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Alianza de Amor en la cárcel Covenant of Love in the jail Liebesbündnis im Gefängnis |
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„Santuario Carcel“ „Prison Shrine“ „Gefängnis-Heiligtum“ Fotos: Seitzer © 2005 |
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BURUNDI, Sister M. Lisette Seitzer. The "Prison Shrine of Bururi spontaneously reminds one of the chapel in the concentration camp of Dachau. The young men, with faces of children, who seal their Covenant of love, are prisoners but no one asks them if they are innocent or guilty. From now on they are simply children of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt, instruments who take her to the other prisoners, who the Pilgrim MTA has been visiting in the jail of Bururi for two months.
Some months ago, a group of Schoenstatt prisoners in the jail of Bururi (114 kilmeters to the south of Bujumbura) expressed the desire to receive the visit of the Pilgrim MTA in jail. They already had a list of 15 persons who wanted to receive it. The chaplain at the jail was agreeable, but they had to wait until they received the necessary approval from the Bishop of Bururi. The Pilgrim MTA arrived precisely at the time that the Schoenstatt group had conquered the "Prison Shrine", and it was ready to be blessed. Furthermore, there were two prisoners, who had been preparing for some time to seal their Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother. That is how the triple celebration came about in the middle of May in the jail of Bururi.
Father Kentenich understands the prisoners
The chaplain of the jail waited for Sisters Lisette, Sister M. Virginie and Sister Fidele Havyarimana (who is in charge of the Schoenstatt Men’s Branch) in the street in front of the jail, to lead them to a house close to the prison that was built by the diocese. That is when the first surprise happened: A group of 27 young men were waiting there in street clothes. After praying and singing, they introduced themselves. Ten of them belonged to the Schoenstatt group, three were from other Movements who also wanted to receive the Pilgrim MTA, along with two novices from another community who in the pastoral of the jail and some Schoenstatters from the surrounding area, four young girls, six boys and two mothers.
The doors and the windows of the house were open. There was no security personnel in the living room, no one checked the bags or documents that they were carrying. It was truly an experience of the pedagogy of trust! First, the chaplain welcomed the guests from Bujumbura. Then Felicien, a young man with bright eyes, who was the leader of the Schoenstatt prisoners, also extended some words of welcome, offering a good explanation of the work that the Schoenstatt prison group had accomplished and he expressed his joy for the arrival of the Pilgrim MTA from Bujumbura, along with her instruments. He also manifested the great help and consolation that they receive from Father Kentenich, who understands their situation, since he was a prisoner in the concentration camp of Dachau. He is the Father and they are his children.
Clovis, the regional leader of the Boys’ Youth from a nearby area, and Gertrude, the regional leader of the Girls’ Youth, also gave a brief reports.
The atmosphere of a Shrine in the midst of the jail
Sister M. Virginia explained with words and pictures how the Pilgrim MTA Shrines work in the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. Everyone was very attentive and they asked a lot of questions. The Schoenstatters "from outside" the jail firmly affirmed that although the Schoenstatters "inside" are still there, they have discovered this mission and they are willing to carry it out in jail. A Schoenstatt mother decided at that moment to seek fifteen families from the surrounding are who would like to receive the Pilgrim MTA. Fidele responded to some of the anxieties that came up from the Schoenstatt group.
It was already 12:30, and the Holy Mass was supposed to begin. Everyone from the jail was brought for Mass, the "outside" Schoenstatters, were allowed to stay to accompany them. A quick look at the prisoners, the majority young men, who cooked in the patio over three stones, revealed the poverty that prevailed in this place, where most of them had sad faces. In the chapel another atomosphere reigned. Again, another great surprise. The diocese arranged that the living room of the jail be designated as a place for prayer. The Schoenstatters prepared a Prison Shrine for the Blessed Mother in that room. The corner of the room is magnificently decorated with a picture of the Blessed Mother in the center and there is a large black screen in the background that has a drawing of the interior of the shrine. Whoever thought had this idea was truly an artist!
Nothing is missing: the phrase Servus Mariae nunquam peribit, the Father Eye symbol, the Holy Spirit, the apostles, the open tabernacle, the altar, everything is beautifully drawn. In front there is a cement shelf, with two lighted candles and a little basket for the contributions for the Capital of Grace, and a Schoenstatt flag also hangs from it. Everything is beautifully adorned with cedar branches and streamers. What great imagination they had! The atmosphere of the Shrine reigns in this place, even in the midst of the jail. A men’s choir composed of prisoners sang with great enthusiasm during the Holy Mass. The hymns resounded throughout the jail. The priest blessed the Prison Shrine and after the homily, David and Renovat sealed their Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother of this Shrine. The consecration prayer that they composed tugs at the deepest part of the soul. It is clear that this prayer was written in a situation that is not easy for them, in the prayer they deposited all their confidence and hope in the Blessed Mother and Father Kentenich, whom they call Father Kentenich, "my father". They are also willing to work in the prison as small instruments of the Blessed Mother. During the offertory, they not only circulated a small basket to collect money, they also offered their contributions to the Capital of Grace, written on small note cards. At the end of Mass, the chaplain gave Sister M. Virginia the opportunity to speak about the work that is carried out by the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. An then, they happily received the first Pilgrim MTA for the jail of Bururi! The solemn Mass ended with a joyful Marian hymn, the oratory was filled to capacity.
A parish in the jail
Felicien, leader of the Schoenstatt group, alerted the guests in a low voice that they could not leave yet, since the Schoenstatters from Bururi had prepared a surprise for them, that they had arranged with money they had collected. The ten Schoenstatt prisoners, now in their green uniforms, carried chairs, they led the way to small restaurant located on the path in front of the prison, where they offered the guests drinks, beer, and carbonated sodas. Prisoners and guests sat together, as well as a couple of guards, who also had a beer. In this manner, they had an encounter with discussions by the prisoners, and another led by Fidele, who spoke on behalf of the guests and the chaplain. During the round table discussion, the leader of the Schoenstatt group told that he had entered the jail on the 18th of October 2003, founding date of Schoenstatt. He considers his stay here as a time for Schoenstatt apostolate, and he lives with Father Kentenich, who is a great example and support for him. This young man has already done very good work in the prison: in the oratory, where the Blessed Mother now reigns, the prisoners meet for morning and night prayer.
Every day of the week, a different Movement leads the prayers. The Movements also have weekly group meetings. The diocese has organized classes for the prisoners, implementing a literacy program for those who do not know how to read or write, and they also have English, French classes and other assignments for the others, according to the professions of the prisoners who teach the classes. There are also prisoners who have prepared to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation or matrimony. One of the spouses prepares at home and the other one in prison. They meet in prison to celebrate the wedding. The chaplain has made a parish within the jail for the 280 prisoners. They have a parish council, Caritas, and everything that is available in a parish.
The Blessed Mother and Father Kentenich are working in Burundi, and based on the results, they are transforming the impossible to the possible.
Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA