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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on January 31, 2012 appointed Rev. Vincent Harolimana, until now Rector of the Minor Seminary St. Pius X in the diocese of Nyundo as Bishop of Ruhengeri (Rwanda).
Rev. Vincent Harolimana, was born on September 2, 1962 in Mpembe, Mubuga parish in the diocese of Nyundo. After primary and secondary schools in the Petit Séminaire St. Pious X in Nyundo, he entered the preparatory Seminary of Rutongo (1983-1984) and later at the Grand Séminaire St. Charles of Nyakibanda, in the diocese of Butare, for his philosophical and theological studies (1984-1990), where he obtained his Baccalaureate Diploma in Theology. On September 8, 1990 he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nyundo by the Blessed John Paul II, during the Apostolic Journey to Mbare, in the diocese of Kabgayi. After ordination he has held the following positions: 1990-1993: Vicar in the parish of Gisenyi; 1993-1999: Studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he obtained his Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology, residing at the Community of the Children of St. Mary Immaculate; since 2000: Rector of the Petit Séminaire St. Pious X in Nyundo diocese; since 2004: Professeur visiteur of Dogmatic Theology at the Grand Séminaire St. Charles of Nyakibanda, and also at the Institut d'Enseignement Supérieur ( INES), of Ruhengeri. He is also a member of the Board of Consultants, of the Diocesan Commission for Economic Affairs, for the Pastoral Care of Vocations, for the Liturgy and Sacred Music. He is a chaplain of the Fraternite Notre-Dame de la Resurrection (consecrated widows) and the Soeurs de Saint Vincent de Paul in Nyundo.
The Diocese of Ruhengeri, built in 1960, is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kigali. It has an area of 1,762 square kilometers and a population of 989,000 inhabitants, of whom 488,000 are Catholics. There are 11 parishes, 57 priests (42 diocesan and 15 religious), 5 religious brothers, 77 nuns and 38 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 31/01/2012)
