A new shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Kibeho will be inaugurated in Philadelphia. The shrine aims to highlight the significance of Black Catholic spirituality within the Philadelphia archdiocese. The apparitions of Our Lady of Kibeho occurred in Rwanda in the 1980s. Three students, Alphonsine Mumureke, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, and Marie Claire Mukangango, reported seeing the apparitions. The apparitions began with Alphonsine Mumureke in 1981, who reported seeing a woman identifying as 'Mother of the Word'.
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Our Lady of Kibeho refers to a series of Marian apparitions that occurred in Kibeho, Rwanda, beginning in 1981 and continuing through the 1980s 1. These apparitions are significant as they are the first and only Vatican-approved Marian apparitions in Africa 1. A new shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Kibeho is being established at the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Philadelphia, aiming to highlight Black Catholic spirituality 1.
The apparitions began on November 28, 1981, when Alphonsine Mumureke, a 16-year-old student at Kibeho College, reported seeing a beautiful woman who identified herself as "Nyina wa Jambo" (Mother of the Word) 1. Initially, Mumureke faced skepticism, but her claims were later corroborated by two other students, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka (January 1982) and Marie Claire Mukangango (March 1982) 1. These three are officially recognized as the authentic visionaries 1.
The messages conveyed during the apparitions emphasized the importance of prayer, particularly the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, and the need for self-mortification 1. The visionaries were known for their rigorous fasts 1. Disturbingly, on August 19, 1982, the trio reported visions of rivers of blood, fire, and dismembered bodies, which were later interpreted as a prophetic warning of the 1994 Rwandan genocide 1. The visions for Mukangango ended in September 1982, for Mukamazimpaka in December 1983, and for Mumureke in November 1989 1.
The Church initiated an investigation into the apparitions due to the widespread attention they garnered 1. Bishop Jean-Baptiste Gahamanyi of Butare established medical and theological commissions in 1982, carefully following Vatican norms for judging alleged apparitions 1. Public worship at the site was authorized in 1988 1.
After Kibeho was transferred to the new Diocese of Gikongoro, Bishop Augustin Misago continued the investigation 1. On November 28, 1992, he laid the foundation stone for a future chapel at the apparition site 1. Despite the Rwandan genocide occurring less than a year later, which included massacres in Kibeho, Bishop Misago persevered 1. On June 29, 2001, Bishop Misago formally declared the testimonies of the three original visionaries authentic 1. The Holy See released Gikongoro's declaration on July 2, 2001, officially approving the Kibeho apparitions 1.
Bishop Misago acknowledged that while the message of Kibeho had not yet fully converted all people, its potential remained 1. He entrusted the Kibeho sanctuary with promoting the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows and designated November 28 as the annual Feast of the Mother of God of Kibeho 1. In 2014, Pope Francis addressed Rwandan bishops, referencing the Kibeho apparitions and expressing his hope that the Shrine of Kibeho would further radiate Mary's love and serve as an appeal for reconciliation and peace 1.
What is the Church's teaching on Marian apparitions?
The Catholic Church approaches alleged Marian apparitions, and other alleged supernatural phenomena, with a process of careful discernment. This discernment aims to determine if there are signs of divine action, if anything conflicts with faith and morals, and what pastoral value, if any, the phenomena might have . The process is guided by norms issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which were updated in 2024, building upon previous norms from 1978 .
The primary responsibility for examining alleged supernatural phenomena within a diocese rests with the Diocesan Bishop, in dialogue with the national Episcopal Conference . However, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith must always be consulted and give final approval to the Bishop's determination before it is announced publicly . This ensures a consistent approach and prevents confusion among the faithful . The Dicastery also reserves the right to intervene motu proprio (on its own initiative) in certain instances .
To conduct an investigation, the Diocesan Bishop is to establish an Investigatory Commission. This commission must include at least one theologian, one canonist, and an expert chosen based on the nature of the phenomenon. The commission's purpose is to thoroughly examine every aspect of the event to provide the Bishop with useful information for evaluation .
The Church employs both positive and negative criteria in its discernment process.
Positive Criteria :
Negative Criteria: The Church also looks for problematic elements that could indicate the absence of supernatural origin or even deception. These include:
The new norms (2024) offer six possible prudential decisions, moving away from the previous inclination towards a simple "supernatural" or "not supernatural" declaration . While a declaration of "supernaturalness" is now rare and typically reserved for exceptional intervention by the Holy Father, the possibility of declaring an event as "not supernatural" remains, especially when there are objective signs of manipulation . More commonly, a Nihil obstat might be issued, which authorizes positive pastoral work without definitively declaring the supernatural origin .
The Church's discernment process is a continuous one. Even after a determination is made, the Dicastery reserves the right to intervene again depending on the development of the phenomenon, and the Bishop is requested to continue watching over it for the good of the faithful .
It is important to understand that even when an alleged apparition receives ecclesiastical approval, it does not mean the faithful are obliged to believe in its authenticity . Ecclesiastical approval signifies that "the message contains nothing contrary to faith or morals" and that it is permissible to appreciate its spiritual fruits . Private revelations, even those approved by the Church, do not add to the Deposit of Faith, which concluded with the death of the last Apostle. They serve to help people live out the truths of faith more fully.