EYM Rwanda - Apostleship of Prayer

MOUVEMENT EUCHARISITIQUE DES JEUNES
RWANDA
INKORAMUTIMA Z’UKARISTIYA
STATISTICS
Dioceses - 9
Butare-2700
Kabgayi- 2000
Kigali -2250
Nyundo- 667
Cyangugu - 2220
Kibungo- 2111
Gikongoro- 720
RuhengeriByumba- 92
TOTAL - 12760
RWANDA – LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS
PAYS DES MILLE COLLINES
AREA
26,338 Sq.Km.
Population
11000000
Catholic
64% (4,359,576)
Protestant
9%
Diocese
9
No of Parishes
148
Priests
513
Religious Priests
170
Religious Sisters
1265
Religious Brothers
216
Members Inst. Secular
147
Seminarians
323
Lay Catechists
4030
HISTORY OF MEJ
YEAR
RESPONSABLE PERSON
1953
Msgr. Laureant DEPRIMOZ Missionary of Africa (France)
19801990
Religious Community of Bernadine (BUTARE) Groups at the Cathedral , Butare
1994
War (Genocide in Rwanda)
1998
Bro. Yuvenali Bukuru Bros of St Paul, Burundi, Revived the Movement, started MEJ groups in
schools, Butare, printed booklets with financial assistance from Ms Afr.
20002010
Movement spread in other dioceses – Kigali, Kibungo, Kabgayi, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Nyundo by
Religious Sisters, & Diocesan Priests.
2005
Election of 1st National Committee - Pilgrimage to Kibeho ( Shrine of Mary’s apparition – Mère du
Verbe) ( since 2004 pilgrimage becomes an annual feature).
2010
P. Claudio, Sr. Lourdes, Jean Claude Ipungu visit Rwanda- openness to the International World.- An
enlightening process begins of becoming ONE BODY to serve ONE LORD.
2011
An effort to start Apostleship of Prayer by a member of the National Committee – Xaverine
UWIMANA- she recruits other lay people and forms a committee.
2011
Participation in the 2nd Panafrican meeting at Kinshasa, DRC
2012
Participation in the 1st World Congress.
MEETING WITH BRO. BUKURU FROM BURUNDI WHO COURAGEOUSLY KEPT THE MOVEMENT ALIVE AFTER THE
WAR IN 1994.
5 ETAPES





Feu Nouveau: 5-10 ans
Jeunes Temoins: 11-13 ans
Temoins Aujourd’hui: 14-17 ans
Equipe Esperance: 18-21 ans
Equipe Apostolique: 22 ans +
PROMISE/COMMITTMENT
NATIONAL STRUCTURE
MEJ
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Council
(Awaiting appointment of National Aumonier)
Co ordinator
Joint meetings often
AP
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Council
Spiritual Director (aumônier)
Co-ordinator
FORMATION
PLANNING MEETINGS
PRAYER TIME / PRIER
SING AND DANCE TO THE LORD/CHANTEZ ET
DANSEZ POUR LE SEIGNEUR
ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO KIBEHO
SANCTUAIRE DE LA VIERGE MARIE
NOTRE GRANDE JOIE/ OUR GREAT JOY
The start of Apostleship of Prayer ( AP) in 2010
In 4 dioceses

Kigali

Kibungo

Kabgayi

Ruhengeri

Thanks to the perseverance, generosity and sustained effort of President UWIMANA Xaverine

CHALLENGES/CONCERNS




Awaiting a National Aumonier
A big challenge to start Apostleship of Prayer in some Dioceses without any letter of
authorisation from the Director Delegate.
Long distances pose problems like attendance at meetings, communication gaps
etc
Financial strains to conduct camps, ongoing formation programs etc.