OUR LADY OF KIBEHO IN RWANDA THE BVM APPEARED TO THREE GIRLS, ALPHONSINE , NATHALIE AND MARY CLAIRE, WHO WERE ENROLLED IN KIBEHO HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1981 THROUGH 1989. WHEN ALPHONSINE ASKED WHO SHE WAS, THE LADY REPLIED, “I AM NYINA WA JAMBO” WHICH MEANS “THE MOTHER OF THE WORD”. THESE ARE THE LAST APPARITIONS APPROVED BY THE CHURCH (IN 2003) UP TO TODAY, AND THEY ARE THE FIRST APPROVED APPARITIONS IN AFRICA.

RECONIZED APPARITIONS : CRITERIA FOR AUTHENTICATION OF MARIAN APPARITIONS INCLUDE; TWO REPORTS, 1 MEDICAL, 1 THEOLOGICAL (IN THIS CASE STUDIED FOR 20 YEARS); EXPLANATION OF FACTS AND HISTORICAL REFERENCE POINTS; ELEMENTS OF MESSAGE; HOW APPARITION HAS GIVEN GOOD FRUIT. RECONIZED APPARITIONS : STRENGTHEN THE LIFE OF FAITH AND PRAYER; unites us with Jesus ARE ; A GREAT HELP FOR SHEPHERDS OF SOULS and exceptional graces HELP THE FAITHFUL AS WAYS OF RECALLING THE ORDINARY TEACHING OF THE CHURCH, WHICH HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN Have often been an alarm signal No one obliged to believe; is not dogma

List of approved Marian Apparitions Our Lady of Guadalupe with St. Juan Diego – conversion of 9 million - 1531 Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure – Miraculous Medal – 1830 La Salette, France – appeared to 2 children – major revival of Catholicism - 1846 Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette – “I am the Immaculate Conception”; miraculous healings – 1858 Our Lady of Pontmain, France – spared invasion during Franco-Prussian war- 1871 Our Lady of Fatima – urging prayer/rosary, penance for conversion of sinners & consecration of Russia – 1917 Beauraing, Belgium – appeared 33 times to group of children – prayer for conversion of sinners – 1932 Banneux, Belgium–appeared 8 times to Mariette Beco–promised to intercede for the poor/sick/suffering-1933 Pellevoisin, France – appeared to Estelle Faguette – scapular – 1876 Knock, Ireland – during the potato famine – favors granted - 1879 Syracuse, Sicily – Our Lady of Tears – plaque of BVM produced tears - 1953

ALPHONSINE MUMUREKE – 16 YEARS OLD; FIRST TO be HONORED BY VISITS OF THE BVM ON NOVEMBER 28, 1981 AFTER SHE FINISHED SERVING LUNCH (Noon) AS A STUDENT AT KIBEHO HIGH SCHOOL AND LASTED ABOUT 15 MINS. HER APPARITIONS WENT ON UNTIL NOV. 28, 1989. SHE IS IN A CLARISSE SISTERS MONASTERY ON THE IVORY COAST. ALPHONSINE STILL IN ECSTASY AFTER THE APPARITION. SHE SAYS OUR LADY; SPEAKS HER LANGUAGE, SEEMED CARRIED BY SOFT WIND, IS A YOUNG BEAUTIFUL LADY AND COMES IN TENDERNESS AND JOY. ALPHONSINE BEING TESTED BY ONLOOKERS DURING AN APPARITION – PART OF MEDICAL REPORT FOR AUTHENTICATION. HER BODY DOES NOT RESPOND TO STIMULI.

Interesting facts about Alphonsine Was from Kibungo an area where voodoo and black magic was practiced. Raised by her mother and they were extremely poor. Last name means; leave her alone; she speaks the truth. BVM said to Alphonsine, “never be afraid of me. In fact PLAY with me! It shows me your love and trust.” Apparition of Aug 15th, 1985 (Feast of the Assumption) saw river of blood and savage murders.

“Grace and peace from God our father and the lord jesus Christ, his incarnated word.” 1Cor. 1,3 Spiritual fruit: the apparitions have promoted actual conversions at all levels, and an undeniable spiritual renewal, which the surprising increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life throughout the country was a visible sign of. A place of reconciliation and reparation of sin. From declaration of Augustin Misago-Bishop of Gikongoro Mary came for the sake of our spiritual renewal and salvation. To awaken us, to shake our consciences, to warn us, to remind us of our responsibilities of children of God, to lead us onto the right path, and to motivate us to correct our lives. We are her children and she will not abandon us.

