[PHOTOS]: Christmas prayers focus on Burundi

Christians across the country yesterday gathered at various places of worship to celebrate Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Followers sang and prayed while also wishing blessed day for one another, but priests mostly preached love and brotherhood among the believers and beseeched the faithful to pray for Burundians whose country is currently in a political deadlock. In Kigali, the St Michel Cathedral was filled to capacity by followers at around noon while others stood outside to follow the prayers for the main Mass. They sang in celebration of Jesus’ birth and prayed for more peace in countries and families across the world. Bishop Muvunyi leads the Christmas sermons at St Etienne Cathedral in Kigali. (Doreen Umutesi) According to Fr Casimir Uwumukiza, the parish priest of St Michel Cathedral, Christmas is a symbol of love and simplicity for humanity. “The big message on Christmas is that when a child is born it’s a source of pleasure. The child helps us to be humble; so we have to be like children and love everyone,” he said. Fr Uwumukiza said Christmas also means that Jesus was born to be the light for families that would otherwise be living in darkness without knowing him. “Christmas means that Jesus is for everyone. We have to receive him and take him to others. Christmas brings a message of peace and brotherhood,” he said. Some Christians during the Christmas mass at Butare Cathedral in Huye District on Friday. Thousands of Christians had flocked to worship there on Christmas (Emmanuel Ntirenganya). Leon Kalinda, one of the Christians who joined other faithful at St Michel for prayers, said Christmas brings joy and a feeling that there is someone who is a saviour for everyone. “We have to be happy on Christmas because Jesus is born again. We as Christians believe that Jesus came to save us,” Kalinda said as he followed the sermon from outside the church because he couldn’t get a seat inside since it was filled to capacity. A few metres away from St Michel, the Anglican Church of St Etienne was also filled to capacity by followers. Bishop Louis Aimable Muvunyi told followers that they should thank the Lord to be alive and safe on Christmas given that many people died without making it to that day or are living in conflict-torn areas somewhere in the word today. Monsingor Philip Rukamba, the Bishop of Butare Diocese, applies benediction water onto children in baptism, during the Chistmas mass at Butare Cathedral in Huye District on Friday (Emmanuel Ntirenganya). Pray for Burundi “Christmas is a time to pause and reflect on our lives. It’s time to think about the meaning of Jesus in our lives. The world is a troubled place and some people can’t freely get out of their homes and come to church like this. Some people are in refugee camps,” Bishop Muvunyi said. The cleric asked fellow Christians to pray for Burundians who are currently living in refugee camps because there is no peace back at their homes. “Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Burundi,” he said. One of the faithful at St Etienne church, Ange Ngiruwonsanga, said Christmas is a special day when many Christians like taking members of their families to church so they can thank the Lord together. Monsingor Philip Rukamba, the Bishop of Butare Diocese, applies benediction ointment onto children in baptism, during the Chistmas mass at Butare Cathedral in Huye District on Friday (Emmanuel Ntirenganya). “Some people make sure to pray on Christmas because they feel it’s a special day,” she said. At the main Restoration Church in Kigali, a message of love was also delivered on Christmas, with followers being told to love each other because Jesus symbolises love. “We have to believe in the transformation brought by Jesus Christ and love with each other. Our message on this Christmas Day is for people to stay in Jesus and love others more,” said Pastor Alphonse Seruhungo, second spokesperson for the Restoration Church in Rwanda. The Choir at St Etienne Cathedral sings Christmas Hymns yesterday during the 10am service. (Doreen Umutesi) Pope condemns terrorism Christmas was also celebrated worldwide, yesterday, with Pope Francis calling for peace and reconciliation around the world. In a Christmas message, Pope Francis castigated terrorism and the crisis of migrants in the world and said that he prayed for the success of recent UN resolutions for peace in Syria and Libya. He also condemned “brutal acts of terrorism” in certain parts of the world, singling out France, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Mali. God parents of children ready to to be baptized on Christmas Day at St Michel Cathedral in Kivovu. (Doreen Umutesi) He also condemned conflicts in Ukraine, Colombia, Yemen, Iraq, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On the migrant crisis, the Pope said: “May God repay all those, both individuals and states, who generously work to provide assistance and welcome to the numerous migrants and refugees.” During a mass on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis had called on Roman Catholics to live a simple life instead of being obsessed with possessions and consumerism. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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[PHOTOS]: Christmas prayers focus on Burundi