published: 2008-05-27 |
|
On the Way to Peace after the StormA New Pilgrimage for Peace in Burundi: from Mount Sion Gikungu to Kamenge |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
BURUNDI, Fr. Deogratias Maruhukiro/mkf. The Kamenge area in the northern part of the city of Bujumbura was one of the focal points of the violent Burundi confrontations in 1994/95. There was looting and the majority of the population was expelled. Since then, Kamenge is synonymous to the terrible consequences of the bloody conflict which plunged this country into poverty, misery, and mourning. It was precisely Kamenge where the International Auxiliary Shrine of the Rosary Campaign wanted to visit last May 18th. The pilgrimage to Kamenge was truly a blessing. Many people participated, especially politicians. At the time for carrying the Auxiliary Shrine, many participated…..police and army officials…..a senator from the party which won the election…..the wife of ex-president Domitien with the minister of commerce…..and many others. The Vice-President of the republic and his wife were present at the Holy Mass. Presiding at the Mass was the vicar-general of the Bujumbura Archdiocese. After Mass, everyone was invited to renew the Covenant of Love with contributions to the Treasury of Grace. That same evening, the television newscasts had beautiful reports on this pilgrimage. "For the news reporters, what is most interesting is that others are united with us in prayer; therefore, it is very important for us to feel accompanied by the Schoenstatt members and especially accompanied by the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign," affirms Fr. Deogratias Maruhukiro. "I especially ask the Rosary Campaign in Paraguay – when I was working in Paraguay, I went on pilgrimage with them from Asunción to Santa María – get up, accompany us, and pray for us! We need a lot of prayer and we can see that the Blessed Mother is really active, she changes many things; I have many testimonies, especially from the regions where there was renewed fighting again during this time. For now, the only group of rebels still at war is negotiating with the government. We pray that these negotiations bring forth peace. To the coordinators in Argentina, Paraguay and Chile: we are waiting for your support. I always speak of you to them just as I did today on the television news. I always say that many people are praying for us!" A pilgrimage of peaceAloys Kadoyi, ex-minister of the interior and a neighbor of Mount Sion, and his wife carried the Auxiliary image part of the way. It was a great joy for the both of them; for them, it is not a simple image they are carrying. It is the Virgin Mary herself! "We are happy to have been privileged to carry the image of the Mother of God and of our mother. It is a great honor for us. It is enough to touch the image of the MTA to feel the blessings given to us by the Lord. The pilgrimage was beautiful, there was no tiredness or shoving. Although it was not a sunny day, it did not keep the large number of pilgrims from participating. Bishop Jean Louis Nahimana presided at the Mass and his homily was enjoyed by everyone. They especially enjoyed his most apt words expressed on the present condition of the country. The blessings received from our Mother are countless. We met up with persons we had not seen in a long time, and the encounter was a truly happy one. One could see joy on the faces of everyone….." The pilgrimage left early in the morning from Mount Sion toward Kamenge. A great number of pilgrims walked singing songs of praise and peace. On the posters carried by former street children who now live in the Maria Arafasha Foundation Home, one could read the petitions of the faithful praying for peace in the familias in all of the provinces of the country and in all of Burundi. A large number of faithful from Kamenge, led by their pastor, waited for them in the middle of the road. During the two and one half hour Mass, Bishop Jean-Louis reminded everyone that although the Hutu and the Tutsi belong to different ethnic groups, they are all Burundi. He recommended acknowledging mistakes and taking steps toward reconciliation and peace. Present at this Mass was the Vice-President of Burundi, Gabriel Ntisezerana; Mrs. Ode Ndayizeye, wife of the ex-President of Burundi, and several representatives and officials of the Armed Forces and the national police. These pilgrimages help everyone who participate to meet and to get to know each other better. At the same time, they are an instrument of peace because persons from different areas and different ethnic groups return to places which are considered dangerous or "enemy territory." They realize that those who live in these places (or who come from these places) are brothers and sisters who desire peace just as they themselves desire peace. The great miracles of reconciliation which are truly experienced on these pilgrimages cannot be explained except by the graces bestowed by the "Great Missionary of Peace" who arrived from Argentina and Schoenstatt to transform Burundi into a place of peace. Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 052708 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Zurück/Back:
[Seitenanfang / Top] [letzte
Seite / last page] [Homepage]
Impressum
© 2008 Schönstatt-Bewegung in Deutschland, PressOffice Schönstatt,
all rights reserved, Mail: Editor
/Webmaster
Last Update: 30.05.2008