Bishop Célestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro Diocese has said that a steering committee will be established soon to help fast-track the implementation of the 10,000-seater basilica project in Kibeho Holy Land.
A Basilica is a Roman Catholic Church church that has certain privileges granted by the Pope.
It is a sacred and significant place of worship that the Pope has granted special ceremonial rights to.
It is expected to produce a Seating capacity: 10,000 and a compound with capacity to accommodate up to 100,000 pilgrims.
The development for this project was announced as Thousands of Catholics from all over the world on Monday August 15, 2022 marked Assumption Day at Kibeho in Nyaruguru district, a place famous for the 1981 apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Pope Paul II, who was then the head Roman Catholic Church, officially recognized Holy Mary’s apparitions in 2001 and declared Kibeho is a Holy Land.
He said that the committee to be established is part of implementing the partnership agreement which the diocese recently signed with a foundation called “Our Lady of Kibeho basilica.”
The USA-based foundation is leading the effort to raise the funds necessary for the financing of the project.
He said that the partnership was signed in the presence of Nyaruguru district officials and Southern province officials.
“After the agreement, we had to set up a committee in charge of following up the project. The project’s administrator and a five-member committee were responsible for following up. These are two members of the Diocese, two members from the foundation, and one representative from Nyaruguru District. This committee will be established soon,” he said.
He said that an American national from papal foundation recently visited the diocese to learn about the project on July 29, 2022.
“The representative who recently visited us is known to effectively conduct resource mobilisation,” Bishop Hakizimana said.
He mentioned that he had met an Argentinean national who is skilled at executing construction projects for the Catholic Church during the visit to Kibeho.
He said that the two of them are helping to raise the money needed for the project.
He noted that they recently came together with Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan who dedicated herself to sharing the message of the Vatican-approved Marian apparition.
“The design of the Basilica needs improvement. The architect from Argentina has also pledged support to work on the design by working with another voluntary architect from the USA who is already working on it.”
This means that the design is not complete. Rwandan architects have shared their suggestions with him, including study of the soil characteristics in Kibeho. After completing it, it will help to know the exact cost we need for the project.” he said.
He stated that Rwandan architects and Rwanda Development Board (RDB), will once again assess the design before final approval.
“There is still time to commence construction because we have to start to construct when we have 70 percent of the required budget. It might take two years to start construction,” he said.
Initial studies had indicated that the construction works for the facility are estimated to cost up to $70 million.
He stated that another study had revealed that For expropriation, Rwf2.5billion is required.
“We have written to different stakeholders who are interested in supporting us to get money for expropriation,” he said.
20 projects about the holy land
Bishop Hakizimana revealed that 20 projects have been planned by the Diocese to be implemented in the Holy Land, which includes the Basilica project.
“We are planning a meeting soon with Nyaruguru district, Southern province, and RDB officials to present all our projects so that they give us some recommendations,” he said.
Nyaruguru officials claim that the projects will create thousands of jobs, attract investors, and boost tourism.
Kibeho receives between 500,000 and 600,000 pilgrims every year according to Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, the district mayor.
“The land receives about 5,000 people every week,” he said.
The Monday pilgrimage is the first after the Covid-19 outbreak.
“We are happy that it happens at a time when we have also got an upgraded road that is easing transport. Two hours was the average travel time for pilgrims from Huye to Nyaruguru. This time has drastically reduced to 30 minutes in a bus,” he said.
He also stated that investors are still very few in the amount of fulfilling pilgrims’ needs.
“Some have pledged to expand business especially in the hospitality sector,” he said, adding some are interested in building hotels.
“Only around 300 hotel and lodge rooms are available. We need to increase the number of rooms,” he said.
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Source: rnewtimes
