On June 13, 2026, the Catholic Diocese of Cyangugu organized a special day of prayer at the Secret of Peace Center. The event brought together thousands of pilgrims, priests, religious, local leaders, peacebuilders, and visitors from different countries, including guests from the United States of America.
In Loving Memory of Fr. Ubald, a Witness of Forgiveness and Reconciliation
The gathering was dedicated to the memory of Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga, founder of the Secret of Peace Center and one of Rwanda’s most inspiring ambassadors of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation.
Fr. Ubald devoted his life to helping people overcome hatred, trauma, and division through prayer, inner healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation. His ministry touched the lives of thousands of people in Rwanda and across the world. Although he passed away in 2021 and is buried at the Secret of Peace Center, his mission continues to inspire many people who seek peace and healing.
The Day of Prayer was organized for three main reasons. First, to remember and pray for Fr. Ubald and to thank God for his life and ministry. Second, to reflect on how his work of healing and reconciliation can continue in today’s world. Third, to raise awareness and support for an important new initiative: the construction of the Reconciliation Hall.
The Secret of Peace Center: A place of healing and hope
The Secret of Peace Center has become a unique place of prayer, healing, and reconciliation. Its vision is: “To contribute to building a reconciled, peaceful and healed society in the light of the Gospel, promoting the values of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace in Rwanda and beyond.”
Its mission is: “To promote inner healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace through prayer and evangelization, confession, listening and counselling, psycho-social support, training, mediation, research and peace education, in order to restore human dignity and strengthen social cohesion.”
Every month, especially on the 13th day, the Center welcomes around 5,000 people from different provinces of Rwanda, neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, and even from overseas. People come seeking spiritual guidance, counselling, reconciliation, healing from trauma, confession, prayer, participation in the Eucharist, and opportunities to share testimonies of healing and restored relationships.
The growing number of visitors clearly shows that many people continue to experience deep emotional, spiritual, and social wounds. They are looking for a place where they can find peace, understanding, and hope.
The Reconciliation Hall: A School of Forgiveness and Peacebuilding
The Diocese of Cyangugu has therefore launched the project of constructing a reconciliation hall, a unique educational and spiritual place dedicated entirely to reconciliation, healing, and peacebuilding.
More than thirty years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has made remarkable progress in rebuilding the nation. However, many survivors continue to carry painful memories and trauma. At the same time, many former prisoners have returned to society and continue their journey of reconciliation and reintegration. The need for healing and reconciliation remains very real.
Beyond Rwanda, neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi continue to face conflicts, displacement, violence, and social tensions. Around the world, wars, political divisions, ethnic conflicts, domestic violence, social injustice, hatred, and growing mental health challenges are affecting millions of people. Many individuals, families, and communities are living with fear, trauma, anger, and broken relationships.
In such a context, reconciliation is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
The reconciliation hall will be a school of healing, forgiveness, and lasting peace. It will provide a safe space where people can learn to overcome hatred, heal emotional wounds, rebuild trust, and restore relationships. Through testimonies, training programs, workshops, exhibitions, counseling, and peace education activities, visitors will gain practical tools for reconciliation in their families, communities, churches, schools, and nations.
The hall will also preserve the memory of past tragedies while inspiring future generations to choose peace over violence. It will serve as a beacon of hope not only for Rwanda but also for the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond.
A Shared Responsibility
The journey of reconciliation cannot be carried by one person, one community, or one institution alone. Peace is built when people walk together. Every individual, family, organization, church, and institution has a role to play.
When the project was first conceived, the construction cost was estimated at approximately EUR 300,000. However, due to new requirements from the Rwanda Housing Authority and the significant increase in construction material prices, the estimated cost has now risen to approximately EUR 475,000.
Despite this challenge, the Diocese of Cyangugu remains committed to making this vision a reality. The reconciliation hall will become a lasting legacy of hope, healing, and peace for generations to come.
An Invitation to Become Builders of Peace
We warmly invite all people of goodwill, friends of peace, organizations, churches, foundations, and institutions to support this important initiative.
Your contribution, whatever its size, will help create a place where wounded hearts can heal, divided communities can reconcile, and future generations can learn the values of forgiveness, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence.
Together, we can transform the wounds of the past into a future filled with hope.
Together, we can build the Reconciliation Hall.
Together, we can build peace.
By Fr. Diogène DUFATANYE