Saturday, November 23, 2024, was an unforgettable day for the Schoenstatt Family of Burundi, especially for the Schoenstatt Family of the Archdiocese of Gitega. The third Schoenstatt Shrine, built by the Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests and dedicated to the Holy Family of Nazareth, was blessed and inaugurated by His Excellency Simon Ntamwana, Archbishop Emeritus of Gitega.

Denis Ndikumana, the first Burundian priest to join the Schoenstatt Institute of Diocesan Priests, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his perpetual commitment to the community. At the same celebration, 11 priests from the same institute signed a three-year contract. These two events were essential moments in the shrine’s history.

3,000 Schoenstatters filled the new Shrine with color

More than 3,000 faithful attended, among them members of the Schoenstatt Movement with all its branches represented: a strong delegation of Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Schoenstatt Fathers, Federation priests, families, men and women, youth, as well as other priests and religious. It was a beautiful mixture of colors symbolizing the Covenant of Love.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Christian Löhr, Rector General of the Diocesan Institute; Father Francisco Sobral, member of the General Council of the Schoenstatt Fathers; Father Andrés Larrain, General Treasurer of the Schoenstatt Fathers; Harald M. Knes and Ignacio Suazo, Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary, and a group of Schoenstatters from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The King and Queen take possession of their new home

The Mass began at 10:00 a.m. (local time) with a procession of about 50 priests before the Archbishop Emeritus.

Upon arrival at the new Shrine, the Regional Rector of the Region of Nazareth (Burundi), Fr. Viateur Nibaruta, took the floor to welcome all the first pilgrims while briefly telling the story of the birth of this long-awaited place. Simon Ntamwana blessed the water with which the people of God would be sprinkled and the walls of the Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt.

Nothing was spared that is expected in a celebration of this kind. What can we say about Archbishop Emeritus’s significant gesture when he opened the door of the new shrine? With a hammer, he struck the door three times, and as he did so, he repeated aloud, “Doors, raise the gables, let the King of glory enter.” And, of course, it was the King and Queen who entered together.

Advertising without fear

In his homily, Archbishop Emeritus recalled the mission of this shrine and that of the Schoenstatters, children of the Mother Thrice Admirable: “We have gathered as members of the Schoenstatt Movement. The Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, motivated us, giving us this shrine so that we can always be grateful to her, love her, imitate her, and be at her service. And here we want to give ourselves for Jesus.”

We can read in these lines what we can expect from the Shrine and the Schoenstatt Family as an antidote to the difficulties and challenges that beset our society: “The people of God are invited to shout for joy, to speak loudly, to sing with a voice free of blemish. A voice without fear, a courageous voice.” He says: “Shout for joy, rejoice, dance wholeheartedly without fear; do not speak with shame, but give a visible witness to all, but without pride or hypocrisy.”

The Archbishop referred to the challenges and crises of the country and pointed to the Shrine and the Schoenstatt Movement as instruments of transformation. “This movement brings together the whole Church of Jesus Christ. If this Movement became strong in all its branches in Burundi, we would be pleased… Then, this Shrine, which stands so high on this hill of Rango, will remind us of this… May this Shrine be for us the tongue and the voice that praises Christ, showing us the Virgin Mary and her Son, who is our Lord and loved us to the end”.

Archbishop Emeritus delivered his homily in the pouring rain. The rain was so heavy that some people got wet but were happy to receive the blessing.

The celebration continued with the consecration of the altar of the sanctuary and the blessing of its images and symbols so that the Holy Sacrifice of Christ could be offered. At the end of the Mass, the Archbishop blessed the first stone of the next building, which will be a multi-purpose hall next to the sanctuary and will also function as a center for dialogue and formation for peace and reconciliation, especially for families.

Family celebration on a day of gratitude

After the Holy Mass, the guests gathered in a hall of the Teresian Center near the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mushasha, where they shared the immense joy of the day with other speeches of gratitude.

The representative of the Schoenstatt Movement in the Archdiocese of Gitega expressed his great joy at seeing this dream of the Shrine come true.

Denis Ndikumana also expressed joy at this jubilee of 25 years of perpetual commitment to the Institute. He stressed that he was especially happy that his life had not been sterile. After him, there were other vocations, and today, the community has more than 60 priests in Burundi.

The leader of the National Presidium highlighted the action of Divine Providence in the fact that the first shrine in Burundi, built by the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in 1964, was followed 30 years later by the Mount Sion Gikungu Shrine, built by the Schoenstatt Fathers and blessed by the same Monsignor. On October 23, 1994, Bishop Simon Ntamwana blessed the Mount Sion Gikungu Shrine, and now, 30 years later, the third Schoenstatt Shrine was consecrated on November 23, 2024, in the capital of Burundi.

Mrs. Aude Ndayizeye, wife of the former President of the Republic of Burundi (Domitien Ndayizeye), who also belongs to the Schoenstatt Movement, spoke on behalf of all the guests and expressed her joy for the movement’s continued growth. Finally, the Rector General of the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests took the floor to express his thanks and congratulations. He was very happy with the fruits that this work is bearing.

The Schoenstatt Family rejoices in this achievement and hopes that this new shrine will be a special place of grace for all who come there.

Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías