International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda

For Reflection

The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 saw over 800,000 Rwandans, mainly from the Tutsi minority, massacred by the Hutu ethnic majority in three months. Over two million Hutu’s later fled the country, fearing revenge attacks. Fr Marcel Uwineza SJ, a survivor of the genocide, calls these horrific events in his home country an “intimate genocide……It was not an invasion by an outside country, but an intensive, systematic killing of Rwandans by Rwandans.”

Dehumanisation of people because of their ethnicity, and imbalances of power that illegitimately privilege one group of people over another, have contributed to atrocities throughout history. As Christians, we are called to break this cycle of violence. We honour the dignity of every human person, no matter their ethnicity, religion, or difference to us. Jesus offers clear teaching in Matthew 22: 34-40 on how to move forward in peace:

“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and first commandment. 
And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Marcel Uwineza SJ’s journey of healing and forgiveness: “To remember is to act so that those criminal activities never happen again. So, to remember is to do justice.”

Prayer

Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace

Music

Will You Be My Protector? by The Good Ones

Will You Be My Protector? by The Good Ones