Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2005-05-17

To Offer a Chair for Peace!

In Burundi a training center for peace is under construction

 

Niños de Burundi en el Santuario de Bujumbura, Burundi: esperanza para un futuro en paz

Children from Burundi at the Shrine in Bujumbura, Burundi: hope for a future in peace

Burundische Kinder vor dem Heiligtum in Bujumbura: Hoffnung auf eine Zukunft in Frieden

Foto: Jeria © 2005

 
 

Juventud Femenina en el sitio de construcción

Schoenstatt Girls’ Youtj at the construction site

Schönstatt-Mädchenjugend auf der Baustelle des Friedenszentrums

 
 

Jovenes de Bujumbura en el lugar del futuro centro de paz

Youth from Bujumbura at the place of the future Peace Center

Jugendliche aus Bujumbura auf dem Gelände des zukünftigen Friedenszentrums

Fotos: Seitzer © 2005

 

Misa en la Iglesia de Peregrinos

Mass in the Pilgrim’s Church

Messe in der Pilgerkirche

 
 

Misioneros de la Campaña

Coordinators of the Campaign

Missionare der Kampagne

Fotos: Jeria © 2005

 

 

 

Burundi, Sr. M. Lisette Seitzer/mkf. When one hears talk about Burundi, one immediately thinks of civil war, refugees, terrorist attacks, shootings, and poverty which is rampant at heaven’s door. Whoever hears speak of Burundi also thinks about several thousand persons who participate in a Holy Mass which is offered for peace at the Church for Pilgrims on Mt. Sion Gikunga. They also think of ministers and bishops in the Shrine. They think about the 446 groups of Schoenstatt Girls Youth who bring together more than 13,000 young girls. They also think about the country which has throughout the world the highest density of Schoenstatt members per square kilometer. Today, next to the Shrine and the Church in Bujumbura, a Center for Peace is being built. It is a meeting place for children, youth, mothers, and families. It is a place which hopes to offer cultural and religious formation. It is a center which will support the work for peace which our MTA does from the Shrine. The work began in February of 2005 and the Center should be completed next year. Anyone who wishes to may donate a chair or offer a prayer for this Center for Peace.

The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary have worked in Burundi since 1962. Especially in Mutumba and along with their work for the sick which includes maintaining an ambulance and assisting midwives, very important for the Sisters from the beginning has been the formation of children, young ladies, mothers and families. They have a mission in Mutumba which is 25 kilometers south of Bujumbura. They had another in Karinzi which they had to close in 1977. This was after the death of Sr. Claudine who was a midwife and director of a unit for midwives. She died in the war due to a land mine. In 1996 they bought a house in Bujumbura—Gikungu near the Shrine and the great Church for Pilgrims. It was inaugurated by the Schoenstatt Fathers in 2002. It is also at the service of the diocese. Since then they work from there with approximately 900 groups of children, youths and mothers in the entire country. In total there are approximately 18,500 women, girls and youths in groups. There are also pilgrimages and open meetings.

A meeting place in the heart of the city

Since 1993, Burundi is in a civil war. Ethnic conflicts occur especially in Bujumbura. The Sisters and the Schoenstatt Fathers see in this a great challenge: to build here a "Center for Peace" where men of all ethnic groups can meet. Where laborers and employers, rich and poor, can learn to value and love each other. The Church for Pilgrims, the Shrine, and the future Center for Peace are exactly at the point where the urban and rural populations intersect in the city of Bujumbura. Here persons of all social classes, of all ages, and from all parishes in the diocese meet.

The Church for Pilgrims offers many new possibilities for the people to have religious and formation experiences. The Bishop of the Bujumbura Diocese has already had many important meetings here. More and more the site becomes a place where one experiences that it is possible to be united in God. Since Bujumbura is the capital of the country and is in the center of the territory, it is possible to take care from there not only the children, youths and mothers of the city, but also the people in the interior who can receive educational material and they can also come to the Center. Above all, leaders can be formed there who can prepare youths and mothers to lead independently the groups from the interior.

The Center will also offer opportunities for women and mothers to participate in training courses which will help them improve their state of life; for example, sewing, pedagogy for the training of children and youths, and literacy.

A place where all can feel at home

It is designed so that there may be 100 spaces for staying overnight, rooms for conferences and group meetings, a dining hall, and accommodations for the collaborators. When the center is ready, it will have to be furnished; for example, needed are 24 bunkbeds for 48 persons and 24 matrimonial beds for families, 16 single beds for collaborators and staff personnel. For all of these beds mattresses, pillows, and sheets will also be needed. Also needed are 100 chairs for the conference room, 100 chairs for the dining room, 100 chairs for the dormitories, tables for the dining hall and conference room. "We will be very grateful if we could find friends who would want to donate a chair, a bunkbed, a matrimonial bed, or a table for Burundi," said Sr. Lisette when she spoke about the project with the Press Office in Schoenstatt. "A chair costs 15 $…a table costs 50$…a bunkbed costs 120$. E. Perhaps some friends could offer a chair for Peace so that Peace could find a place to sit in Burundi"…

For more information on how to contribute, turn to: missionszentrale@t-online.de

Translation: Carlos Cantú, La Feria, TX, USA



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