MAIN ACTIVITIES
Pueri Cantores of Rwanda performs its mission through different main activities namely; Liturgical Music, Promoting peace, culture and social solidarity, Child Development, and Social and Charitable Work.
- Liturgical Music
The liturgical music has been the core of the Pueri Cantores philosophy and foundation. There has been an ancient conviction that it is the most indispensable instrument in worshipping God. This has mostly manifested itself since the creation of Pueri Cantores in the mid-20th century.
Pueri Cantores participated on the regular basis in the different church services with a conviction that he who sings well prays twice! Hence this activity becomes important to also enrich their spiritual life. In order to promote this, Pueri Cantores organize concerts and festivals; these bring regional choirs together it is important to highlight that these gathering opportunities constitute one of the most important moments to share the best practices and liturgy music expertise. In addition, they also hear message from the catholic church pastors pinpointing the role of the liturgy music in the whole life and philosophy of the community of Pueri Cantores. This is how choir members of the federation have been travelling in the different parts of Rwanda and even beyond to spread the relevance of the liturgy music.
- Promoting peace, culture and social solidarity
Pueri Cantores is a community of mutual aims promoting peacebuilding and social solidarity all over the world using different ways such as the songs. The most essential issues are approached in unity and that is why the current aim of the Pueri Cantores compromising the national federation is to promote the culture of peace and social cohesion within the community without any discrimination. This activity of peace-building is achieved based on the liturgical and internal life of the young singers as well as their families. Pueri Cantores is a liturgical movement which should authentically live through Christianity and humanity. It is in that regard, that Pueri Cantores start from the families, both of theirs and others and communities generally considered:
To promote Evangelization, sacred music performance through different events and various initiatives related to the socio-cultural values are yearly organized;
Most of the events such as reinforcing unity and reconciliation, justice restorative, social cohesion, promotion of sexual reproductive health of young people, promotion of family unity, and reduction of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), are compulsory involved;
Pueri Cantores educate young choristers holistically in order to be successfully achieved, the Federation encourages education of the young singers and create various innovations closely with both Parish and the Pueri Cantores parents committee.
- Child Development
Education is the cornerstone for any person’s personal development. The Rwandan federation of Pueri Cantores encourages choir members to stay keen on education for the most important reasons that are not limited to the following: Education is so much important for choir members’ success in life. It is also important for their personal, social and economic development. It is the most important to live with happiness and prosperity.
Choir administrators always urge children to better perform at school and adults are always encouraged to support their young brothers and sisters to make sure they maximise their education potentials. Different parental meetings organised by choir directors are viable platforms to also encourage the importance of education and why imperative parents should always be supportive and follow up their children’s schooling.
Cultural and Civic Education, and more positive values are more inclusive in child development.
Currently, Pueri Cantores of Rwanda in partnership with Hope of Family organization, is conducting a campaign on “the role of the parents in education and schooling of a child” in the sectors of Mushishiro, Nyarusange, Cyeza, Shyogwe and Nyamabuye of Muhanga district. This campaign is being implemented by four choirs namely Pueri Cantores Mushisiro, Pueri cantores Nyarusange, Pueri Cantores Kivumu and Pueri Cantores Kabgayi which are located in respective sectors mentioned above.
- Social and Charitable Work
Pueri Cantores nationwide participates in the different initiatives that positively affect their communities around. All Pueri Cantores feel they have a moral responsibility to help others and this type of sentiment is rooted in the community’s values and principles as enshrined in the gospel that they preach through their wonderful singing.
Matthew 25:35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
Pueri cantores members volunteer themselves to visit the needy families that live around them. They also spare their time after music classes to meet vulnerable people in the hospital and health posts.
Pueri Cantores acknowledge themselves that these charitable gestures constitute essentials of living and have also created a strong bond among themselves; all these have also helped to bolster relationships and prove right away form their young age, they can transform the entire World .Rwandan federation also embraces this with a philosophy that once children nurture their innate generosity, they will grow up with a maximum capacity of appreciating what they have such that they can in their adulthood continue to support good initiatives.
