GITEGA August 17th (ABP) – The Burundi Head of State, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, joined the Christians of the Catholic Church of Burundi on Sunday August 15 in the commemoration of the solemnity of the Assumption of the Most Holy Virgin Mary and the 60th anniversary of the consecration of Burundi to her, in Mugera, August 25, 1961.
The ceremonies took place at the national Marian shrine of Mugera, in Bugendana commune of Gitega province (central Burundi). They saw the participation of several personalities from the country, including MPs, members of the government, prelates of the Catholic Church, religious and a huge crowd from all walks of the country.
Before Mass began, the Head of State spoke and indicated that his presence testifies to his desire to further demonstrate the alliance between the State of Burundi and the Catholic Church, which was born in the eve of the independence of Burundi, by the consecration of the country in the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Both parties have decided to entrust our country to the maternal protection and intercession of the Mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thus, the country could go through these decisive moments in peace and security, “said President Ndayishimiye, meaning that this alliance has been manifested in Burundi on several occasions. Thanks to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, he said, Burundi has recovered peace, despite the bloody and repetitive events that had brought mourning. Those tragedies forced our compatriots to flee the country, he lamented, before launching an urgent appeal to all the Burundian refugees to return to the fold to join the others in the trailer of their country on the path of the evil development.
In addition, the Head of State took the opportunity to express three major concerns of his government to bring the people to their care. He notably revealed the eradication of inter-ethnic divisions within national components, the emergence of good governance and the fight against poverty. He asked the shepherds of the Catholic Church to pray for him so that those societal projects can be successfully realized.
As for Mgr Simon Ntamwana, bishop of the archdiocese of Gitega, he thanked the Almighty for his benevolence to the Burundians and their protection against the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously, Bishop Ntamwana had wished the Burundians to align themselves alongside their authorities in the development of the country.
The Mass ended with a prayer of intercession from the Blessed Virgin of the Burundians to God, made jointly by the Burundi Head of State and his close collaborators, with the prelates of the Catholic Church.