GITEGA August 10th (ABP) – Burundi Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye expressed his warm thanks to the Catholic parish of Murayi, in Giheta commune, Gitega province (central Burundi) for its remarkable achievements made during its 50 years of existence.
He delivered those remarks at the end of a thanksgiving mass organized by that parish on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee (50 years) and in which he took part, along with his family.
President Ndayishimiye indicated that the aforementioned achievements contribute to the integral development of parishioners. He cited its active involvement in the sectors of education, health, water supply and the preaching of the word of God.
During the socio-political crisis of October 1993, the parish priest at the time took the lead in reconciling the displaced people from the Ryanyoni site with the people who had remained in their villages, he stressed. He praised that initiative.
Previously, the parish priest and the chair of the parish committee had all converged to praise the self-giving of the Head of State in the development of the parish.
Among his works, they cited, among others, the construction of a chapel and a road giving access to the parish, as well as a substantial contribution in the construction of a meeting hall and another for receptions.
As a thank you, the parish priest of Murayi presented the Head of State a certificate of honor and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Similar certificates were also awarded to the Archbishop of the Diocese of Gitega, to all the former priests of the parish of Murayi and to all the personalities whose contributions are more remarkable in the life of the province.
As for the homily of the day which was said by the representative of the Archbishop of the Diocese of Gitega, Father Gervais Nimbona, he implored the Almighty to deign to be at the side of the leaders of the parish and the parishioners so that they work well in the maintenance of the blessings enjoyed by the grace of God for 50 years.
The ceremonies were attended by parliamentarians, many persons in authority, priests, and members of different Catholic religious communities and a large crowd of Christians from that parish. They took place in an atmosphere of joy and ended with fraternal feasts.