Even the fish in Lake Tanganyika caught sight of her

The Queen of peace on pilgrimage to the Rumonge Parish

Canciones de alabanza Songs of praise and gratitud Es wird ihr zu Ehren gesungen und noch mehr gesungen
Una muestra de amor A sign of love Ein Zeichen der Verehrung und Liebe zur Königin des Friedens
En procesión... In procession... Pilgerzug
Durante la Misa During Holy Mass Heilige Messe
Lago Tanganyica Lake Tanganyica Blick auf den Tanganyika-See
La Reina de la paz The Queen of peace Die Königin des Friedens Fotos: Dieudonné SIMBANANIYE Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

BURUNDI, Dieudonné SIMBANANIYE. Within the peace and reconciliation prayer campaign, nearly 200 pilgrims from various parishes around the BUJUMBURA municipality, in the Burundian capital accompanied the large Pilgrim Mother to the Rumonge parish.

Situated in the Bururi Diocese, 72km from Bujumbura in the country’s southern region, this parish is situated on the banks of Lake Tanganyika and is on the road linking Bururi to Bujumbura. This means that the pilgrims also had an opportunity to admire the beauty of Lake Tanganyika and it seemed that the Pilgrim Mother was pointing out to us that the rivalries made us destroy the beautiful country that God gave us. This was emphasised in one of the pilgrims’ prayers of praise.

The Pilgrimage

The pilgrims left Mont Sion Gikungo at 8.45 and arrived at the Rumonge parish at 10.15. They were welcomed by members of the parish’s Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement, members of the congregation and two of the parish chaplains. For about half an hour, everyone participated in prayers of praise about 1km away the parish church which is being renovated, in an open space that had been set up to receive the Pilgrim Mother.

The Eucharistic Celebration

Mass began at 11.00 with a long procession in honour of the Pilgrim Mother. In his welcome message, Fr. Albert, the parish chaplain said, "We have the joy of welcoming members of the Bujumbura archdiocese who have come to honour us. But more importantly, they have brought us the Pilgrim Mother. She is the one who brought our Saviour into the world. Each time we celebrate Holy Mass, Mother Mary is among us, but today, these pilgrims remind us of this in a special way. They are with us to remind us of the role that Mary plays in the Church and in our daily Christian lives."

Fr. Evode Bigirimana of the Schoenstatt Fathers at Mont Sion Gikungu was the main celebrant, accompanied by the two chaplains from the Rumonge parish as concelebrants. Deacon Christophe Kokipate of the Schoesntatt Fathers was also present on the altar. In his homily, Fr. Evode told us that we are part of a prayer campaign for peace but it is God who gives us peace. "The peace that is gradually being established in Burundi is the fruit of negotiations by the people of Burundi. This path is far more beneficial than desiring the death of the enemy, because if one kills the enemy, it can regroup and take revenge." Fr. Evode therefore called for the faithful to rejoice in repentance and the prosperity of others rather than their downfall. He also expressed his wish that the Pilgrim Mother apostolate will bring fruit to the Rumonge parish.

Before the final benediction, Alfred Vyabandi, a member of the laity representing the pilgrims thanked the Rumonge parish priests and community for the warm welcome they gave the Pilgrim Mother. Fr. Albert also said that when one welcomes the picture of the Pilgrim Mother, Mother Mary herself is welcomed. "Our faith requires symbols to make the invisible visible." Alfred also presented an image of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt to the Rumonge parish. One of the pilgrims, also a parishioner, presented a stole and a chasuble to the parish which has nourished his faith since childhood.

After the Mass

After the mass, a parish representative thanked the pilgrims for their visit and the message that they brought with them, a message that rekindled unity within the family. Finally, parish chaplains showed the pilgrims that they had visited a parish built on the banks of Lake Tanganyika. In the small reception given to the pilgrims cold manioc and fish, commonly known as Ndagala, was served.

On the way back, via Bujumbura, some of the pilgrims who had made the pilgrimage to Rwanda in the so-called "St. John community" bus visited a priest, Fr. Abbé Nestor, who had been with them on the bus. He is the parish priest at Minago, a parish on the Bujumbura-Rumonge road. Fr. Albert who had welcomed the pilgrims in Rumonge accompanied them to the Mont Sion Gikungu shrine.