Genocide survivor to speak in River Falls
Immaculée Ilibagiza, survivor of the Rwandan genocide and author of seven books, will tell her story Thursday, Nov. 6, at St. Bridget Parish, River Falls.
Now a U.S. citizen, Ilibagiza was a 22-year-old student in 1994 when the Hutu tribe embarked on its mass slaughter of her tribe, the Tutsi. She sought refuge at the home of a Protestant Hutu minister, who hid Ilibagiza and seven other women in a tiny bathroom for 91 days. She prayed the rosary every day, a gift from her father, and came to forgive the perpetrators. She also taught herself English with a Bible and a dictionary; most of her family had been murdered by the time she emerged.
Ilibagiza’s books include “Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust”; “Led by Faith: Rising from the Ashes of the Rwandan Genocide”; “The Rosary: The Prayer that Saved My Life”; and others.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the event. A rosary with Ilibagiza begins at 6 p.m., and books will be available during the 6:30 p.m. break. She will give her presentation at 7 p.m.; the evening ends with a book-signing.
For more information, call the St. Bridget parish office at 715-425-1870.
Singer/songwriter to perform in Hudson
A World Youth Day performer takes the stage at St. Patrick Parish, Hudson, for a concert and music ministry workshop, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26.
Catholic singer/songwriter and storyteller Jesse Manibusan will give a concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 25. At 2 p.m., Oct. 26, he’ll lead a workshop for music directors, cantors, choir members and all involved in music ministry. The weekend concludes with a music and prayer celebration at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
A ministry leader and musician, Manibusan performs internationally at schools, churches, conferences, prisons and more. He and his wife, Jodi, founded 2 by 2 Ministries more than 25 years ago “to make a positive difference in the lives of young and old in and out of the Church; to affirm and inspire, encourage and empower, motivate and challenge each other to live in Christ.”
Freewill offerings will be taken. For information, call the church, 715-381-5125.
Benefit for Cameron woman
Friends and family are hosting a benefit dinner, Saturday, Nov. 1, for a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Amery.
In August, a cyst was discovered in Jennifer Nelson’s brain. She underwent emergency surgery and doctors implanted a shunt; she is recovering.
The Barron Knights of Columbus are among organizations sponsoring the spaghetti dinner, raffle and live auction from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cameron Fire Hall, Cameron. Contact Tony Nelson, 715-641-0393, for information.
