The 17th May 2008 will be a special day for the Parish of Kivumu. On that Saturday three Franciscan friars (OFM), brother Joseph Bishyanuka, Philippe Ntawuhiganayo and brother Théoneste Twahirwa, will be ordained to the priesthood. The ordination will take place during the Eucharistic celebration which will be celebrated by his lordship bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege, the shepherd of Kabgayi Diocese.

Brother Joseph Bishyanuka, ofm, was born on the 1st August 1957 in Nyanza Parish which is situated in the township of Nyanza district. It belongs to the Diocese of Butare in the southern part of Rwanda. The parents of Brother Joseph are the late Mathias MBARAGA and Véronique NYIRABASHUMBA. He is the 2nd of 7 siblings of whom only one sister is alive. The rest met the Lord during the 1994 genocide tragedy. Bro. Joseph entered the novitiate of the order of friars Minor (OFM) usually known as the Franciscans on the 08.09.1988. He made his first profession on the 08.09.1989 at Kivumu. He made his solemn profession on 11.08.1994 in Mbarara, Uganda. He did his theology studies in IFOR (Institut de Formation Religieuse) in Butare between 1992 – 1994, and in Lyon (France) between 1996 – 1998. he studied philosophy in Madagascar between 2003 and 2007. bro. Joseph was ordained to the order of diaconate on 11.08.2007.  Since then he has been exercising his diaconate ministry in the parish of Mbazi in the diocese of Butare.  He has been so much involved in various pastoral ministries which include: youth, various catholic movements with the Parish. Giving hope to those infected by HIV/AIDS who are grouped in associations.  Brother Joseph teaches also at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Butare. (Institut Superieur des Sciences Religieuses (ISSR).

Brother Philippe Ntawuhiganayo, ofm, was born on the 7th December 1969 in Higiro Parish, Butare Diocese, in the southern part of Rwanda. He entered Noviciate on the 17th September 2000 and made his first profession on the 17th September 2001 in Mbarara, Uganda. Brother Philippe made his solemn profession on the 25th June 2006 at Kivumu Parish. He did his philosophy studies in Lusaka, Zambia between 2001 and 2004. He studied theology at Tangaza School of theology in Nairobi, Kenya between 2004 and 2008. Brother Philippe was elevated to the order of Deacons on the 25th August 2007 at Our Lady Queen of Peace parish (south B) in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya. Since then he has been involved in pastoral activities such as: working and accompanying the drug and alcohol addicts at Karen ATC (Asumbi Training Centre). He was exercising his diaconate ministry in St. Michael Parish – Otiende, and he particularly worked with St. John small Christian community in Kibera slum. Brother Philippe is the 7th of the nine children of Gabriel Sekimonyo and Marie Magdalene Mukandanga. His father died in 1990 following a short illness, while his mother died of the killings of 1994 which claimed the lives of many Rwandese. Among the nine children, four are alive while among the five, three fell victims of the mentioned killings.

Brother Théoneste Twahirwa,ofm, was born on the 4th December 1970 in the Parish of Rwaza, Ruhengeri Diocese in the northern part of Rwanda. He is the first born of Gaston Bizimungu and Laurentia Kakuze. He has four brothers and six sisters. He joined the noviciate on the 17th September 2000 and made his first profession on the 17th September 2001, in Mbarara, Uganda. Brother Théoneste followed his philosophy studies in Lusaka, Zambia between 2001 and 2004. he did his Theology studies at Tangaza school of theology in Nairobi, Kenya, between 2004 and 2008. he was ordained deacon on the 25th August 2007 at Our Lady Queen of Peace (South B) in the Archdiocese of Nairobi. Since then he has been involved in pastoral ministry of the word and various activities in the Holy Eucharist Parish in Nairobi, (Lower Kabete location) Kenya.

Franciscan Friars have been working in Kivumu since 1983. Currently there are four friars working in the Parish with various activities. In the parish there is a formation centre Père Vjeko, whose aim is to help the school dropout children in the area. In general it provides vocational training for the youth. There is also associations of those infected by HIV/AIDS who try to live positively with the encouragement which the friars offer. There is also an association of the widows which strives to promote self-sustenance, to mention but few.