Catholic Charity Reaches Out to Sisters in Burundi Facing Eviction from Premises

The Pontifical charity notes that the small nation of Burundi is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.

The country’s recent history, ACN says, has repeatedly been plagued by political crises, massacres, bloody unrest and conflict in which hundreds of thousands of people have either died or been forced to flee their homes.

The Catholic charity makes reference in particular to the 1993-2005 civil war, which is said to have left deep wounds “both in society generally and in individual hearts and souls.”

In the Diocese of Muyinga, the Religious Sisters were initially engaged in caring for the sick and the poor. Subsequently, they became increasingly involved in the areas of the family, youth and women’s apostolate, as the need for help in these areas became ever more glaring, the leadership of ACN reports.

The Pontifical charity foundation notes that a significant population in Burundi is still engrossed in paganism, underscoring the “urgent need for catechesis and a deepening of faith.”

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“Although the Church here is young and dynamic, there are still many pagan elements that tend to become mixed in with the practice of the faith. There is a need among the Catholic faithful for pastoral support and instruction in their faith,” the organization says in the July 5 report.

Today, under the guidance of the Schönstatt Sisters, several hundred lay groups have been formed. There are groups for children, young people, mothers, single women, female academics and female students.

The selfless Sisters specifically in the Catholic Diocese of Muyinga have appealed for help to build a pastoral centre for various pastoral groups they have created to reach the people of God in the Diocese more closely.

“It is not so much for themselves that they need a new place to live, but above all so that they can have a suitable place to work with the various groups. Without a centre for the meetings and other activities, their work cannot go ahead properly,” ACN reports.

Granted a Pastoral centre, which will also be their home, the Religious Sisters envision a place where group meetings, retreats, workshops and other events can be held.

“It will also have a garden, so that the course participants can withdraw to a place of quiet or enjoy outdoor group activities as well,” the leadership of ACN notes while pledging 200,000 Euros towards the cost of the project.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.