BURUNDI, Gaudence Bacanamwo. Burundi’s Catholic leaders went on an Easter retreat with Bujumbura Archbishop Evariste Ngovagoye, assisted by the rector of the Mount Zion Gikungu Marian Shrine, Déogratias Maruhukiro, on Thursday and Friday 25 and 26 March.
This cream of Burundi’s political crop included first Vice-President of the Republic Yves Sahinguvu, former presidents who are now senators, MPs, former prime ministers, ministers, leaders of political parties, among them presidential candidates. All of them were led with such hunger, such a deep thirst of the heart – the topic of the two short sessions.
The attitude of a Christian political leader should resemble Christ’s, each one fulfilling the mission to which he has been called, said Archbishop Ngovagoye.
During the session on ‘Justice and Reconciliation,’ the archbishop reminded Burundi’s political leaders of the mandate they received from Christ to be ambassadors for justice and reconciliation in their public lives, in the workplace and everywhere.
Don’t leave catholic politicians alone
The attitude of a Christian political leader should be that of a shepherd, a hero who gives his life, his energy and takes every risk for the prosperity of his people. Combating a culture of defamation should be the challenge of every Christian politician. Because abuses of power do occur, the archbishop recommended the politicians to purify themselves through the sacrament of reconciliation.
This retreat was a success. The questions the leaders asked show that this retreat, instead of quenching the thirst of the heart, made it even stronger. From the start, all of the comments were an expression of gratitude towards the archbishop who extended it to the rector of the Marian Shrine at Mount Zion Gikungu for his wonderful initiative. The Catholic politicians were captivated. They asked to prolong the question session, where some questions took 15 minutes.
One of the participants complained that Catholic politicians are isolated. He asked Archbishop Ngoyagoye to speak to them clearly about the attitude they should take during the crucial time waiting for them, to invest more in their staff so that, from now on, they know that they have a mandate from Jesus Christ towards their brothers.
For others, this retreat was welcome. The teachings are beacons without which the culture of defamation will perpetuate because the politicians of tomorrow will not know how to be different today’s leaders, unless a miracle takes place.
Knowing more in order to change and become better
One of them proposed a session in which politicians can speak about the attitude to take during the electoral campaign and after the elections, so that the culture of torturing political adversaries and denying the other can be banished for once and for all.
Another participant called for the archbishop not to be sceptical of their explicit discussion and that he should not be afraid to infringe on their freedom since he is their shepherd and it is his duty to instruct them. He was asked to organise regular sessions that include teachings and the sacrament of reconciliation.
In her comment, a female minister, remarked that with such sessions, despair becomes inappropriate because some souls will be saved and among them, Burundi.
At the end of the two retreat sessions, nobody wanted to leave the room quickly to attend to their various commitments, as we are used to seeing. It was necessary to limit the questions because there were so many!
Each time, the archbishop was forced to close the session, otherwise the deluge of questions would continue. They all looked like those whose hunger remains unsatisfied, of wanting to know more in order to change and become better.
And then, what will we do?
Fr. Deogratias Maruhukiro shares: After the retreat session, we proposed that the politicians and other Christians, hold prayer meetings ahead of the elections. Therefore, the Mount Zion Shrine is preparing pilgrimages to pray for the elections. On 25 April, we are hoping to organise a pilgrimage to launch the month of Mary. During this pilgrimage, we will once again entrust our country to the Blessed Mother, particularly during the elections which will take place during May. On 23 May, the Feast of Pentecost, we will have a pilgrimage, drawing to a close the month of May. The archbishop would like to invite all Catholic action movements, all parishes, all the religious of the diocese to a prayer meeting. This pilgrimage will take place two days after the first communal elections. This will, therefore, be an opportunity to bring all Christians together around the Blessed Mother, the Queen of peace and reconciliation. Prayers for the elections will continue until the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. On that day, while renewing of the Blessed Virgin, we will conduct a prayer of thanksgiving.
Our request: We ask that all of our Schoenstatt friends gather around the Shrines and join us in prayer. We need the support of prayer and we are certain that with the prayers of many around the world, the elections will be a success!
Translation from French: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Pretoria, South Africa
