By Paschal Norbert
KIGALI, FEBRUARY 21,2023 (CISA)- Fr Jean-Marie Vianney Twagirayezu, the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda has been appointed as the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kibungo, Rwanda.
In an announcement made by the Holy See Press Office on February 20, Fr Twagirayezu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Nyundo will take over from Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, the archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese Kigali who has been the apostolic administrator of the diocese since his elevation to the episcopal see of Kigali in 2018.
Cardinal Kambanda was the immediate former bishop of Kibungo since 2013. He was appointed after the resignation of Rt Rev Kizito Bahujimihigo in 2010 who was accused of financial misappropriation of diocesan funds and ultimately relieved of his duties by the Vatican.
Born on July 21, 1960, in Nyundu, Fr Tawgirayezu studied commerce and accounting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and was employed in a state company for work experience. From 1988 to 1994, he studied philosophy and theology at St. Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibanda in the Catholic Diocese of Kabgayi.
The 62-year-old cleric was ordained a priest on October 8, 1995.
He previously served as parish priest of Muramba and Kibingo in the Catholic Diocese of Nyundo from 1995 to 1997. After completing his licentiate in pastoral theology from Louvain Catholic University in Belgium from 1997 to 2000, he was appointed Director of Caritas Nyundo Diocese from 2000 to 2002.
He was later appointed the chief accountant for the Catholic Diocese of Nyundo from 2002 to 2009 and was also fronted to Louvain Catholic University to study business management where he also did a PhD.
He has been the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda since 2016.
Bishop-elect Jean-Marie Vianney Twagirayezu will take over the diocese of Kibungo with a population of over 362, 700 Catholics as the fifth bishop.
