Original: French
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Dear brothers and sisters, friends of the Assumption and relatives, may the joy of the Risen Lord and all His blessings remain with you.
For us, this joy is intertwined with that of seeing our three Sisters, Celine of the Child Jesus, Christine of Jesus the Savior and Marie Rose of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pronounce their perpetual vows and two other Sisters, Immaculata Maria of the Blessed Sacrament and Illuminatha Maria of the Trinity, celebrate God's fidelity in their lives during these 25 and 50 years respectively, at the Assumption.
Indeed, the COVID 19 pandemic has produced many changes in our plans, in our way of doing things. We have learned to do things differently with a spirit of creativity awakened by this present reality, taking advantage of the opportunities that these changes bring us. For example, the Province of Rwanda-Chad had announced the celebration of the Perpetual Professions and Jubilees the 27th of December 2020 but because of the measures imposed by the state to limit the spread of COVID-19 this event had to be postponed.
Here in Rwanda, the measures regarding the pandemic are renewed every 15 days to adapt to its evolution. We remained on the lookout for permission to hold the celebrations in public, but the situation was getting worse. It was after three months of waiting, with the easing of protective measures and the permission of our Bishops to celebrate the Sacraments and Professions, even during Lent, that we enthusiastically welcomed the announcement of the long-awaited celebration: “This is the day the Lord has made”.
Yes, preparations for the event were needed during the very few days that remained before us. While the organization of the feast continued in Rwaza, our Sisters who were going to make their vows and jubilees were warmly welcomed at the Foyer de Charité REMERA RUHONDO, a very quiet and restful place, with the surrounding nature that calls to contemplation and prayer.
We had a wonderful celebration where we witnessed God's fidelity towards our Sisters and their commitment to Him. Bishop Vincent, the Bishop of the diocese of Ruhengeri where the community of Rwaza is located, surrounded by a good number of priests, presided over the Eucharist while observing the protective measures against COVID 19. In his homily and words of thanks the Bishop reminded those present of the meaning of religious consecration. He reminded us that God does not choose those who show themselves to be strong and powerful, but always uses the most humble and even our weaknesses to act in us... He urged us to put our pride only in God. He also thanked the Religious of the Assumption for their mission in the diocese and elsewhere, especially the education of young girls for the world and the family of tomorrow. Speaking about our school: Groupe Scolaire Notre Dame des Apôtres de Rwaza, he continued his thanksgiving evoking many religious and important women in the life of the country who are the product of GSNDA RWAZA. He also expressed his joy for the recent opening, in the same diocese, of the new postulancy community of MUSANZE. Because of the pandemic, the usual festivities after the Eucharistic celebration did not take place.
We thank God that everything evolved smoothly and that our families, friends and relatives were represented. As done towards any bridegroom, many Sisters from the Province directly accompanied our Sisters in their total offering to Christ and the recognition of His fidelity.
We are grateful to all of you, who in one way or another have supported us. May God continue what He has begun in each of us and especially in our Sisters who have offered us, through this event, the opportunity to renew our own covenant with God.
Sr Marie Rose