Easter Sunday 2021 - Holy Mass sung by the Chorale le Bon Berger Kigali at Saint Michael Parish.
The Chorale le Bon Berger Kigali on April 4, 2021, celebrated Easter Sunday at Saint Michael Parish. The mass started at 11:00 am and concluded around 1:30 am. The Mass was so incredible that the entire church community along with the choir rejoiced and were thankful to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus the King through songs of praise and glorifying voices. However, it was at the difficult time of the covid 19 pandemic, and the number of choristers was reduced to 20 as well as the number of the public community in the church was reduced to apply social distance as one of the approaches to minimize the spread of this pandemic.
Here is the prepared list of songs that were in place for this service: Entrance (Nazutse by Apollinaire), Kyrie (Nyagasani Tubabarire by Apollinaire), Gloria (Imana n' isingizwe mu Ijuru by Mathieu), Psaulm (Umunsi w' Uhoraho), Acclamation (Par Mathieu), Credo (Ordinary), Community Prayer (Alleluia), Offectory (Umuryango wawe wose), Sanctus (Mathieu's Sanctus), Agnus dei (by Apollinaire), Communion (Alleluia Kristu Mwami wacu, Yezu turakuramya), Thanksgiving (Dushime Umucunguzi), Exit (Mwamikazi wo mu Ijuru wishime).
The choir was conducted by Jeremy, with two organists - Oscar Nsabimana and Steve Ndicunguye.
"Focusing on the Resurrection of Jesus, this lesson follows Mary Magdalene as she finds the Empty Tomb on Easter Sunday morning. She then sees Jesus and runs to break the news to the disciples: 'I have seen the Lord!' Create an Empty Tomb Craft and make an Easter scene!"
1st Reading - Acts 10:34A, 37-43
Peter proceeded to speak and said, "You know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism preached by John, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. We witness all that he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised up on the third day and allowed to be visible, not to all the people, but to us, God's chosen witnesses in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one whom God has appointed as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that whoever believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name."
Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23.
R. (24) This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and exult. Or: (R. Hallelujah.)
1. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, "His mercy endures forever."
2. The right hand of the LORD has struck with power; the right hand of the LORD is exalted. I will not die, but I will live and declare the works of the LORD."
3. The stone that the builders discarded has become the cornerstone. This was done by the Lord; it is marvelous in our eyes.
2nd Reading - Colossians 3:1-4
Brothers and sisters: If therefore you have been raised up with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.
Gospel - John 20:1-9
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. Then she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths, but he did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he entered the tomb and saw the burial cloths, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple, the one who had come to the tomb first, also went in and saw and believed. For they had not yet understood the Scripture that he was to rise from the dead.
The Chorale le Bon Berger Kigali wishes everyone a Happy Easter! May the risen Christ bring you and your loved ones abundant happiness. Easter gives us yet another reason to be thankful to God. We sincerely hope that the joy of Christ's coming will be filled in your hearts and bring peace to your lives. Have a blessed Easter.