NATALIE DURING AN APPARITION. ANATHALIE (NATALIE) MUKAMAZIMPAKA – 18 YEARS OLD; 1ST APPARITION JAN. 12, 1982 WHILE A STUDENT AT KIBEHO H.S. AND AFTER ALPHONSINE ASKED THE BVM TO APPEAR TO OTHERS TO MAKE HER STORY CREDIBLE. SHE LIVES IN KIBEHO WHERE SHE DEVOTES HERSELF TO WELCOMING PILGRIMS AND OFTEN JOINS THEM IN PRAYERS. NATALIE DURING AN APPARITION. NATALIE HOLDING ROSARIES TOWARDS THE VIRGIN MARY FOR BLESSING.

Interesting Facts About anatalie Came from a large devout Catholic family, said the rosary am and pm, never missed Mass, and was a member of the Legion of Mary. Last name means; person who settles arguments and brings peace. BVM told her exact words as St. Bernadette, “I can’t promise to make you happy in this world but promise to make you happy in the next world.”

MARIE CLAIRE MARRIED BUT WAS KILLED DURING THE GENOCIDE IN 1994. MARIE CLAIRE MUKANGANGO – 17 YEARS OLD, MARY APPEARED TO HER MARCH 2, 1982 AND GAVE HER THE MESSAGE OF THE ROSARY OF SEVEN SORROWS OF THE VIRGIN MARY. (IT WAS STARTED IN THE MIDDLE AGES AND WAS LARGELY FORGOTTEN AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE HOLY ROSARY) LAST APPARITION WAS ON SEPT. 15, 1982, THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS MARIE CLAIRE MARRIED BUT WAS KILLED DURING THE GENOCIDE IN 1994. MARIE CLAIRE DURING AN APPIRITION GETTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ROSARY OF SEVEN SORROWS.

Interesting facts about Marie-claire She taunted Alphonsine and Anatalie and treated them rudely, was brusque and aggressive in manner toward them. After her March 2nd, 1982 apparition, she was the perfect example of spiritual conversion the BVM was calling for. She begged forgiveness and was in a constant state of prayer. Mary’s nickname for her was; The Cherished of the Blessed Mother. During an apparition, Mary was with students dancing. Marie Claire said to Mary, “It’s a wonder to watch you PLAY with your children.”

Our Lady of Kibeho; Nyina wa Jambo; Mother of the Word Message; love each other, have faith in God, pray to her for comfort and allow her to lead us to her Son’s Merciful Love Our Lady of Sorrows Feast Day September 15th Our Lady of Kibeho; Nyina wa Jambo; Mother of the Word Feast Day November 28th

Rosary of the sevens Sorrows This devotion goes back to the Middle Ages but has gained new popularity following the Church approved Marian apparitions in Kibeho, Rwanda in the 1980s. In her apparitions, Our Lady of Kibeho recommended that people pray the Chaplet (or Rosary) of the Seven Sorrows to obtain the favor of repentance. Was known in Rwanda by the Benebikira Sisters who taught at Kibeho HS. Sr. Blandine helped Marie Claire with rosary and BVM taught her. She asked us to pray it every Tuesday and Friday. It reminds us that Mary plays a key role in our Redemption and that she suffered along with her Son Jesus to save us. It is prayed using a special rosary comprised of seven "decades" containing seven beads each.

. She (the Holy Virgin) promised that when prayed with an open and repentant heart, the rosary would win us the Lord's forgiveness for our sins and free our souls from guilt and remorse. She also promised that over time, the rosary would develop within us a deep understanding of why we sin, and that knowledge would give us the wisdom and strength to change or remove any internal flaws, weaknesses of character, or personality faults causing unhappiness and keeping us from enjoying the joyous life God intended for us. It is NOT to replace the Holy Rosary only to COMPLIMENT each.

Devotions to the Seven Sorrows Devotions to the Seven Sorrows Early, in 1232, seven youths in Tuscany founded the Servite Order (also known as the "Servite Friars", or the "Order of the Servants of Mary"). Five years later, they took up the sorrows of Mary, standing under the Cross, as the principal devotion of their order. Over the centuries several devotions, and even orders, arose around meditation on Mary's Sorrows in particular. The Servites developed the three most common devotions to Our Lady's Sorrows, namely the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, the Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary and the Novena to Our Sorrowful Mother. 

References Book; The Fascinating Story of Kibeho; Mary’s Prophetic Tears in Rwanda by Casimir Ruzindaza Book; Our Lady of Kibeho; Mary speaks to the world from the heart of Africa by Immaculee Ilibagiza Website: kibeho-sanctuary.com