Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

St. Peter Parish in Lincoln will host a two-day retreat led by Immaculée Ilibagiza on October 18-19.

Immaculée authored her first book in 2007, "Left to Tell, Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust." The book detailed her survival of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the role of her faith during the ordeal.

The genocide, which claimed nearly one million lives, began while Immaculée was on break from university studies. The Rwandan president's plane was shot down on April 6, 1994, sparking months of massacres against Tutsi tribe members. Immaculée survived by hiding in a 3x4 bathroom with seven other women.

After 91 days in hiding, she was liberated only to discover that most of her family had been brutally murdered, except for one brother who was studying abroad at the time.

In 2009, Immaculée led her first pilgrimage to Rwanda. She took pilgrims to significant sites such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Kibeho and the college she left just before the massacres started. Other notable stops included the bathroom where she hid during the genocide and her family home and gravesites.

She stated that pilgrims were “captivated by the stories of Our Lady and the wisdom that emanated from the apparitions in my country,” which encouraged her to start retreats for those unable to join pilgrimages to Rwanda. These retreats aim to share "the beautiful yet imperative stories that deserve to be heard."

Katie Shreve from St. Peter Parish attended one of Immaculée’s retreats in Columbus several years ago.

“Her narrative had a transformative effect,” Shreve said, “inspiring hope and resilience in those who attended.”

Shreve collaborated with Immaculée’s team and St. Peter pastor Father Eric Clark to bring this retreat to their parish.

“Our prayer for the retreat is that people will draw closer to Our Lord and His Mother through prayer and forgiveness,” Shreve said. “We believe Immaculée’s testimony on her own journey with forgiveness and her love for Our Lady will change hearts.”

The retreat will begin on Friday, October 18, with registration from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m., concluding at 9:30 p.m. On Saturday, October 19, it will resume after an 8:15 a.m. Mass and end at 12:30 p.m.

The cost is $57; sign-ups are available at saintpeterlincoln.com or www.immaculee.com.