A Cry for Help
April 6th, 1994: A great human disaster began on the night of April 6th with the genocide in Rwanda. The members of the Irish Missionary Union (IMU) soon afterwards sent out an appeal to all religious congregations looking for missionaries to minister there.
The newly formed Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland, responded to the invitation. Previously, some Sisters had worked on short-term contracts, with Non-Government Organisations already in Rwanda (e.g. Trocaire) mainly in the refugee camps.
It was decided that a longer-term mission would be established, under the direction of the Central Leadership Team (CLT – see Appendix 1) for overall responsibility. The organising of the on-the-ground details of the mission would be the responsibility of the Sisters of the Western Provincial Leadership Team (PLT – (see Appendix 2)
In 1995, the newly elected Western Provincial Team, after their chapter, began collaboration with the Central Team around the mission. An appeal for volunteers went out to Sisters at congregational level over the next few months.
A Collaborative Mission
Three Congregations: The IMU had been in negotiation with the Medical Missionary of Mary Sisters (MMM) and the Kiltegan Fathers (SPS), who already had personnel working in Rwanda. After several visits and following on the invitation from the bishop of the Diocese of Gikongoro, and an assessment of the facts, given the political and general situation and the needs of the people, all three congregations embarked on a collaborative mission in that diocese in Southern Rwanda.
At the outset, the dream was that the three missionary groups would provide mutual support and help for each other, meeting monthly for reflection. The groups would live separately. The Bishop’s invitation to the Sisters was to provide healthcare, since the Diocese had the governance of some clinics in the region. The focus for the Sisters of Mercy was to be a presence to the local people.
The Sisters chosen from the many volunteers were six in number.
- Stephanie Murphy in the South Central Province
- Teresita Mitchell of the Western Province
- Goretti Rule of the South Africa Province
- Martina Fox, from the USA Province
- Maria Hayes, from the Southern Province
- Mary Walsh also from the Western Province
Preparing for Mission
In 1996: Between January and September, the Sisters attended a French-speaking language school, to learn/improve their knowledge of French, one of the official languages of Rwanda. The Central and Provincial Leadership Teams provided ongoing mission orientation, facilitation, and formation sessions for the group over the intervening months. In October, the Provincial Leadership Team met with the Bishops of the Western Province to update them on the formation of the mission They asked for prayer and publicity at parish level, as well as possible funding for the project. The response of the public was incredibly generous.
21st October, 1996: A Prayer Service for the departure of the Sisters was held in Baggot Street, followed by a visit to Aras an Uachtarain, where President Mary Robinson received the Sisters. Two days later, the Sisters arrived in Kigali. They stayed in the Pallotine Hostel which would be their base while they studied the Ikinyanrwanda language. They met with the Bishop in Gikongoro, together with priests and religious of the Diocese, and Caritas personnel.
Mission in Ruramba
The Sisters of Mercy were assigned to Ruramba in the parish of Kibeho.
The Ruramba Complex: The Ruramba Complex had a working Health Centre, a Nutrition Centre, a Needlework Centre, an Adult Literacy Centre, and a now empty Convent. It was in the Commune of Ruramba, in the Prefecture of Gikongoro, in southern Rwanda. The sisters also met with the Prefect of Gikongoro. Good relations between the civil leaders at every level was of paramount importance to the local church and to the missionary group. They later met with the bourgmestre in Ruramba, who was very supportive and proved to be a good friend of the sisters.
In 1996, Rwanda was in a fragile state. The political and security situation was quite complex and uncertain. The physical aspect of Kigali. and other towns was still unchanged since 1994. Only essential businesses worked, and several Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) provided people with the most basic means of survival and a small number with employment.
Around the Pallotine compound were three mass graves and the charred remains of the community oratory, the place where Tutsi staff had been murdered. Many thousand prisoners were held in overcrowded conditions in Kigali prison. Others were housed in detention centres. There was one such centre across the wall of the Pallotine complex. It was a former coffee factory with little sanitation or basic facilities.
