History

The history of the Monastery of Gihindamuyaga began with Abbot Godefroid Dayez of Maredsous Abbey. From the start of his abbacy in 1950, Abbot Godefroid was driven by the idea of spreading the Benedictine life and saw the foundation of new monasteries as a means of revitalizing existing communities. In November 1953, he expressed his desire to his Council to establish a monastery in Africa. After visiting the Benedictine monks of Saint-André-lez-Bruges in Katanga, he began exploring the possibility of founding a monastery in the Congo. In May 1954, while in Katanga, he received an invitation from Bishop Aloys Bigirumwami, the bishop of Nyundo, Rwanda, to attend the celebration of his 25th priestly ordination anniversary.

In 1957, Pope Pius XII’s encyclical Fidei Donum encouraged the propagation of the faith in Africa, reinforcing Abbot Godefroid’s vision. Bishop André Perraudin, Vicar Apostolic of Kabgayi, then requested a monastic foundation in his diocese. Abbot Godefroid sent two monks, Dom Ambroise Watelet and Dom Baudouin Oldenhove, to explore the possibilities. After careful study, they chose the Gihindamuyaga property near Astrida (Butare) as the site for the monastery.

Despite some challenges, including opposition from the Vicar Apostolic of Katanga, the Maredsous monks overcame these difficulties and successfully established the Gihindamuyaga Monastery. The site offered a favorable setting for monastic life, with a temperate climate, fertile land for farming, and a welcoming local community. In 1958, a team of six monks, including Fr. Sébastien Braun, Fr. André Schyrgens, Fr. Jean-Gualbert Neujean, Fr. Baudouin Oldenhove, Fr. Stanislas Sallets, and Br. Hildebrand Janssens, was designated to found the monastery.

Construction began in August 1958, with the clearing and renovation of existing buildings. On April 2, 1959, the chapel and monastery were officially blessed in the presence of numerous religious and civil dignitaries. Abbot Godefroid remained at the site until May 1959, immersing himself in the local culture while adapting monastic life to the realities of Rwanda.

Gihindamuyaga Monastery quickly became a significant spiritual center, welcoming priests, missionaries, and young people seeking renewal. Abbot Godefroid emphasized the importance of integrating local values and customs to deeply root Benedictine monasticism in Rwanda. From the founding of the monastery until September 21, 2000, all priors were European. On that day, Fr. Jérémie Sengabo, the first African and Rwandan prior, was appointed. He served until November 2005, and was succeeded by Fr. Donat Rusengamihigo, Fr. Augustine Nsabimana, and Fr. Gilbert Mwanafunzi in turn. In 2022, the first election of a prior in the history of Gihindamuyaga took place, and Fr. Jean Pierre Canisius was elected on October 26, 2022.

At the General Chapter of the Benedictine Congregation of the Annunciation, held from September 5 to 11, 2018, in Subiaco, Italy, the Benedictine monks of Gihindamuyaga became an independent conventual priory, free from the Abbey of Maredsous. This autonomy was officially proclaimed on October 6, 2018, by Abbot Bernard Lorent during the ordination of Fr. Jean Bosco Twahirwa at the Gihindamuyaga Monastery.