Rwanda: Clerics Call for Unity in Easter Sermons

Clerics from various churches in Kigali,
yesterday, called on Christians to avoid divisionism and hatred, in
their Easter message, as Christians worldwide marked the holiday.

Worshippers at St. Michel Cathedral after prayers yesterday. The New Times / John Mbanda.

In his sermon at St. Etienne Cathedral, the Bishop of the Anglican
Diocese of Kigali, Bishop Louis Muvunyi, noted that Easter comes at the
right time when Rwandans need to be comforted.

"Easter Sunday is the day when Jesus resurrected and conquered death.
As Christians we should see it as something coming at the right time
when Rwandans, especially genocide survivors, need to be comforted and
given hope for the future," Muvunyi said.

Rwandans, he added, should pray for those who got involved in killings so that they can ask for forgiveness.

He noted that without repentance and forgiveness there is no future for the nation.

"The cross carried a message of reconciliation," he said.

At St Michael, Archbishop Thadeo Ntihinyurwa said: "Easter Sunday
should remind God's people that Jesus is alive and went through pain and
suffering at the cross. He died for our sins and this means that we
should not commit any sin."

The clergyman asked followers to focus on renewing their faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Isaac Karamira of Gatsata Faith Evangelical Ministries,
reminded the congregation that although there is spiritual darkness in
the world, the resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds the faithful that
there is light.

He asked Christians to always remember what happened during the 1994
Genocide against the Tutsi and to provide support to vulnerable
survivors.

Meanwhile, Apostle Joshua Masasu, the founder of Evangelical
Restoration Church, said marking Easter holiday and commemoration at the
same time signals victory for Rwandans.

"Let's celebrate Easter but remember the effects of the Genocide,
work towards development as this will be a big blow to genocide
perpetrators," he said.

Joyce Umubyeyi, who attended prayers at St Etienne Cathedral said:

"To me, Easter Sunday is a time when Rwandans should ask God to
forgive us all our sins. We should pray for our country since we are
going through these hard times of remembering the innocent people who
were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi."