Lumen Christi spes mea ("The Light of Christ is my hope")
Smaragde Mbonyintege (born 2 February 1947) is a Rwandan prelate of the Catholic Church who was Bishop of Kabgayi in Rwanda from 2006 until 2023. He was appointed Bishop of Kabgayi Diocese by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 January 2006. His age-related retirement was accepted by Pope Francis and took effect on 2 May 2023. He now lives on as Bishop Emeritus of Kabgayi, Rwanda.
Smaragde Mbonyintege was born on 2 February 1947 in Cyeza Parish, Kabgayi Diocese, in the Kamonyi District, in the Southern Province of Rwanda. On 20 May 1960 he was baptized Catholic in Kabgayi, when he was 13 years old. He received his confirmation on 5 July 1960.[1][2]
He attended primary school in Shyanda, in Kabgayi Parish. He then attended lower secondary school in Byimana. He then studied at the Marist Brothers Teacher Training College in Save in Gisagara District in Rwanda's Sothern Province. He studied at the St. Paul Minor Seminary Kigali in the Archdiocese of Kigali.[2]
He was ordained a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kabgayi, Rwanda on 20 July 1975. The ceremony was held in Cyeza Parish. He is the first priest of this parish. He served in that role until 21 January 2006.[1][2]
As a priest he served in many capacities inside and outside his diocese including as:[2]
Vicar in the Parish of Kabgayi from 1975 until 1979.
Chaplain of the diocesan Youth and the "Charismatic Renewal" Movement from 1975 until 1979.
Bursar at the St. John Senior Seminary Kamonyi starting in 1979.
Professor and Rector at the St. John Senior Seminary Kamonyi from 1978 until 1979.
Professor and Spiritual Father at the Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary in Nyakibanda from 1983 until 1996.
Director of the Spirituality and Theology Review "Urumuri rwa Kristu" (Lumen Christi) in 1989.
Rector of the Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary in Nyakibanda from 1996 until 2006.[2]
Bishop
On 22 January 2006 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Kabgayi, Rwanda. He was consecrated and installed at Kabgayi on 26 March 2006 by the hands of Archbishop Thaddée Ntihinyurwa, Archbishop of Kigali assisted by Bishop Frédéric Rubwejanga, Bishop of Kibungo and Bishop Philippe Rukamba, Bishop of Butare.[1][2]
On 2 May 2023, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege from the pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Kabgayi in Rwanda. On the same day, The Holy Father appointed MonsignorBalthazar Ntivuguruzwa as his successor at Kabgayi.[3]
As of 2013 he was the chairman of the Episcopal Commission responsible for the Clergy, Major Seminaries. He also served as the chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Consecrated Women and that for Ecumenism. He served as the elected president of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda (ECR).[2]
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