Conferral of Ministries of Lector and Acolyte

Published by Br Justin MAOMBI Mikindo, SMM in Africa Francophone · Saturday 28 Feb 2026 · 2:30
Tags: NU, AFF, 1332

Montfort Scholasticate of Gitega, BURUNDI - On Sunday, February 8, 2026, the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Year A, the Church in Burundi celebrated the Presentation of the Lord, which, since February 2, 1997, has been instituted as the World Day for Consecrated Life by Pope Saint John Paul II. The entire People of God, predominantly men and women religious, gathered in the Christ the King Cathedral Church of Mushasha for a Eucharistic celebration, presided over by His Excellency Archbishop Bonaventure NAHIMANA, Metropolitan Archbishop of Gitega.

On this day, there was a priestly ordination of a deacon of the Carmelites, as well as the conferral of the ministries of acolyte and lector for five Montfortian scholastic brothers. Respectively: Brothers Désiré BAHIZERE, Fiston NSENGIYUMVA, and Jean-Louis LOKONDO, lectors; and Brothers Guillaume NDAYIKEZA and Olivier CIZA, acolytes.

The Mass began at 10:30 a.m. with a procession in which all the religious carried a candle, a symbol of Christ, the light. In his homily, the Archbishop emphasized the need to become the light and salt of the world, wounded today by the darkness of sin.

His exhortation was that to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world is to inspire a zest for life and to illuminate the darkness through concrete love, which must be manifested in our actions, especially by serving the poor, the unfortunate, and the destitute. In this spirit, he urged all Christians to come to the aid of our brothers and sisters, Congolese refugees in camps in Burundi. He called on them to share in their suffering so that they too might feel loved and valued. He urged that our actions not be for our own glory but for the glory of God, for we are witnesses, lights, leading others to Christ, the true light.

As a reminder, the Mass was followed by a reception within our scholasticate community, where we shared a fraternal drink. The evening unfolded in a warm, family atmosphere. This unforgettable day for the Montfort Scholasticate remains a sign of hope and commitment for our five brothers, for our Delegation, and for the Church, the family of God in Burundi. The Superior of the scholasticate said that it was a blessing for the scholastic brothers who had received their ministries to fully appreciate what they had received. With these words, the evening concluded with a final blessing from Father Charles MUMBERE, SMM, parish priest of Mary, Daughter of Nazareth Parish, Bwoga-Chioggia.

Br Justin MAOMBI Mikindo, SMM

Montfort Scolasticate

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