Strengthening Unity
The branch of university students of the Schoenstatt Movement in Burundi had the following motto for the year 2023 :
“Under the protection of Mary, we want to strengthen unity
by being messengers of love”
And the prayer: “Mary, Let Us Walk like You through Life…”
In 2023, we want to be messengers of love especially from the shrine, by going there often, visiting the Queen of Vocations and Faithfulness, and asking the Holy Spirit for his support.
65 Students
There is a total of 20 women’s groups composed of students at different universities in Burundi. In the city of Bujumbura they meet almost every third Sunday of the month. About 40 young women participate regularly. These women visit students at other universities who belong to the branch. Once a year the women who belong to university groups in Burundi have a workshop with attendance usually at about 65 students. It’s always a great joy to see some of them seal the covenant of love with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Helping others
The students organize two pilgrimages annually—partly by foot–to the Shrine of Trust in Mutumba. For them, it is important to help others, so they visit patients in the hospital and, among other things, wash the clothing of the poorest patients and provide the patients with soap.
The means are lacking
A great challenge for the Schoenstatt university students is the lack of finances for apostolic trips. They would like to strengthen and offer more support to the young women at the universities in the interior of the country.
We thank our Mother Three Times Admirable of Schoenstatt and our founder, Father Joseph Kentenich for their intercession before the throne of the heavenly Father, and we thank everyone who, materially and spiritually, supports the women’s branch of university students in Burundi.