He tells us
Rwanda is scarred
Perpetrators, victims
Living side by side.
Reconciliation spoken
Unheard in broken hearts.
He tells us
A victim living in pain among perpetrators
Might forgive but not forget.
A perpetrator living in shame among victims
Might confess but not feel safe.
He tells us
Existence means capacity to endure,
To believe the unbelievable
Forgive the unforgiveable.
We have no choice.
He tells us
He creates prayer groups,
Spaces for the heart to open,
To cry, to tremble,
Places to begin healing.
He does not tell us
His heart feels too much pain.
Wrenched with tears he cannot shed
He cannot find the words to speak
The unspeakable shame of his church.
Who then forgives?
Who then confesses?
John Mac Phee is a first-year Ignatian Volunteer in New England and is a Community Service Coordinator at Emmanuel College in Boston. John helps the Community Service Learning Program provide opportunities for students to grow in their religious and civic commitments to service. John spent three months at Catholic University in Rwanda teaching Conversational English and continues to advocate and support the educational future of Rwandan children.