KIGALI, RWANDA – In a momentous ceremony marking a new chapter for the Jesuit order in Africa, the Rwanda-Burundi Jesuit Region was officially elevated to the status of a full Province on July 31, 2025.

The decree by Superior General, Arturo Sosa, SJ, of the constitution of RWB as a Province and the installation of the new Provincial Fr. Fabien Gasigwa, SJ, was pronounced by Fr. José Minaku Lukoli, SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM), during a celebration that coincided with the Feast Day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. The event was attended by H.E. Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, who witnessed the formal establishment of the newest Jesuit Province.

The elevation from a region to a province is a significant milestone within the Jesuit structure, signifying maturity, growth, and a greater capacity for self-governance. It recognizes the decades of work by Jesuits in both countries through their extensive ministries in education, spiritual retreats, and social services.

In his homily, Cardinal Czerny emphasized the communal responsibility that comes with this new status, reminding those present that "we belong to the same family—the Church of God. This makes us brothers and sisters, and it gives us the responsibility to care for one another."

The new Provincial, Fr. Fabien Gasigwa, SJ, captured the unique nature of the occasion by remarking that the new Province was “born as a grown-up baby.” This sentiment reflects the region's long and established history prior to its official promotion. Speakers during the ceremony underscored that the new status is not a reward for past work but a mandate for a renewed mission entrusted to them by Jesus.

A Legacy of Service and Education

The Jesuit presence in Rwanda and Burundi has deep roots. The first Jesuits arrived in Rwanda in 1952 at the invitation of King Mutara III Rudahigwa. Their work began with education, founding a secondary school in Kabgayi before later establishing the renowned Lycée du Saint-Esprit in Usumbura (now Bujumbura, Burundi).

Over the decades, their ministries expanded significantly. In Rwanda, they established a novitiate, the Centre Christus spiritual centre, and a large academic complex in Kigali. In Burundi, they were pioneers in higher education, founding faculties in Humanities and Social Sciences in 1960 that would later become part of the University of Burundi.

Beyond the classroom, the Jesuits have been deeply involved in pastoral work, agricultural development projects, and critical social services. This includes running Service Yezu Mwiza, a centre for the care of people living with HIV/AIDS, and working with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) to support refugees and displaced persons throughout the region.

Established as a separate region in 1999 after previously being part of the Central African Province, the Rwanda-Burundi jurisdiction now counts over 90 members, with 65 Jesuits currently in formation, indicating a vibrant future.

The birth of the Rwanda-Burundi Province is seen as a day of double celebration: honoring the legacy of St. Ignatius while toasting to a new beginning, charged with the mission to continue serving the people of the two nations with renewed care and love.