NIGERIA/BURUNDI, mkf. During a visit to the Press Office about preparations for the activities for the Year for Priests and Father Kentenich’s Centennial of his Priesthood, Father Franz J. Brügger – who was the Zion’s Province Superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers until December – offered an interesting picture about his trip to Nigeria and Burundi in December of last year.
The trip in December 2009 had been planned for a long time in regards to the retreats for the Community of Schoenstatt Fathers. Argentine Father Juan Pablo Catoggio assumed the responsibility for the conferences and the talks, while Father Franz Brügger was in charge of the Masses, homilies, and hours for prayer.
On December 8th, the Fathers and students in Ibadan-Ijokodo celebrated the transfer of the presidency of the “Council of Nigeria” to Father Juan Pablo Catoggio with a Mass. In the coming years, the Region of the Father (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Italy) will be responsible for Nigeria.
“After a festive dinner, there was a large round table discussion in the hall with philosophers, theologians, and priests who were very animated and excited. The providential leadership in the history of this African Foundation in Nigeria sparkled once again,” Father Brügger related.
During the days that followed, there was much interaction and planning.
“The future’s winds can already be felt; the founding of a Fathers’ Branch, outside of the communities of formation, should be taking shape. It will be important for our brothers who are still carrying out their pastoral practicum in the parishes in Germany to prepare themselves for the tasks of the community, the Movement, and to assume responsibility. They are awaited eagerly. It is an important step in the near future for the expansion of our community in Nigeria! MPHC!”
In Burundi
On December 21st, Father Brüugger traveled by Addis Ababa to Bujumbura and he informs us:
“It was an impressive change of scenery – it was the rainy season – everything was green, a unique Zion, facing Lake Tanganyika (650 kilometers or 403mi. long and from 20 to 80- kilometers or 12 to 49 mi.- wide) and to the Congo whose border is marked by the lake. You have to be there to understand. You arrive at the center of everyone by the Mary’s Road; the people’s acceptance of the Shrine established and blessed in 1994 is extraordinary. There are always pilgrims and faithful praying inside and outside of the Shrine from early in the morning until late at night. And they also write! Many of the petitions and notes of thanksgiving fill the Shrine’s jar every week. Then there is the majestic Church, an addition at the Shrine: it is a large and open building, which has a large terrace, which is enough space for thousands and thousands faithful attending the Masses.
Little by little, the buildings on the large grounds can be seen. They are divided into areas so the lives of the Fathers, the pilgrims, the faithful, and visitors will not conflict with one another. I asked our Nigerian trainee to make a list of the buildings: a house for the Fathers with rooms where visitors may stay, the novitiate house built in 2005 (there are seven novices at the moment), the theologians’ house, the philosophers’ house (Carl Leisner House), a House for the Apostolate with room to house guests (Father Kentenich House), the house for visitors and trainees, a block for secretaries’ offices, a store, and a large hall for large celebrations and events. Close to the grounds, there is also a social center to work with street children run by “Maria Arafasha”. And next to the Fathers’ land, the Sisters built their large training house and Movement house. The collaboration between the Sisters and the Fathers works very well. A community of Nigerian Sisters and about sixty employees work at the Fathers’ Center.
Celebrating Christmas in this small paradise also has its special glow. About 6,000 faithful gathered for the main Christmas Mass accompanied with choirs, dance groups, processions, and with many religious symbols. You simply have to allow yourself to be mobilized by others and go with them to the manger of Bethlehem, where multitudes approach to take a look.
We, the Fathers, celebrated Christmas Eve in the Shrine with Father Ewin Germann, who was there for his annual visit to this Branch and then to attend the annual meeting of the Fathers during the days of Christmas. Of course, I also visited the first Burundi Shrine in Mutumba, above Lake Tanganyika, where the our Sisters’ roots have been since 1974, the roots of our community, and also where the pioneers: Father Fred Kistler (74), Carlos Pfeiffer (74), Father Ewin Germann (74), Father Olmar Landolt (74), Father Ruedi J. Hüppi (75), Father Josef Barmettler (80), and Father Josef Halg (81), and Father Kart Widmer (89) worked. The initial place for our community was at the Mutumba parish that I visited with great devotion, amazement, and commemoration for our pioneers. The difficult times of civil war left profound marks, but they also served as the foundation for the growth of our Movement.
Wherever our Schoenstatt Fathers are present, they are known, and they also know about Mount Zion Gikungu, and there are bonds with the highest social circles.
Presently, ten Fathers belong to the Branch with Father Zingg as rector. During the meals, there were representatives from ten nations seated in peace and with a mixture of languages that were confusing at times: Kirundi, French, English, Ibo, German, and “Schwizerdüsch” (a Swiss dialect with German language). That is how it is when Burundis, Congolians, Swiss, Chilenas, Nigerians, and Germans meet in Zion. And this has a future, because SHE works”.
