"My homeland, your crown"

Peace Pilgrimage with the International Auxiliary to Mutumba, Burundi

Participantes de la Jornada de Delegados Participants of the Leaders’ Convention Ein Teil der Teilnehmer der Oktoberwoche in Burundi 16.10. - 19.10.2008
La Auxiliar Internacional en el Santuario de Mutumba The International Auxiliary in the Shrine in Mutumba Die Auxiliar Pilgermutter besucht am 19.10. nochmals das Heiligtum in Mutumba
Dos sacerdotes congoleses con la Auxiliar Two priests from Congo with the Auxiliary Zwei Priester vom Congo tragen die Auxiliar Pilgermutter von der Pfarrkirche zum Heiligtum
Peregrinando al Santuario de Mutumba Pilgrimage to the Shrine in Mutumba Auf dem Weg zum Heiligtum von Mutumba
Ahora los directores diocesanos con la Auxiliar... Now the diocesan leaders are carrying the Auxiliary... Nun sind die Diözesanpräses der Schoenstattfamilie an der Reihe um die Pilgermutter zu tragen : Pfarrer Janvier, Diözesenpräses von Bujumbura und Pfarrer Jean-Marie Ciza, Diözesanpräses von Gitega

BURUNDI, Gaudence BACANAMWO. The Auxiliary Pilgrim Mother’s tour through Burundi was officially concluded on 19 October 2008. This coincided with the end of the 2008 October Week which has a new motto for 2008-2009: MY HOMELAND, YOUR CROWN"

After having entrusted this mission to God’s divine protection and asking Him to remove all obstacles by the evil one, the pilgrim procession descended Mount Gikungu towards the Mutumba parish. Resounding hymns of praise to Mary echoed through the mountains. The cool weather and peaceful blue waters of Lake Tanganyika, along the banks of which we walked, also seemed to greet the Queen of Heaven, Messenger of Peace, as she went past.

Once in the house of the Lord in Mutumba, choirs of angelic voices sang in turn and the people joined in joyfully. The harvest was plentiful and the harvesters, with overflowing devotion, surrounded the Altar of the Lord in impressive numbers. There is no doubt that Heaven was rejoicing.

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s"

In other words, it is not possible to serve God and money. As in the times of Jesus, we can also identify the Pharisees of our day who try to lead us astray. In his homily, Fr. Janvier Gateretse, the diocesan chaplain for the Apostolic Schoenstatt Movement in Bujumbura, said that we must discern and oppose evil spirits. Mary’s image is not only a symbol. Those who criticise us say that we worship symbols but they ignore the many miracles experienced by those who visit the Shrine and those among them who have given their testimony.

Those who have experienced her graces tell us that the Holy Virgin Mary, Jesus’ gift to us from his Cross through the apostle, John, is not an ordinary woman. She is the Mother of the world. She hears our pleas, comforts us in our tears, shares our pain, intercedes for us and gives us many blessings. Fr. Gateretse said that "in the same way as peace is not just a meal, wine is also not a simple beverage to which the whole world is invited. Only those who have conscientiously prepared for it can take part. The homily ended with the promise of one day seeing Fr. Joseph Kentenich declared a saint.

Unlike previous pilgrimages, this time the priests carried the Auxiliary after Mass. First, two Congolese priests passed her on to two Schoenstatt Fathers (the superior for the Schoenstatt Fathers and the national chaplain for the Movement) who in turn handed her to the two diocesan chaplains for the Schoenstatt Movement in Bujumbura and Gitega.

After the renewal of the Covenant of Love, several cultural items and a light picnic, the procession of pilgrims from Burundi and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo once again returned to Mount Sion Gikungu in a spirit of festivity. A young woman who experienced our Mother’s touch said with emotion that Mary’s image is not a symbol. Mary is beautiful, very much alive and worthy of praise.

Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Johannesburg, South Africa