Thousands turn up for Christmas prayers

KIGALI - Thousands of Christians in Kigali City yesterday turned up in several places of worship to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. When The New Times visited Restoration Church, Remera, at around 9.00 am, hundreds of Christians were already praising and worshiping in a service that was led by Joshua Masasu. The same celebratory mood was exhibited by Christians who turned up for prayers at the St. Michael Catholic Church situated in the City Centre and at Regina Pacis Catholic Church in Remera. At St. Etienne Anglican Church in Nyamirambo, hundreds of believers turned up for the two services, the English service which ends at 10am and Kinyarwanda service which ended at 1pm. The Bishop of Kigali Diocese, Louis Muvunyi, led the services at St. Etienne which were also attended by Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, Charles Munyaneza, the Executive Secretary of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and General Fred Ibingira, among other high profile personalities. At St. Michael, Monsignor Thadeo Ntihinyurwa in his Christmas message said that Jesus came to the world to be the light and therefore, even Christians should imitate him. “Jesus is our light all the time of our living and he lights our ways. We need to have him in our lives because without him we would remain in darkness,” said Ntihinyurwa. He urged the Christians who were packed to the brim at St. Michael to be characterised by good works and to avoid all kinds of sins, and called on them to participate in building their country by obeying the laws that govern them and avoiding deception. Preaching at St. Peters Anglican Church, Pastor Antoine Rutayisire urged Christians to remind themselves the true meaning of Christmas. “Christmas is not the time of the year for eating meat and drinking alcohol, it is a day which reminds us the joy that befell the world when Jesus was born to save us,” said Rutayisire. The rest of the city was quiet during the morning hours as most shops remained closed with the exception of some places like the popular Nyabugogo market where people were seen still shopping. charles.kwizera@newtimes.co.rw