In March 2019, three Pallottine Missionary Sisters namely: Sr. Catherine Nikuze, Sr. Perpétue Nyiramahoro and Sr. Josephine Magnifique Barahinyuza Nyirandaboneye, from Our Lady of Kibeho Region (Rwanda / Congo) arrived at Quistinic in France-Bretagne to begin a new mission. Quistinic is a town of 1,500 inhabitants in the region of Brittany, in north-western France, 400 km from Paris.
The town is lined with forest ridges and home to four historic monuments. It is an important agricultural centre, with poultry farming. The Quistinic town belongs to the Plouay Catholic denary which comes under the Diocese of Vannes.
In this picturesque land, on Sunday, 12th May 2019, during the Holy Eucharist Bishop Raymond Centène, the Bishop of the Diocese of Vannes, officially erected the new community and welcomed the three Sisters to the parish. This ceremony took place on the day of the traditional feast of the region: the Feast of forgiveness of Saint Mathurin, and people therefore were dressed in their traditional clothes. Many faithful were present to witness this event in the life of that parish. During the Eucharistic celebration, the Parish Priest Fr. Bruno Bellec introduced the Sisters to the Bishop who officially welcomed them and sent them on mission. During the rite of missioning, the Bishop gave the Bible to the three Sisters as a sign that it is the Good News of Christ that they have to transmit to the people to whom they are sent. After the handing over of the Bible, the Bishop said an intercessory prayer for them after which they turned to the statue of the Virgin Mary and sang a song in Kinyarwanda to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Kibeho to entrust their mission to her. After Mass there was a meal together with all faithful present.
In the afternoon the rosary was prayed together with the Parish community in the Church, followed by vespers and the blessing of the Bishop by which the celebration was concluded. At the end the Bishop came to the community of the Sisters and blessed their house with the Chapel. The Regional Superior Sr. Bellancila Mukandahiro who had come for this event greeted those who were present and read the letter of our Superior General Sr. Izabela Świerad on the occasion of this new establishment of this mission in France. Sisters belong to Sts. Peter and Paul parish and will be engaged in the pastoral and educational apostolate. The Ecclesiastical authorities and the faithful are happy with the presence of the Sisters in this Parish.
May the name of the Lord be blessed,
Sr. Catherine Nikuze SAC
