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Charity Focus
‘‘Make Joy’ was inspired by the holy works and life of Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga. Fr. Ubald, a catholic priest from Rwanda, loved Jesus and the Eucharist, shared a beautiful gift of healing, and devoted his life to preaching love and forgiveness throughout the world. He exuded the joy of Jesus with a child-like innocence, loving the priesthood and serving God with every breath he took and word he uttered. With many documented cases of physical, emotional and spiritual healings through his humble prayers, it was not uncommon for him to celebrate mass in his country with 50,000 people in attendance.
In 1994, Fr. Ubald survived Rwanda’s horrific genocide, losing many parishioners and family members, including his mother. Several months after his escape, he made a trip to Lourdes where he heard Jesus tell him “Ubald, carry your cross,”. He felt a release from the burden of his sorrows and knew he was called to go back and preach healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. Fr. Ubald returned to Rwanda, preaching love and forgiveness in the name of Jesus and sharing that ‘forgiveness is the secret to peace’. During this time, he had a vision to build a Center for Peace in his diocese and, with permission of his bishop, his vision became a reality. The Center for the Secret of Peace is built along the breathtaking Lake Kivu, and is a beautiful place of refuge and healing that now draws Christians and non-Christians alike from all over Africa and the world. Up until his passing in January of 2021, Fr. Ubald was still working to expand the Center, most recently working on a project to build a home on the property for retired priests. Many of these priests, who are abandoned after retirement and no longer have a parish, volunteer at the Center to hear the confessions of the thousands and thousands of pilgrims who visit on a yearly basis.
‘Make Joy’ would like to help support the efforts of the Center for Peace as well as to share Fr. Ubald’s powerful witness and message of forgiveness, by donating to the Center for The Secret of Peace.
To learn more about Fr. Ubald, his mission and the Center for Peace, visit www.secretofpeace.org.
In 1994, Fr. Ubald survived Rwanda’s horrific genocide, losing many parishioners and family members, including his mother. Several months after his escape, he made a trip to Lourdes where he heard Jesus tell him “Ubald, carry your cross,”. He felt a release from the burden of his sorrows and knew he was called to go back and preach healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. Fr. Ubald returned to Rwanda, preaching love and forgiveness in the name of Jesus and sharing that ‘forgiveness is the secret to peace’. During this time, he had a vision to build a Center for Peace in his diocese and, with permission of his bishop, his vision became a reality. The Center for the Secret of Peace is built along the breathtaking Lake Kivu, and is a beautiful place of refuge and healing that now draws Christians and non-Christians alike from all over Africa and the world. Up until his passing in January of 2021, Fr. Ubald was still working to expand the Center, most recently working on a project to build a home on the property for retired priests. Many of these priests, who are abandoned after retirement and no longer have a parish, volunteer at the Center to hear the confessions of the thousands and thousands of pilgrims who visit on a yearly basis.
‘Make Joy’ would like to help support the efforts of the Center for Peace as well as to share Fr. Ubald’s powerful witness and message of forgiveness, by donating to the Center for The Secret of Peace.
To learn more about Fr. Ubald, his mission and the Center for Peace, visit www.secretofpeace.org.
"I lost the battle, but will win the war.
People will love each other one day. I am fighting for that."
--Father Ubald Rugirangoga
Fr. Ubald’s prayer of intercession:
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