Chris Mannion and Joseph Rushigajiki
Brother Chris Mannion had been a General Councillor only a few months when, in June 1994, he went on a mission to Ruanda to attempt to rescue the Brothers under threat in Save. He was 43 years old and the youngest member of the Council. He found his death in front of the novitiate and school of Save where the Brothers were. Like Christ, he paid with his life while his Brothers recovered their freedom.
Brother Joseph Rushgajiki had offered to accompany Chris on this dangerous mission and was even more aware of the risk, since he belonged to the country. He set his life at stake for his Ruandan Brothers and for his superior, Chris Mannion. He was only 41.<!–
Thus are woven together two lives given, that of the Brother welcoming into the drama his country is living through, and that of the other come from Rome, witness of the interest of the whole Marist family in the Brothers of Ruanda.
How it happened: account of Brother Alexandre Rugema
Chis Mannion our Brother – A testimony by Br Stephen Smyth