The Mission in Rwanda
by Father Robert P. Maloney, C.M.(former
Superior General)
"One of the most touching incidents in my life occurred
just about a year ago at the height of the troubles in
Rwanda, when hundreds of thousands of people were being
slain."
At that time, I happened to be visiting Zaire and was
near the Rwandan border. One day, at about four o'clock in
the afternoon, three sisters arrived at my door
unexpectedly. They had just come out of Rwanda and had been
the last Daughters of Charity remaining there. They wanted
to speak with me urgently.
They were very upset at having to leave the country.
They told me that they had received word from the Mother
General in Paris that they should depart immediately. They
found this order very difficult to understand. They felt
that they were, as foreigners, not in grave danger, although
they recognized that there was a certain danger.
I reasoned with them, as gently as I could, recalling
that more than a half million people had already been
killed, among whom were many foreigners. Two of their own
postulants had recently been murdered. I also told them
that their families were very concerned about them and had
been in frequent contact with the Mother General to find out
when they would be coming out of Rwanda.
They said to me, with a conviction that deeply impressed
me, "Father, you have to die somewhere. The poor need us in
Rwanda and we're ready to die for them." I encouraged them
to return to Paris to get some rest, visit their families,
and to speak with the Mother General and the members of her
council to explain their position.
I said that I hoped that they would soon be able to
return to Rwanda to serve the poor. In fact, they are back
there now and have been received with open arms by the
people.
The situation in Rwanda remains grave. Armed groups
still enter the houses of the people, terrorizing them,
demanding money, stealing, and killing. Please pray for the
missionaries and suffering people there.
A Call for You
In the past, the Association has helped American missionaries in Taiwan or Kenya and
other worldwide missions of the Vincentians. If you would like to make a donation to help
the foreign missions continue their good work, you can do so by contacting the Association.
It is an opportunity for you to answer Christ's call to "make disciples of all nations."
Jesus said to his disciples, "But when the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8) Vincentian missionaries bring the faith to the
remotest and poorest places of the earth. And you can help them.
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