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Local parish raising funds for Rwandan priests

Local parish raising funds for Rwandan priests

By Nancy Westlund
Herald staff

Since his assignment to Presentation Parish in Sacramento nearly two years ago, Father Bernardin Mugabowakigeri, parochial vicar, has become known for his gentle presence and welcoming spirit.

Father Mugabowakigeri arrived in the diocese in June 2000. Mary Ann Novotny, a parishioner at Presentation, said that from his first day in the community, he has been something special.

“Father Bernardin a very joyful priest,” Novotny said. “He just puts his arms out to everybody.”

To Father Michael Carroll, pastor of Presentation, Father Mugabowakigeri is a deeply spiritual, unselfish priest with uncommon courage.

Born in Bushoki-Tare in the Central African country of Rwanda, Father Mugabowakigeri is a survivor of a civil war in 1994 that involved ethnic Tutsi and Hutu and killed an estimated 500,000 of the country’s people. His father was among the thousands killed by machetes during the bloodshed, and two of his sisters had to leave their home to live in refugee camps in Kenya.

Called to a vocation in the priesthood, Father Mugabowakigeri was ordained for the Diocese of Kigali in 1996. Even following his ordination,

Father Bernardin Mugabowakigeri, parochial vicar of Presentation Parish
in Sacramento, is concerned for his fellow priests of the Diocese of
Kigali in Rwanda.

violence broke out and several people were killed. Concerned for his safety, Father Mugabowakigeri’s brother provided financial support to move him to the United States.

In recent months, this priest from Rwanda has shared with Father Carroll his deep concern for his fellow priests in Kigali who no longer even receive their monthly stipend of $100.

To lend support to the priests in Kigali, a fundraiser will be held May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the parish’s Msgr. Higgins Hall. The event will be a concert featuring Brendan Bowyer and the Royal Irish Show Band which will perform popular music, show tunes, and ballads.

Father Carroll said the fund-raiser is an opportunity for parishioners to show their appreciation for the blessing Father Mugabowakigeri has been to the community.

“Father Mugabowakigeri has been a gift to our diocese, and it’s good when you receive a gift to give one in return,” he said. “Our church is universal.”

Tickets for the concert, which are $20, are available at the Presentation Parish office, located at 4123 Robertson Ave. Donations from those unable to attend the concert are welcomed. For more information, call (916) 481-7441.