This Wednesday 1st January 2025, on the solemnity of Mary Mother of God , the salesian community of Scolasticate Kabgayi had the joy of celebrating the New Year by welcoming the Salesian communities of Prenovitiate – Gatenga and Novitiate – Rango .
The festivities commenced with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Servilien Ufitamahoro – Provincial economer AGL, concelebrated by Fr John Bosco Biziyaremye, Fr. Aaron Rivuzima, Fr. Felix Nyagatare, Fr. Johnathan Ayaku, Fr. Venuste Ntigurirwa.
In his homily, Fr Servilien urged Christians to meditate and take seriously the role of Blessed Virgin Mary in their lives. “Mary is our mother. Mary was blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing, chosen by God from all eternity to be the Mother of the Redeemer. So, ask her to take you by the hand because it is she who leads us to Jesus. Then we may contemplate, together with her, His Holy Face–in His Word, in the Eucharist, and in our neighbor,” said Fr. Servilien.
He further invited Christians to always make pilgrimages to Kibeho – the land of apparitions to meditate profoundly on the role and the message of our Lady the Mother of God.
After the Eucharistic celebration there followed moments of joy and sharing of food and drinks, and thereafter a football match between the salesian community of Kabgayi and the salesian community of prenovitiate Gatenga and novitiate Rango together. It was one of the best friendly matches ever played between the three communities; the match was marked by moments of joy, fraternity and profound contact with each other. The match ended 7-3 in favor of Scolasticate Kabgayi. Each team (community) was given a goat as the prize by the provincial economer – Fr. Servilien.
It’s the tradition of these three communities coming together on 1st January each year to share moments of joy but most importantly to wish each other a happy new year.
In their concluding remarks Fr Felix and Fr Cesar Augustin, thanked everyone who participated, and showed their readiness to continue supporting such visits in order to help the young people in formation know each other and build bonds of friendship and fraternity as one family, as sons of St John Bosco.
RICHARD MUGASHO, sdb