In early November 1996, large numbers of Rwandan Hutu refugees returned to the country, on voluntary repatriation. Long lines filed past daily, in silence, a human procession of misery. That was a distressing sight for the newly arrived group, who could do nothing to help.
Later that month, as the Mercy Sisters were travelling to visit their future house in Ruramba in the company of the Bishop, one of the diocesan workers was killed further along that same road. In December, the head of the Irish group of Trocaire workers in Gikongoro was arrested but thankfully released six days later.
In December, a delegation from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs came to check on projects which they had funded or were hoping to fund. The delegation facilitated the reception of Visas for the group, which they gratefully received on 22nd December.
Towards Christmas, the first visitors representing the Provincial Teams arrived. They were anxious about the future of the Sisters in Ruramba because of the insecurity, with no direct means of communication. It was agreed that one of the priests would live on campus in Ruramba. A volunteer priest with the SPS fathers generously oversaw the rehabilitation of the convent. The bodies of the victims from 1994, who had been in the convent were interred in the grounds at this time.
Early in 1997, there was a wave of killing foreign aid workers together with their native helpers. Three Medicins Sans Frontiers workers were killed, as was a French-Canadian priest. The country was declared medium to high risk for all non-nationals by the United Nations. It was to this uncertainty that the next two Sister representatives from Ireland arrived in February, and during their visit Human Rights personnel were killed. This was a serious decision-making time for the visiting leaders. Strategies were planned for possible evacuation. But the Sisters continued to attend classes, and after consultation with the leadership teams in Ireland, the six Sisters decided to remain.
In March, three Sisters went to Kenya to the Mater Hospital complex in Nairobi, until the security “settled”. Two Sisters worked at the Mater Hospital and one Sister worked with the Mukuru project. The other Sisters stayed in the Kitabi convent. The Bishop organised an official opening. The bourgmestre and all local government representatives were present.
On 8th April, 1997, the house was officially opened and blessed. The three Sisters returned from Kenya ten days later!
There was great support for each other within the group of twelve. Everyone went for a day’s retreat on a monthly basis to the Retreat House in Tsavo Benedictine Monastery (another genocide site). The residency of the priest in Ruramba was short-lived, but the one father celebrated liturgy weekly in the house in Ruramba. Collaboration continued to be an issue for the Mercy Sisters, as they were geographically distant from the others and curfew prevailed. Conscious of their desire to be a presence, they developed relationships as a community, working on their mission vision statement. They got to know the staff at the centres, their night watchmen and their neighbours. They met the local people at the Sunday liturgy, at which they distributed Communion whenever there was no priest.
Gradually the Sisters realised that, not having sufficient grasp of the local language it seemed necessary to get involved in the local community in a concrete way. After prayer and discernment, the group decided on ways they might minister to a deprived people.
Reaching Out
From June 1997, the Sisters of Mercy helped in the Health Centre clinic, and in the Nutrition Centre. In July of that year they took responsibility for a project with the Batwa population
The Batwa tribe, being the third ethnic group in the country, was the poorest and least valued. Trocaire had already begun to work with these people. It now funded the project for the Sisters, who employed a facilitator and interpreter. In the early days the Sisters visited each of the seven sites, met the people, and when the project was well established, they monitored progress by regular meetings with the facilitator.
The Batwa project consisted of providing practical supports at many levels to over three hundred families to enable these people to become self-sufficient, be healthy and participate in the normal life of Rwandan citizens, in the following areas
- Education
- Developed agricultural skills
- Health
- Income generation
- Training and Administration
- The building of houses with money from Irish Aid
Christmas that year was joyfully celebrated by the group of twelve in the house of the Medical Missionary Sisters in Kirambi.
As the Sisters of Mercy became more familiar with the complications of the organisation, they decided that they would take over the financial management of the various centres for a period of two years. That information was sent to the leadership teams in Ireland and the decision received their approval. On the first of March the changeover was completed.
The overall responsibility for the Centre continued to rest with the Gikongoro Diocese. Caritas Rwanda paid some of the staff and supplied some of the medicines. Because of the poverty of the population, it was necessary that the medicines would be almost totally subsidised.
