• 14 March 2023

Our St Patrick’s Day speaker

We are delighted that The Rt Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda has made the long journey from Rwanda in east–central Africa to join us as our guest speaker this year. Archbishop Laurent and his wife Chantal are here as guests of the diocese and of Tearfund NI.

The Archbishop will speak on the theme of Reconciliation at the 11.45am Festival Service in Down Cathedral. He will also join us at Saul Church and for the Prayer Pilgrimage.

Madame Chantal will also be busy! She is the MU Provincial President of Rwanda and will be speaking on Mothers’ Union at Work in Rwanda in Seagoe Parish Church, Portadown, on Thursday 16 March at 7.30pm.

About

The Rt Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda was born in Rwanda and spent his childhood years in Burundi. He has spent decades serving with Christian International Development organisations and with the local church. 

Dr Mdanda has written and spoken widely about his experience during decades of violence in Rwanda – including his memoir: From Barefoot to Bishop: A Rwandan Refugee’s Journey – and worked extensively in peacebuilding and trauma support in the aftermath of the genocide. 

Dr Mbanda has served as Archbishop of Rwanda since 2018.

Do please join us on Friday 17 March for our St Patrick’s Day celebrations at Saul and Down Cathedral. All the details are at THIS LINK.