Diocese of Ruhengeri, Rwanda 🇷🇼

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Ruhengeri / Ruhengerien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Kigali

Neighbouring Dioceses: Nyundo (↙), Goma (←), Kabale (↗), Byumba (→), Kabgayi (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1960.12.20: Established as Diocese of Ruhengeri / Ruhengerien(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kabgayi and Diocese of Nyundo and became suffragan of Kabgayi)
1976.04.10: Became suffragan of Kigali
1981.11.05: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Byumba

Present Prelates

Bishop (2012.01.31 – ...):

Bishop Vincent Harolimana (63)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Rwanda

Vice-President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa

Ordinaries

Bishops of Ruhengeri (Roman Rite)

Bishop Vincent Harolimana (63)
(2012.01.31 – ...)

Bishop of Ruhengeri (Rwanda)
Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Rwanda
Vice-President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa

Vidimus stellam eius

Born:	1962.09.02 (Mpembe, Rwanda)
Ordained Priest:	1990.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.03.24

Priest of Nyundo (Rwanda) (1990.09.08 – 2012.01.31)

Bishop of Ruhengeri (Rwanda) (2012.01.31 – ...)

Vice-President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (2019.06.26 – ...)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Rwanda (2022.12.02 – ...)

Bishop Kizito Bahujimihigo (71)
(Apostolic Administrator 2007.08.28 – 2010.01.29)

Bishop Kizito Bahujimihigo (71)
(1997.11.21 – 2007.08.28)

Bishop emeritus of Kibungo (Rwanda)
former Apostolic Administrator of Ruhengeri (Rwanda)

Ut cognoscant te

Born:	1954.12.05 (Rwamagana, Rwanda)
Ordained Priest:	1980.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.06.27

Bishop of Ruhengeri (Rwanda) (1997.11.21 – 2007.08.28)

Bishop of Kibungo (Rwanda) (2007.08.28 – 2010.01.29)

Apostolic Administrator of Ruhengeri (Rwanda) (2007.08.28 – 2010.01.29)

Fr. Antonio Martinez
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1994.11.11 – 1997.11.21)

Bishop Phocas Nikwigize
(1968.09.05 – 1996.01.05)

Procedamus in pace

Born:	1919.08.23 (Muhango, Rwanda)
Ordained Priest:	1948.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.11.30
Died:	1996.11.30 († 77)

Bishop of Ruhengeri (Rwanda) (1968.09.05 – 1996.01.05)

Believed to be killed by members of Rwandan Patriotic Army.

Bishop Joseph Sibomana
(1961.08.21 – 1968.09.05)

Cui credidi

Born:	1915.04.25 (Save, Rwanda)
Ordained Priest:	1940.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.12.03
Died:	1999.11.09 († 84)

Bishop of Ruhengeri (Rwanda) (1961.08.21 – 1968.09.05)

Bishop of Kibungo (Rwanda) (1968.09.05 – 1992.03.30)

Fr. Bernard Manyurane
(1960.12.20 – 1961.05.08 not possessed)

In vinculo pacis

Born:	1913
Died:	1961.05.08 († 47)

Bishop of Ruhengeri (Rwanda) (1960.12.20 – 1961.05.08 not possessed)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Notre Dame de Fatima, Ruhengeri, Nord

Nyundo (↙), Goma (←), Kabale (↗), Byumba (→), Kabgayi (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 1,665 km²

Population: 482,360 Catholics (34.9% of 1,382,600 total)

Pastoral Centres: 16 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 73 priests (58 diocesan, 15 religious), 225 religious (60 brothers, 165 sisters), 64 seminarians