Joint celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday at St. Michael Parish - by CBB Kigali and CBB (UR-Huye C.)

The large family of CBB, made up of Chorale le Bon Berger Kigali and its mother choir Chorale le Bon Berger from the University of Rwanda - Huye Campus, celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday, April 25, 2021 at Saint Michael Parish - Kigali. The mass started at 11:00 am and concluded around 1:30 am. Indeed, this family celebrated this day extensively as the worldwide Catholic Church marks Good Shepherd Sunday every year, which is in fulfillment of their lineage, name and also their protection. It was a very special day for these two choirs and more specifically the anniversary of CBB (UR-Huye campus).

The Mass was so incredible that the whole parish as well as the family of CBB rejoiced and were grateful to celebrate this day through incredibly praised songs with glorious voices. Given the COVID-19 pandemic that the world is experiencing today, preventive measures have forced CBB family to celebrate this Mass with a very limited number of choristers, no exceed 20. The two choirs arranged for the choristers to sing together like a family. This makes this Mass very amazing and sincere for the family as well as for the entire Catholic community in St. Michael Parish and across the country.

The mass was fantastically prepared and here is the list of songs used for this service: entrance (Tuje iwawe by A. Maniriho JD), Kyrie (Nyagasani Tubabarire by Iyamuremye S.), Gloria (Imana n 'isingizwe mu Ijuru by Oreste ), Psaulm (by Fulgence N. ), Acclamation (Allelua by Mathieu Ngirumpatse), Credo (Ordinaire by A. Byusa E.), Communion (Ni wowe twiringiye by Olivier N.), Offectory (Ijambo ry 'umutima by A. Joseph H.), Sanctus (Sancturs by Mathieu Ngirumpatse), Agnus dei (by Bahati Wellars), Communion (Ni Umugati by Appolinaire H., Ndagiwe n 'Umushumba mwiza by Oreste N.), Thanksgiving (Mungoro y' Imana haganje ibyiza), Exit (Inyange za Mariya by Oscar N.).

The family was conducted by Jeremy Nshimiyimana, with two organists - Oscar Nsabimana and Bolis Ishimwe.

Good Shepherd Sunday Readings

The first reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12. This excerpt is a sequence of what was described in last Sunday's first reading. Peter had cured a cripple-from-birth and told the people that it was not by his own power that he did this, but through the power of Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews had crucified.

The second reading is from the first Letter of John 3:1-2 in which he sets out in a couple of sentences the basic effect of the Incarnation. Already in this life men are made children of God. Because we are God's children here below we shall see him as he is in the future life.

The Gospel is from St. John 10:11-18. The image of Christ as our Good Shepherd has always appealed to human nature. One of the earliest paintings of Christ in the Roman catacombs represents him as carrying an injured sheep on his shoulders. This is a manifestation of love which touches our innermost feelings. We do not mind being likened to sheep in this context. There is something guileless about a sheep, and at the same time a lot of foolishness. Does not this describe the vast majority of men, even many of those who openly oppose Christ? Is there not something very sheeplike about the man who, because God gave him a limited intellect, thinks he knows all things and needs no further help from God? The sheep who thinks it knows as much, and even more, than the shepherd and sets out to fend for itself, is no more foolish than the man who thinks he can do without God's revelation and God's Church.

The family of Chorale le Bon Berger wishes everyone to be under the protection of the Good Shepherd! May his voice call each of us by name and give us the heart to be the welcoming sheep.