Our Lady of Kibeho By Nicole Patterson
A dedication and blessing ceremony was held in early May.
THE MOUNT UNVEILED a new mosaic on campus inspired by Our Lady of Kibeho, the only Vaticanapproved Marian apparition to take place on the continent of Africa. The mosaic was made possible by a gift from the Mount’s Board of Trustees member Janice Obuchowski, her husband Albert (Bert) Halprin, and their children, one of whom is a Mount graduate of the Class of 2016, Juliet Halprin. The mosaic is located on the northeast side of Bradley Hall and incorporates a wayside marker including the story of and excerpts from the prayer to Our Lady of Kibeho. The story of Our Lady of Kibeho began when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Kibeho, Rwanda, during the 1980s, and identified herself as Nyina wa Jambo (Kinyarwanda for “Mother of the Word”) to three high school girls: Alphonsine Mumureke, Anathalie Mukamazimpaka and Marie-Claire Mukangango. The apparitions communicated an apocalyptic vision of Rwanda falling into bloody violence and hatred, potentially foretelling the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In 2021, the local bishop of the Catholic Church officially recognized the visions of the three schoolchildren as authentic, with approval of the Universal Catholic Church.
President Trainor with Mount Board of Trustee member Janice Obuchowski and her daughter Juliet Halprin, C'16
Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Rwanda, encouraged the faithful to turn to the Virgin as “a simple and sure guide” to conversion and acceptance of the sorrow all face in life. He asked for prayer and greater commitment against local political and ethnic divisions. “I read about Our Lady of Kibeho and her call for prayer, repentance and reconciliation,” said Obuchowski. “Devotion to her as Our Lady of Sorrows, who suffered alongside her divine child is significant, especially to all parents.” Obuchowski and her family have visited Africa on several occasions, including trips to Tanzania and Kenya. The family concluded that Our Lady of Kibeho should be represented at the Mount, where Our
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FEATURE SPRING 2021
