Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga was accepted as an Honorary Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Fr. Ubald was recognized for his life mission of promoting forgiveness and peace throughout Europe and his home region in Rwanda.
Fr. Ubald has created a Center for the Secret of Peace on the shore of Lake Kivu. At the center, congregations numbering in thousands of persons from both Hutu and Tutsi tribes gather to hear messages of forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. Fr. Ubald’s life story was recently presented in a movie premiered at the Jackson Hole Arts Center with a second premiere at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The movie was also presented in Chicago IL, Green Bay WI, Shreveport LA and Lafayette LA.
Rotary clubs around the world support programs in six areas of focus. Peace and reconciliation as well as health and sanitation are among the objectives of Rotary. The Rotary clubs in Jackson Hole have supported with funds and the engineering of the design/construction of a sanitation block and a system for safe drinking water at the assembly area of the Center for the Secret of Peace. The project was conceived by Rotarians and citizens from Jackson, contracted and executed by Rotarians and supporters in Rwanda, and open to the public. Fr. Ubald conducts counseling and services at the site.
As an Honorary Rotarian, Fr. Ubald will be immediately welcomed to attend Rotary club meetings throughout the world. The members of the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole were pleased to offer a standing ovation during the presentation.
Rotary is an international service organization with 1,200,000 members distributed in 38,000 clubs in over 190 countries. There are three Rotary clubs in Jackson Hole as well as Rotary clubs in Driggs ID and Star Valley WY.