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By Annonciata Byukusenge
On August 17, 2025, a new statue dedicated to Our Lady of Kibeho was officially inaugurated in the United States.
The statue was placed in Philadelphia at the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a site widely known for the St. Vincent’s Rosary Walk.
The inauguration ceremony began with a Holy Mass presided over by Msgr. Efren V. Esmilla, a member of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The statue of Our Lady of Kibeho was created based on the descriptions provided by the visionaries who saw her at Kibeho between 1981 and 1989: Alphonsine Mumureke, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, and Marie Claire Mukangango.
This project was made possible through the collaboration of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal (CAMM) and the Martin de Porres Foundation, with support from Willa Stokes, a Catholic faithful from Philadelphia.
The apparitions of Our Lady of Kibeho remain the only Marian apparitions in Africa officially approved by the Vatican.
According to the visionaries, Our Lady’s message focused on prayer, repentance, and love, while also warning of tragedies that could occur if people failed to turn back to God.
The installation of this statue in the United States extends her message beyond Rwanda, symbolizing her as a Mother for all people.
Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, one of the visionaries, often emphasizes that the message given by Our Lady was intended for the entire world.
She explained: “She asks us to repent, abandon sinful ways, practice love, and give up harmful behaviors. She urges us to pray for one another so that we may help save each other. She asks us to pray sincerely, without hypocrisy, and to pray for the Church, for consecrated persons, for families, and for leaders so that they may fulfill their responsibilities. Each person must avoid evil.”
She continued: “She asks us to be converted, to turn away from sin, and to strive for holiness. She calls us to pray fervently, receive the sacraments, practice works of charity, and love everyone without discrimination. She told us that if we live her message faithfully, it will be a remedy that heals the world.”
All three visionaries were students at Kibeho Secondary School, today known as GS Mère du Verbe, named after the title Our Lady used when she revealed herself to them as the “Mother of the Word.”
The apparitions in Rwanda were formally recognized by Pope John Paul II, consecrating the land of Kibeho as holy ground. Since then, Kibeho has become an international pilgrimage site, drawing Christians from across the globe. It has also given the Nyaruguru District worldwide recognition.