Detention Centre: The Bourgmestre requested that medicines be allocated to treat the sick in the detention centre in the Commune. The Sisters with the staff went weekly on rotation. That visit made a difference to the prisoners.
The Nutrition Centre administered the allocation of food donated by the World Food Programme for the alleviation of malnutrition in children. The children were weighed on an ongoing basis and food distributed according to their weight. Those in need of medical assistance were referred into the clinic for attention. The register of malnourished children stood at approximately 1,300 children.
Health and Nutrition Programme: A Sister worked with the local women on a Health and Nutrition Programme, planting and caring for crops. She participated in harvesting. She worked closely with an agronomist in the training of the women. One of the projects was to distribute goats to a small group of families. When a kid was born, it was passed on to a new family. Other projects focussed on the planting and harvesting of seeds, using fertiliser etc. A large portion of their work consisted of visiting each individual family, which involved long treks into the hills.
To build up medical stock and equipment, and to improve the general appearance of the Centre, in February 1998, medical supplies were accessed from ECHO while Irish Aid and the American Embassy responded to requests for funding for the renovations. The roles and responsibilities of staffs were then clarified through a facilitator. Representatives of Irish Aid and staff from the American Embassy later visited the and approved the finished work.
Needlework Project: Money was allocated for a needlework project. Many girls attended and became proficient in embroidery. The Literacy Programme was launched in August. A teacher was employed and a small group of interested adults attended the course. The English Club, offered by the Sisters to the villagers, was attended by the secondary school students during the holidays.
In September, when the Batwa project was well established, a Sister taught in the secondary school run by the Benebikira Sisters in Kibeho and one went to work in Mushubi parish. She concentrated on the spiritual dimension of the schools and the parish helping with the two priests who worked there.
The Sisters gave financial help to the local Congregation of Benebikira Sisters for the renovation of one of their houses. They had Ruramba Church renovated, installed electricity there and donated sacred vessels. However, as a backdrop to this good work there were daily stories of many killings, breaches of security and unrest in the country.
Handing Over
In October 1998, the Superior General wrote to inform the Sisters there had been a three-way meeting in Ireland of the missions’ leaders. They had decided there would also be a discernment process for the three groups in Rwanda on the future of mission. The first phase, with facilitation, began before Christmas.
As usual a most enjoyable Christmas time followed, including the party for the Ruramba villagers. The staff party was most enjoyable also. The three missionary groups came together once again for the celebration of the Feast of Christmas.
On 30th January 1999, leadership personnel visited to continue the discernment. The Sisters had communal and individual meetings with the leaders in discerning Sisters’ personal future and that of the mission in the light of various factors such as:
- The age profile and health of the Sisters
- The difficulty with language
- The viability in the long term when there would be no replacement Sisters
- The ongoing lack of security and ensuing isolation
Recommendation: The facilitation process concluded with the recommendation. “That the Mercy Sisters should withdraw from Rwanda by the end of 2000” to be submitted to Central and Provincial leadership teams for their decision.
On 7th April, 1999, a genocide memorial was held in Kibeho parish church. The following week the Bishop was arrested and taken to Kigali prison.
On 7th May, the CLT confirmed that the mission would terminate in July 2000.
In November, plans were made for the withdrawal of the Mercy Sisters. On 26th November the news of the Sisters’ departure was announced to all the staffs and relevant persons at the Centres. The Sisters negotiated an agreement with Trocaire to continue to employ the Batwa facilitator.
In December, two Sisters from the Western PLT visited. The highlight of their tour was the annual village Christmas party. The staff of the Centres organised another party to express their appreciation. The Sisters again celebrated Christmas Day with joy with the MMMs and the SPS.
In February, funding was obtained from The U.S Ambassador’s Fund for the secondary school in Kibeho. During the last few months, the Sisters had the local church painted and renovated and commissioned improvements to Mushubi parish. They organised a four-day DELTA (Skills development etc) training course for the staffs of the clinic. For the first time since 1994, Holy Week and Easter ceremonies took place in Ruramba Church.
