Thousands of Christian flocked Our Lady of La Salette Nyakibale Parish Church to pass through the Holy Door as it was being officially opened in Nyakibale Deanery of Kabale Diocese to mark Deanery Pilgrimage in the Jubilee Year 2025 under the theme Pilgrims of Hope.
The function was held on Sunday, May 4, 2025 and was presided over by Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General of Kabale Diocese who represented Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira the Bishop of Kabale Diocese. Nyakibale Deanery, found in Rukungiri district comprises of 7 parishes of Rwamagaya, Rwengiri, Rutooma, Christ the King, Buyanja, Ndama and Nyakibale.
Msgr Sunday who led the pilgrims from the 7 parishes of Nyakibale Deanery in a journey of faith from St. Gerald’s Secondary School playground in a procession that saw a massive queues through the main entrance of Nyakibale Parish Church emphasised the importance of hope as written in St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 5:5 “hope doesn’t disappoint” which we continuously attain through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist which Christ himself left to his faithful to always share in memory of him as the true Body and Blood of the merciful Lord.
According to Msgr Sunday, passing through the Holy Door with a repentant heart especially after reconciling with God and neighbor through the Sacrament of Penance and Blessed Eucharist in addition to praying for the intentions of the Pope makes one obtain plenary indulgence of their would be punishment for sins committed on this earthly life.
Msgr. Sunday also urged the pilgrims to remain acclimatized to Christ and avoid being swayed by the mushrooming religious sects, but rather remain with Christ who offered to remain with them in Sacraments especially the most Blessed Eucharist.
I want to urge you Catholics to avoid moving here and there in these mushrooming churches claiming to perform miracles. The Catholic Church has everything you need for your salvation. Don’t leave Christ in the sacraments and go where they are not, remember it’s only the Catholic Church that has sacraments – Msgr. John Vianney Sunday.
The Kabale Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator, Rev. Fr. Fidel Ndagijimana who was the main facilitator of the pilgrims since Friday and Saturday, emphasised the essence of hope in the various preparatory sessions and called upon Christians to have great trust in the cross for it is unto the cross that Christ gave hope to Christians by defeating death.
Fr. Fidel noted that Nyakibale Deanery became the second one to have a pilgrimage after Makiro deanery and the program would continue with Mutolere Deanery from May 9-11, Rubanda Deanery from May 23-25, Kitanga Deanery from May 30 to June 1, Bukinda Deanery from June 6-8 and concluded with Rushoroza Deanery scheduled for August. He also said that after the pilgrimages on Deanery level, Kabale Diocese has also organized a pilgrimage to Namugongo and Munyonyo from June 25-27, pilgrimage to Kibeho from August 6-8 and to Rome from October 3-11.
Fr. Fidel also explained that besides the pilgrimage, there are other activities done during the Jubilee Year which includes Jubilee Year charity to the prisoners and the sick which was conducted during the Lenten season, Jubilee Year Hymn competitions conducted among primary and secondary schools and Parishes. Certificates of participation were awarded to all the schools and choirs that participated in the competitions.