MURAMVYA July 13th (ABP) – The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bujumbura, Mgr. Gervais Banshimiyubusa, was on Saturday July 10 in St Pierre Claver parish of Kivoga for the ordination of eight new priests, the anointing of ten deacons, and the collation of the ministry of acolytes and that of the readership to about twenty young senior seminarians, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
The ceremonies of the day were honored with the presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Prosper Bazombanza, who had represented the government, the 2nd Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Abel Gashatsi, the Governor of the Muramvya province, Mr. Diomède Nzambimana, the MPs and Senators elected in Muramvya as well as a good number of executives.
Referring to the Holy Scriptures, Bishop Banshimiyubusa let it be known that God created those new priests with a clear purpose that they themselves sensed in order to become His servants in the nations.
Returning to the letter to the Hebrews, Bishop Banshimiyubusa asserted that “No one gives themselves the honor of being a servant of God; it is rather a divine call.”
Bishop Banshimiyubusa asked Christians of the Archdiocese of Bujumbura in general to join those who were going to be ordained or benefit from the collation of ministries of acolytes and readership to thank the Almighty who chose them and commissioned them to preach the good news.
“We are called on to respect the works of priests who are in search, not only of their holiness, but also that of the communities,” said Bishop Banshimiyubusa, who indicated that priests are responsible for ensuring the peace of all.
The Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, in his message, congratulated the new priests, deacons as well as the acolytes and readers for the step taken. He said that the government of Burundi positively appreciates the contribution of the Catholic Church in calming the spirits and in the quality teachings provided in the national education sector.
“Good works are being done by the Catholic Church in the areas of the environment, water and human health”, underlined Mr. Bazombanza.
The Vice President of the Republic took the opportunity to ask the farmers not to sit back during this dry season, but rather to continue cultivating in the marshes in order to have good harvests for the cropping season C. He advised them not to waste the harvests from the last cropping season.
Mr. Bazombanza called on the pupils on vacation to help parents with family work, to participate in summer camps and in the activities of Catholic action movements. He did not forget to urge the people to avoid bush fires and to maintain peace and tighten security. He finally urged them to continue the fight against the coronavirus, in accordance with the principle of the President of the Republic “Ndakira, Sinandura kandi Sinanduza Covid-19 (I recover, I neither catch nor transmit the coronavirus to others)”.
Note that this priestly ordination on July 10 in the parish of Saint Pierre Claver of Kivoga brought together the faithful and priests from the various parishes of the Archdiocese of Bujumbura, as well as the retired former Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bujumbura, Bishop Evariste Ngoyagoye.