Courtesy of Trocaire, the Sisters had a most enjoyable celebration of St Patrick’s Day. In May, The Kiltegan Fathers invited the Mercies and Medical Missionaries to a celebratory meal and an overnight stay in Cyangugu.
Leadership came from Ireland to facilitate the withdrawal process. The Sisters met with native Sisters, The Congregation of the AbiziraMaria” (Daughters of Hope of Mary), who had a charism which was like that of Mercy. When the Sisters came, they were informed they would have the use of the property, all its fittings, the vehicle, etc, and finance to help them for the first year of the mission. They stated the need for an invitation from the bishop. They were interested and promised to discern.
Farewell Liturgy: The diocese organised a farewell liturgy in the church in Gikongoro. In an email the Bishop thanked the Sisters for their work in Ruramba and for securing the AbiziraMaria Sisters to replace them. There was a marvellous gathering with many gifts and a final “Thank you” phone-call from Bishop Misago. On Sunday, 9th July, 2000, the Ruramba Catholic Community had their farewell event. The clinic staff hosted yet another farewell party.
On the 11th July, 2000, the Leadership Team of the AbiziraMaria Sisters came. On the next day, the Eucharist was celebrated. The Mercies took their leave of Ruramba, its staff, and their many friends and neighbours. They travelled to Kigali On 15th and 16th July, 2000, they left Kanombe Airport, Kigali, being waved off by many who had travelled from Ruramba and Gikongoro.
On 18th July they arrived in Ireland, and on 22nd August the PLT organised. a prayer service followed by a lecture entitled “What on earth is Mission?” delivered by Rev. Donal Durr, Kiltegan Fathers, in Breaffy House, Castlebar, Co Mayo. The celebration ended with a beautiful lunch where Sisters met with the returned missionaries.
Concluding Remarks
The constant visits by members of the leadership teams provided ongoing encouragement for the Sisters. The visits of some family members brought joy to the total group. Many of the Kiltegan Fathers, the Medical Missionary Sisters and their friends visited when in Rwanda. There were other missionary and indigenous groups, religious and lay, from other religious beliefs with whom the Sisters shared friendship.
The Sisters went home for an extended annual holiday The support and encouragement which sisters received from family, community and friends were vital to the wellbeing of everybody. They also had to cope with family bereavements during their stay and to travel home for funerals.
Already mentioned was the finance and letters of support which came from individuals and groups, including students in Mercy schools, the Apostolic Workers, other congregations in Ireland and in the USA. These various people were known as the “Friends of Rwanda.” Soon after the Sisters’ arrival, in 1996, the Knights of Malta from Ireland sent children’s clothes. They were distributed through The Refugee Trust group who were friends of the Sisters. The delivery company DHL friends with one Sister, carried the post and messages on an on-going basis with courtesy and at special rates.
The Sisters were invited to all the events in the local community. There was great rejoicing when people from the church community, especially staff, were wed. The wedding ceremonies were occasions to experience the beauty of traditional rituals, lay and spiritual. As Sisters shared the joys so too the sorrows at times of deaths in either the clinic, among staff families or the neighbours.
For the Sisters, it was a great privilege to have lived in Ruramba; to be accepted among the people, and to have worked with the staff at the different centres, who were co-operative, appreciative, and supportive. They owned so little and yet they shared with their extended family. In the wider locality, the people became the friends of the Sisters, appreciating the fact that they had come to live and work among them and acknowledging their help at such a difficult time in their lives.
Appendix 1
Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy Leadership Central Team Members:
Sr. Dervilla Byrne – Congregational Leader
Sr. Edel Bannon
Sr. Mary Joe Sheehy
Sr. Peggy Collins
Sr. Brenda Dolphin
Appendix 2
Sisters of Mercy, Western Province, Team Members
Sr. Caitlin Conneely – Provincial Leader
Sr. Elizabeth Manning
Sr. Aine McGarty
Sr. Kathleen Glennon
Sr. Mary Reynolds
General Bursar: Sr. Ann Coughlan
Mission Co-Ordinator: Ms. Mary Purcell
