Schoenstatt continues to build a new Burundi, from the Shrine with the Queen of Peace

Mont Sion, a place of encounter for peace and reconciliation

Peregrinación de ex-presos politicos: ex presidente Domitien Ndayizeye y colaboradores Pilgrimage of former political prisoners: former president Domitien Ndayizeye and others Wallfahrt von ehemaligen politischen Gefangenen: der frühere Präsident Ndayizeye und Mitarbeiter
El Santuario de Monte Sión Gikungu, Bujumbura The Shrine in Mount Sion Gikungu, Bujumbura Heiligtum in Mont Sion Gikungu, Bujumbura
Con la Reina de la paz, desde el Santuario, Schoenstatt sigue construyendo un nuevo Burundi With the Queen of Peace, Schoenstatt continues to work for a new Burundi Mit der Königin des Friedens arbeitet Schönstatt für ein neues Burundi Fotos: Jeria/ Maruhukiro © 2007

BURUNDI, Father Deogratias Maruhukiro. The pilgrimage center of Mount Sion Gikungu is becoming a very valued place for prayer and for an encounter with God. It is a Shrine for peace and reconciliation, not only at the local level, but also for the whole region of the Great Lakes in central Africa. Sunday, January 28, 2007, was an exceptional Sunday. On this Sunday there were two large pilgrimages to Mount Sion. The first one was a pilgrimage held at each months end in which people from everywhere come to express gratitude to the Blessed Mother for the good things they have received from the previous month. This month was particularly exceptional because it included ex political prisoners who also participated in the Holy Mass including the former President Domitien Ndayizeye and some of his colleagues who were also detained. They were there to convey their thankfulness to the Blessed Mother on Mount Sion. The former President Domitien purposely made a direct pilgrimage to the Shrine after he was liberated in order to express his gratitude; he brought a bouquet of flowers with a card that read: "Thank you Jesus; Thank you Mother Mary".

For the ex-prisoners – Former President Domitien Ndayizeye; Alphonse Marie Kadege, his vice-president; Doctor Isidore Rufyikiri; Deo Niyonzima and Colonel Damien Ndarisigiranye – this pilgrimage was an act of thanksgiving. No doubt it was the first time that the majority of them had set foot on Mount Sion. Why did they choose the Marian Shrine of Mount Sion, the little shrine, as it is usually called? It was the Blessed Mother herself who brought them there! In this way the words of the Founding Father were transformed for us in a prophecy that became a reality: "In the shadow of this Shrine the destinies of the world will be decided". Yes, in the shadow of the little shrine of Mount Sion Gikungu something grandiose is being carried out. Mary always attracts young hearts to herself, hearts that allow them to be educated by her. The second pilgrimage was directed by the Archbishop of the Diocese of Bujumbura. This pilgrimage began with a talk presented by the Bishop, based on the theme of peace and reconciliation. It took place in the hall of "Mary Queen of Confidence" on Mount Schoenstatt. There was also a large march for peace organized by the youth of various Catholic movements. The encounter culminated with a Mass of Thanksgiving presided by the Archbishop of the Diocese of Bujumbura, Monsignor Evariste Ngoyagoye.

30,000 people dancing in praise of God

The Shrine of Mount Sion Gikungu was inaugurated in 1994, the same year that the crisis produced by the civil war in Burundi first began. Today the country is in the process of getting out of this crisis and there are still some areas experiencing violence. The political situation is getting better, but there is still much to be done to consolidate the present democratic regime.

Many people affirm that the Marian Shrine of Mount Sion has played an important role on the way towards authentic peace. The Blessed Mother, from her little Shrine, has worked many marvelous deeds, as the many encounters of prayer and large pilgrimages to the Shrine during the last years testify.

Last year, during the month of August, during the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, we had the boldness to carry out something that brought about important consequences: we challenged the Blessed Mother! We made a novena of prayer that concluded with the coronation of Mary as "Queen of Peace". After this novena of prayer, we symbolically presented her with a crown of roses: it was a moment of profound emotion. The following day, during the morning Sunday Mass, the Bishop of Bujumbura placed this crown on the Blessed Mother. It was done, and from that moment on She has not stopped showing herself as the true Queen of Peace.

Months afterward the political situation of the country deteriorated, leading to a great uncertainty: there were arrests of many politicians for political reasons, among them the former president of the Republic, Domitien Ndayizeye and his former vice-president. Everyone was convinced that this was a scheme to destabilize the opposition to the present government. The private radio stations, the national and foreign media expressed their indignation about this situation. Fear increased among the people and everyone would come to the Shrine of Mount Sion to pray. This was the reason that during the month of October there was a large encounter of prayer and praise, including one week of evangelization with Jean Pliya, a charismatic speaker. On Sunday, October 8^th the largest number of people ever seen congregated in our Shrine: more than 30,000 people, according to estimates, filled every space that was available on Mount Sion. The crowd extended from the house of the fathers to the public roads outside the grounds of the Shrine. It was an extraordinary Mass, in which everyone danced, praising God.

The Blessed Mother did not delay to respond

After this encounter the people continued to pray and to praise the Lord; everyone was convinced that on this page in the history of Burundi, the Queen of Peace would play an important role, not only for the country but also for the entire sub-region. We only had to entrust everything that could destabilize the fragile peace in these countries of the Great Lakes to the Blessed Mother.

A campaign of prayer for peace and reconciliation was more necessary than ever. In this context, the Church of Burundi initiated a synod for peace and reconciliation. Meanwhile we, within the pastoral of the Shrine of Mount Sion, began making a three year plan with the goal of crowning the Blessed Mother as Queen of Peace, as a continuation of what we had started during the Feast of the Assumption.

The Blessed Mother had already begun to respond; she not only awakened these beautiful initiatives in us, but also at the national level as well as in the entire region; rather she also began to show certain signs, signs that awakened hope…

Signs of hope

In the first place, the visible signs are the firmness of the Christians in prayer. The number of participants in the Mass continues to increase, and above all in the daily Mass. Each day there are new faces. The chapel that is used for the daily Masses has been overflowing, it even became smaller! Another marvelous thing is to see the youth volunteering and becoming very spiritual. At the root of the serious disturbances the Schoenstatt Youth who live close to the first national Shrine were dispersed throughout the country and beyond, the fire of their love for the Blessed Mother did not die – and each one of them began to found new Schoenstatt groups, in all of Burundi, in the Congo, in Rwanda. They continue doing this even today. It is estimated that in Burundi the Boys’ Youth has about 11,000 members and the Girls’ Youth has about 70,000.

The last Sunday of each month there are a large number Schoenstatters from the city who come on pilgrimage to Mount Sion to express their gratitude to the Blessed Mother. And furthermore: new initiatives surge from the shrine. For example, at this moment a foundation with the name of the Blessed Mother is beginning from the Shrine: "Mariya Arafasha" foundation includes different programs and projects. One program is "Girizina". Its mission is to reinsert the street children into the family and into the social and professional realm. Another program is "Girumuvyeyi" or the adoption by heart and its mission is to help with the education of orphan children.

With the Queen of Peace, from the Shrine, Schoenstatt continues building a new Burundi.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX / Christi Jentz, Milwaukee, WI, USA