GITEGA June 18th (ABP) – The Head of State of Burundi, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, along with his Better Half, Mrs. Angéline Ndayishimiye and their children, opened the ceremonies of the three-day crusade of thanksgiving to God for the many benefits and the works accomplished after one year of his inauguration as President of the Republic in a mass celebrated on Thursday by the Archbishop of Gitega, Mgr. Simon Ntamwana at the St. Francis d’Assise Parish based in the Magarama district in the political capital, Gitega.
Several personalities participated in that mass including the Vice President of the Republic, Mr. Prosper Bazombanza, the President of the Senate of Burundi, Mr. Emmanuel Sinzohagera, the Burundian Ombudsman, Mr. Edouard Nduwimana, the wife of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza, Mrs. Denise Nkurunziza, the general secretary of the CNDD-FDD party, Mr. Révérien Ndikuriyo, members of parliament, members of the Government, administrative, political and security authorities, representatives of religious denominations as well as several priests and many Christians.
Mass was celebrated in an atmosphere of joy motivated by songs of praise to God for his many benefits to the President of the Republic and his family during a year he has just spent as President of Burundi.
In his speech, the Head of State paid homage to God for fulfilling the wonders in him during a year in power even though he had started the exercise in difficult times after the passing away of his predecessor, President Pierre Nkurunziza.
He then called on the Burundians to give thanks to God for the gift of life he gave to the President and his family and for the various benefits to the people of Burundi. He also commended his good collaboration with members of Parliament and the Government.
He then expressed a vibrant homage to God for his various benefits to the country and to the Burundians, citing in particular: the peace and security that reign in the country, the achievement of the priorities planned for this first year at an appreciable rate, the protection of Burundians, the commitment of Burundians to the execution of development works.
The President of the Republic then implored God to bless the Government Actions planned for this 2nd year that we are drawing near to.
President Ndayishimiye then announced 3 major concerns that will be at the center of the prayer crusade of three successive days from June 17 to 19, 2021.
It is in particular the prayer so that God preserves the dynamism and the abnegation to the Head of State in the leadership of the people of Burundi. Other concerns relate to the determination of the Burundians to do battle with all the evils that have gripped the country to commit to forgiveness and reconciliation; the involvement of all Burundians in development work to increase production.
In his homily, the Archbishop of Gitega, Mgr. Simon Ntamwana, congratulated the President of the Republic of Burundi for the works already accomplished for the well-being of all Burundians. He implored God to bestow his graces and blessings on the Head of State and his collaborators in their responsibilities to guarantee unity, peace, security, equity and the integral and inclusive development of Burundians.
He advised the Head of State to prioritize the cohesion of all Burundians, forgiveness and reconciliation in order to heal the wounds caused by the divisive crises that have marked Burundi’s historic past.