. In the refugee camp of Nyarushishi, where survivors were camped refugees in Cyangugu stadium, we found some sisters: 3 who were widowed and 4 girls: Alphonsine, Léotalie, Françoise, etc. Those who first saw us come in a UN truck had picked up hitchhiking we were repeating, "God visits us and to Abraham, we visit with her three angels, as he visited Abraham." i was very touching!
Amid an extension of armored cars, strips of white and blue plastic tents, a tide of people between small and large, we were welcomed with joy, wonder and appreciation. The sisters took, giving a great return, the shops to find the others. For two hours long with 10 sisters were under the tent listening and responding to their many questions.
a young community were born in the summer of 93. We were told immediately that the hills to escape had been concerned to find especially the Bible and the Léon-Dufour (80 themes translated in Kinyarwanda) and who had always prepared and conducted the Word. Refuge with them had been a boy of Nyanza, a community (the third, I think) older than yours, but always at the stage of pre-catechumenate. Helped by him and he had done regularly and with joy. Striking to note that not uttered a word of sorrow, anger, grief or gossip. And yet, for the past 6 months and had nothing and ate corn with beans cooked, and only that! The Word the satiated. We are truly impressed by his joy.
Alphonsine, the eldest, who had been killed husband, children and other loved ones, we asked, inter alia, a question: "We know the murderers of our loved ones are still there in the hills, they are our neighbors We know them well: can we report them to the soldiers of the Patriotic Front? Is it not fair do? ". To which Ignacio, preventing my healing moralism, inspired replied: "We do not have human responses themselves about it. But there is an answer from the Lord ...». "Yes, forgive and love our enemies. But it is not easy ... But is the truth! ". It was a joy to recall them again with the Kerygma, the mission of the Church, catechesis of coexistence final sermon on the mountain. After all this Alphonsine, heating, and repeated cries, "Yes, this is the truth, this is the truth", as if to underscore that there can be other truths for herself and her companions as to say that he expects of us this response, confirming that the path is not a hoax but the truth. Two hours long
lively and full of joy, serenity, great comfort and gratitude to God. While having nothing, had everything! None us asked for nothing as money or the like. Indeed, this was for me a sign, also in other communities, no one asked for money, instead very ordinary thing if we were identified with the classic foreign missionary. In contrast, sibling brothers! Sign that has born a new type of mission, evangelism, missionary. Leaving
refugee camp in the afternoon, the rain, accompanied by the sisters to the ends of the field, in the eyes visibly curious peacekeepers who presided over the field. Have wondered: But who are these white foreigners?
The next day was Sunday, Oct. 16. After Mass in the cathedral are other siblings. Among them Vedaste, who risked his life several times under the threat of the militants because he went to visit the sisters 'Tutsi' camp, where he "Hutu", helping with food and other things. Once a soldier pushed him to the edge of the road pointing a gun to his forehead ... but without the bullet out.
Faustin also including the responsible. He told us that the military came looking to force him to join the militias in the massacres. Faustin, calling the wife and children, made public profession of faith, saying: "We want to be Christians and do not want to do anything against law of God, not wanting to hurt anyone, neither I nor my wife or my children. Here we all are. Do us what you like, but none of our family, neither I nor my wife or my children do something that is wrong. " Whereupon the soldier left cheek marked with a bayonet (you notice a scar showy) and hit him on the hands and arms with the butt of the rifle. A Faustin was not killed, but despite almost beneath his house opened a huge mass grave and Faustin was well witnessed the many executions per day. We know that many siblings of Cyangugu are refugees in neighboring Zalre in Bukavu and the surrounding ...
( Translated from Italian by Fernando Rodriguez de la Torre)
(Explanatory notes Bonnet Enrique Perales)
(Article of the international theological journal
Communio, No. 5, 1995, pags 477-488
Ediciones Encuentro Ed, SA)
