Posted October 14, 2013

More than 400 people participated in a two-day retreat of “Healing and Hope” Oct. 11-12 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, West Chester. The featured guest at the parish retreat was Immaculée Ilibagiza, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, who spoke on how her Catholic faith guided her during the 1994 atrocity and allowed her to forgive those who killed her family.

  • Barbara Arbuckle is elated to meet Immaculee and get her book signed by her.

  • Immaculee gentley kisses Joy Elizabeth Mace, her youngest retreatant at Saint Maximilian Kolbe Church.

  • Immaculee takes a break from speaking and greets Joy Elizabeth Mace and her mother Dana.

  • Msgr. Robert Carroll, pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, stands with Immaculee Ilibagiza and Sue Watson who organzied the parish retreat Oct. 11-12 at the West Chester Parish.

  • More than 400 people participated in a two-day retreat of “Healing and Hope” Oct. 11-12 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, West Chester which featured motivaional speaker Immaculee Ilibagiza.

  • Immaculee Ilibagiza, left, leads participants of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish’s retreat in a traditional expression of worship from her Rwandan homeland. (Sarah Webb)

  • The group of more than 400 our brought to their feet by Immaculee for a dance of praise.

  • Retreatants dance along with Immaculee to honor our blessed mother.