Immaculée Ilibagiza, a bestselling author and survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, led a retreat at the Church of the Magdalen in Wichita on December 5-6. Ilibagiza is known for her book "Left to Tell," which recounts her experience hiding with seven other women for three months during the massacre that claimed most of her family.

During a break at the retreat, Ilibagiza said, “Mainly, I really want people to be joyful. We have such a gift in our faith, and in Our Lord’s gift to us through the Eucharist.”

Ilibagiza has traveled across the United States speaking to Catholic audiences about forgiveness, prayer, Marian devotion, and faith. She shared positive impressions of the Diocese of Wichita after addressing students at Bishop Carroll and Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic high schools on December 5. “I go everywhere in the country,” she said. “You can feel the faith in the children here. Of course, that speaks very well about the leadership in this area. The people are very Catholic. Yeah, I love it. It’s really palpable.”

Therese Allen from St. James parish in Augusta attended with her daughter Annie Calcagno from St. Joseph parish in Wichita. Allen stated that the retreat deepened their commitment to living out their faith: “It’s been amazing,” Allen said. “This is the message of love. We think we are good and loving Catholics, but we can do so much more. I am just really excited to go home and love my spouse, my kids, and my grandchildren better.”

Calcagno expressed a desire for personal growth: “I just want to be a better wife and mother, to be more like Mary.” She added that Ilibagiza’s comments about Mary would help her during prayer: “All the descriptions of Mary help me to picture things better when I’m meditating in the rosary,” she said.

Ilibagiza also discussed her efforts to promote Marian devotion under Our Lady of Kibeho—the only Vatican-approved Marian apparition site in Africa—by leading pilgrimages there every three months: “Every three months, I lead pilgrimages to Kibeho in Africa,” she said. “People can learn more at my website, immaculee.com.”