She will work miracles…in Rwanda

Pilgrimage with the International Auxiliary MTA to Kibeho and Butare, in Rwanda

La Auxiliar en la catedral de Butare, Rwanda, durante la Santa Misa con el obispo The Auxiliary in the cathedral of Butare , Rwanda , during the Holy Mass with the bishop Die Auxiliar in der Kathedrale von Butare, Rwanda. Der Bischof zelebrierte die Heilige Messe
La Hna Donatille, frente de la catedral de Butare. Quieren comenzar pronto con la Campaña Sister Donatille at the cathedral of Butare; they want to soon start the Campaign here. Sie haben Hoffnung, dass das Apostolat der Pilgermutter bald in Rwanda beginnt. Sr. Donatille von Butare vor der Katedrale von Butare. Fotos: Sr. M. Lisette Seitzer © 2008
Entrada de la Auxiliar Entrance procession with the Auxiliary Einzug der Auxiliar
Bailando en honor de la Virgen Dancing in honor of Our Lady Tanz zu Ehren der Auxiliar, die aus Schönstatt zu ihnen gekommen ist
Peregrinando Pilgrims... Einzug der Pilger Fotos: P. Deogratias Maruhukiro © 2008
El P. Zingg saludo a unos de los peregrinos al volver de Rwanda Fr. Zingg welcomes some of the pilgrims who returned from Rwanda P. Zingg begrüßt einige der Rwanda-Pilger bei der Rückkehr Foto: Sr. Lisette Seitzer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

RWANDA, Dieudonné Simbananiye. More than 230 pilgrims departed from the Shrine of Mount Sion Gikungu, in Bujumbura, Burundi taking the International Auxiliary MTA to the neighboring country of Rwanda. Eight buses and two all-terrain vehicles departed on to Kibeho on July 4th. The following day they continued on their way towards Butare. Bishop Philippe Rukamba’s enthusiasm was noticeable when he welcomed the Auxiliary to his diocese. His great desire was that the Pilgrim MTA be installed in the twenty-one parishes of his diocese.

The pilgrimage was prepared, just like the previous pilgrimages for peace with the presence of the Auxiliary, with nightly adoration in the Shrine of Bujumbura. Many people spent the entire night praying for peace and for the success of this pilgrimage. They also prayed very often during the trip, above all, they prayed the rosary, for peace in the families, for peace in both countries.

For many of the Burundese it was a great joy to make a pilgrimage for the first time outside of their country to Kibeho, to a truly renowned place of prayer and pilgrimage. Mary appeared there as the Mother of the Incarnate Word, Kibeho is located in the southern part of Rwanda in a region of high mountains. During this time of the year, the temperatures are quite low. In spite of the cold and weariness, the majority of the pilgrims spent all night in vigil on this holy mountain until dawn, praying before the Blessed Sacrament, which was exposed. On Saturday they had the joy of participating in a Holy Mass in Kinyarwanda , celebrated by the priest responsible for the Shrine of Seven Sorrows. Kinyarwanda is the language of Rwanda, which the inhabitants of Burundi understand.

During the homily, he spoke about the crown that we want to give to the Queen of Peace. He recalled that among the roses that form the crown, there are some that do not grow or flourish. The same is true of the Mother of Jesus’ children who do not live connected to Him. They have to rediscover about his life before too long. This will be possible through prayer.

Everything began with some candies

The testimony that the priest gave about a family that has converted was etched in the mind of the pilgrims. Some candies were the beginning of profound love in this family.

The husband always arrived home drunk, and he beat his wife. One day he decided to stop drinking and to live according to the Gospel. But he was already an alcoholic, so it was very difficult for him to stop drinking. For this reason, he decided to chew candies when he felt like drinking alcohol. One day he handed his wife a pair of pants to wash. He had forgotten a piece of candy in the pocket. When his wife found the candy, she was afraid to take it, because she was afraid he would hit her. She placed the candy on the table so that the husband could see it when he returned. When he returned, he was intimidated, and he did not remove it from the table. She noticed and thought that the husband had bought it for her, but she was afraid to tell him, because he hit her very often. She took the candy and prepared a small celebration for her husband. He was very calm, and finally he began to not only buy candy, but also some fabric as a gift for his wife. At the moment, this family lives in peace and sets a good example. "They are an example of a family that is truly a crown for Mary," he concluded.

After the Holy Mass, the pilgrims heard about the apparitions from one of the seers. The Blessed Mother appeared as the Mother of the Incarnate Word from 1981 until 1989. She tenderly asked that they pray and meditate on the rosary for the world. The pilgrims from Burundi were surprised by the manner in which the seer related the apparitions; she did it was great simplicity and tranquility.

They arrived as pilgrims

On Saturday, July 5^th, the pilgrims continued on their trip to Butare. The people know about the city in the southern part of Rwanda from Burundi, because a university is located there, where many people from the country come to study. Primarily they study agronomy. Among these are the heroes of the independence, whose 46^th Anniversary was recently recalled on July 1^st. Before the genocide, 1,274,445 people lived in Butare, 675,506 of which were Catholics. In 2004 the diocese had 825,032 inhabitants, of which 57.8% were Catholics. One hundred and ten priests are in charge of the pastoral service.

The bishop of this place celebrated the Holy Mass. His enthusiasm for the family apostolate is the reason for the joy he had when he welcomed the Auxiliary. Bishop Rukamba stressed that family prayer is the basis for unity and understanding; he said that the people from Burundi could visit Rwanda as tourists, but that they had come as pilgrims. The Mother of God is also our Mother. A mother always educates her children. "May She educate us," he proposed.

The magnificent voices of the choir, and the marked rhythm of their dances accompanied the celebration.

The Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign begins in the Diocese of Butare

The Bishop of Butare wanted to introduce Schoenstatt in all the parishes of his diocese primarily by presenting the Blessed Mother in the Auxiliary Shrine. Through this picture, the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt will visit all the parishes of the diocese with the hope that the Campaign will also begin there. The Bishop invited the pilgrims from Burundi to pray for this intention. The Third International Auxiliary MTA was sent in 1986 from Santa Maria, Brazil, with the express mission of the new evangelization of the Americas "and of all the world" through the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, which had become international three years before.

From Argentina, this Auxiliary MTA – which was blessed in 1987 by John Paul II during the World Youth Day in Buenos Aires – has visited almost all the countries of North, Central, and South America. It had been in Schoenstatt since 2001, then from there it went to the inauguration of the Shrine of Belmonte, and participated in the World Youth Day in Cologne 2005. It has essentially contributed to the spread of the illuminated rosary in Germany. It has been in Burundi since November, principally for the intention of obtaining peace. As it had happened during the visit to Tanzania, Rwanda’s "first mission" has also become the expansion of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, and its connection with the original stream of life and graces from Tabor Shrine in Santa Maria, and with the John Pozzobon’s mission. The missionaries of the Campaign in Burundi are convinced that She is the great Missionary; She will work miracles in Rwanda.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj