Episcopal Vicar Jean Marie Vianney Nsengumuremyi of the Diocese of Nyundo died on Sunday, August 30. Monsignor Nsengumuremyi was 76. Nsengumuremyi had suffered from various common illnesses over the years, for which he would seek treatment and recover, according to Father Theogene Musonera, Secretary of the Diocese of Nyundo and Private Secretary to the Bishop. However, he was particularly known to have hypertension (high blood pressure) and regularly sought medical care at King Faisal Hospital. He was scheduled to return to Kigali for a medical check-up, Musonera told church-owned newspaper Kinyamateka. ALSO READ: Alexis Kagame, Bigirumwami, Mukagasana receive lifetime literary awards “On Sunday afternoon, he had a crisis, so we called the doctor who normally takes care of him. When the doctor arrived, he took the necessary and urgent measurements and was surprised to find that he had hypotension [low blood pressure].” he was quoted as saying. Musonera said Nsengumuremyi was immediately taken to Gisenyi District Hospital, where doctors tried to save his life but were unsuccessful. Who was Monsignor Nsengumuremyi? Nsengumuremyi Was on July 8, 1950, in Shangi Parish, Giheke Sector, in Rusizi District. He studied at Petit Séminaire Saint Pie X (Nyundo) and went on with his training at Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Rutongo before graduating from Nyakibanda Major Seminary. He was ordained a priest on July 25, 1977, in Nyundo by Bishop Wenceslas Karibushi, then Bishop of the Diocese of Nyundo. He served in different roles in the diocese, including as parish priest in Kivumu, Busasamana, Gisenyi and Nyundo. He also served as head of Catholic education in the Diocese of Nyundo, a role he held for 22 years. Nsengumuremyi was appointed Episcopal Vicar in 2001 and continued serving in the position after Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza took over the leadership of the diocese in 2016. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI granted him the honorary title of Monsignor in recognition of his service to the Church. Beyond his responsibilities in the Church, Musonera said Nsengumuremyi was particularly committed to education and helped many people continue their studies. “He was a person who spoke the truth without hurting anyone. He was also very humble, to the extent that even prominent people felt comfortable around him,” Musonera said.
