Catholics across Rwanda will join millions worldwide on August 15 to mark the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a solemn feast celebrating the belief that Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul. Kibeho, the famed Marian pilgrimage site in Nyaruguru District, will host the country’s main celebrations, drawing thousands of faithful for prayer and worship. ALSO READ: Why Assumption Day carries special meaning for Rwandan believers Father Vedaste Kayisabe, Secretary General of the Council of Catholic Bishops in Rwanda, described the Assumption as one of the most important feasts in the Catholic calendar. “The Virgin Mary is deeply revered in the Catholic Church. In our faith, we believe she was taken into heaven, body and soul,” he told The New Times. Officially called the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the feast is unique to Catholic tradition and is a “holy day of obligation” in many countries. In Rwanda, it remains one of the few Catholic feast days recognised as a public holiday. ALSO READ: Assumption Day: When the Blessed Virgin Mary saw us out in Kibeho “Before 1994, several Catholic feast days were public holidays, such as All Saints, Assumption, and the first Monday of Pentecost. Today, Assumption Day is the only one still officially observed,” Father Kayisabe noted. The celebration dates back to the 6th century, when it was known as the Feast of the Dormition — meaning the “falling asleep” of Mary. In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption a dogma — an unchangeable matter of faith — fixing its date on August 15. Preparations in Kibeho will begin on the evening of August 14 with a vigil (Veillée de l’Assomption), including prayers and Mass led by the Bishop of Gikongoro, Célestin Hakizimana, alongside other bishops. “The evening before is important because the feast begins then,” Father Kayisabe explained. “On August 15, the main celebration will start at 10 a.m., with the solemn Mass at 11 a.m., lasting about two hours, followed by speeches, post-communion singing, and traditional church dances until late afternoon.” Although the Assumption is celebrated globally, Kibeho holds a special place in Rwanda due to the Marian apparitions recognized by the Church in the 1980s. Since then, it has become the nation’s most prominent site for honoring the Virgin Mary. “Many people are expected at Kibeho tomorrow because it is now the most significant Marian site in Rwanda,” Father Kayisabe said. The Assumption carries deep theological meaning for Catholics. According to Father Kayisabe, God chose to bring salvation into the world through Mary, making her the mother of all believers. “She was chosen for humanity’s salvation and is respected even by God. As believers, we must honor her,” he said. The apparitions at Kibeho, he added, carry a prophetic message urging repentance, a return to the Gospel, moral living, and adherence to the Ten Commandments. Some messages warn that ignoring serious sins could have grave consequences for humanity.
