Bishop Bimenyimana laid to rest

Bimenyimana succumbed to Leukemia on Sunday.

The burial ceremony was attended by different Catholic Church episcopal from different Dioceses including Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza of Nyundo, Celestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro, Servelien Nzakamwita of Byumba, Antoine Kambanda of Kibungo, Vincent Harolimana of Ruhengeri, Habiyambere former Nyundo Diocese Bishop, Smaragde Mbonyintege of Kabgayi, Rukamba Philippe of Butare and Pope Francis’s envoy in Rwanda among others from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Bishop Halorimana said that late Bimenyimana was a person of all people.

“In our country that was characterized by history of divisionism and hatred, he was a person of all people. People who had divisionism among themselves hunted him wanting to kill him, but, luckily he escaped the death several times,” he said.

In 1994, he was hunted but committed to stay together with Tutsi who were being hunt and shared hardships they passed through, he added.

He said that his race was Rwandanship and Christianity. His inspiration was gospel and made him consider all people as brethrens.

“He passed on as a hero, that is why all people who knew him should stick on such heroism,” Halorimana said.

“Other Bishops used to have study visits to this diocese with the ambition to learn from him, the way he managed the church and the way all things developed leading to good gospel,” he added.

Under the message of Episcopal Conference of Rwanda red by Harolimana, they said ‘We loved him and he was a person of value in our shared mission’

Bishop Bimenyimana was born on June 22nd 1953, in Bumazi, former Cyangugu Prefecture now Rusizi District of Western Province.

He was ordained a priest on June 6th, 1980; ordained to the sacerdotal class in Nyundo Parish; and was ordained as Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese on January 18th, 1997. He was made an episcopal priest on March 16th, 1997.