From Sin To Grace
A Shrine Erected in the Convent Where Three Xaverian Sisters were killed:
At Kamenge in Burundi, A Memorial Day.
January 23, 2016 was a day that marked the church in Burundi: the Most Rev. Evariste Ngoyagoye, Archibishop of Bujumbura concluded the Year of Consecrated life in the new chapel dedicated to the three Sisters killed in Burundi on September 8, 2014. They were: Sister Olga Raschietti, Sister Lucia Pulici, and Sister Bernardetta Boggian, all members of The Congregation of the Xaverian Missionaries Sisters of Mary also known as Xaverian Sisters. The convent where they were killed becomes a chapel, a place of prayer and remembrance not only for the three missionary sisters, but also for all the consecrated men and women who laid their life for the people in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
We, the Xaverian Sisters from the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with a delegation of Xaverian Fathers from Bukavu and Uvira, and Sisters from other religious communities were invited by the Regional Superior of the Xaverian Fathers in Burundi, Rev. Mario Pulcini, SX to take part in this event so meaningful for the two Xaverian missionary families, and the church and the people of Burundi.
It is an event that awakes deep emotions that are hard to express. Words cannot convey what we have seen and what we heard and celebrated. It all echoes in our missionary service.
What We Have Seen
The house where our Sisters lived until September 8, 2014, was the place where they welcomed people who simply came to visit, to share, to be heard and helped by them. Now this house becomes a shrine, a holy ground that radiates the beauty of each Sister killed on September 8, 2014. A landmark prompting us to thank God for their fidelity and service to the Mission and to their Missionary family.
The chapel is surrounded by a sense of reverence and awe that invites the pilgrims to silence and prayer! At the main entrance, there is the altar and the tabernacle, while at the right side there are two confessional booths. Then to the left there is a picture of Sr. Olga near her room, then to the right behind the confessional booth, is the picture of Sr. Bernardette, marking the room where she lived and was killed. Furthermore, there is the picture of Sr.Lucia in front of her bedroom.
Now, the house, that was home to our Sisters, is a prayer center for the people of Burundi and for anyone who wish to stop for a prayer in the Presence of God. It is a place where anyone can enter, take a seat, share the memories of our Sisters’ life, and their dreams until the last day. Their dreams, like St. Guido Maria Conforti, were “To make of the world one Family”. Truly, to make of the Burundi’s people one family.
What We Have Heard
Before the inauguration of the chapel, we heard the moving address of Fr. Mario Pulcini, Regional Superior of the Xaverian Fathers in Burundi and pastor of the Kamenge Parish.
He sayed: On October 11, 2014 while we commemorated the death of our Sisters killed here, someone prayed: “Lord, may this place, where the blood of our Sisters was shed, become a sacred place”. From that prayer came the idea that materializes today. We remember, not with resentment, but we wanted to change this house to become a place of prayer and silence, to remember the good the Sisters did here in Kamenge and in other missions. To build a sanctuary of peace and mercy; we demolished the walls of the house to symbolize the destruction of hatred, vengeance and tribalism. May this holy place for anyone who yearns for peace, love and mercy become a spring of blessings. Thank you to anyone who contributed to the completion of this sacred place.
After the consecration of the chapel, the Archbishop signed off with the words of St. Paul to the Romans: (Rm 5,20) Powerful words in times like these!
Sr. Mercedes Murgia, General Delegate of the Xaverian Sister thanked the assembly with these words: « Your presence gives us joy. Thank you for having been so close to us along the way. Thanks to the help of many Christians, here the project is completed. We gaze at it in the same way as we did look at the hand who killed our Sisters: something that faith and hope will turn into bridges of peace in the country and bring about the reign of God.(...) Because of our small number, we cannot return to serve in Burundi at the moment, but you are in our hearts. We are sure that our Sisters and many other martyrs from this region are at work, pleading with our Lord to grant us peace (…)
How We Celebrated
After the dedication of the chapel, where only religious sisters and brothers attended, we joined the parishioners who were gathered, waiting in the parish church, praying and singing. The church was packed with people and the beautiful choir helped us with hymns and melodious songs during the liturgy of the Eucharist.
What Echoes In our Missionary Service
Our three Sisters embodied what our constitution says: “Sent to a people in whose history God is already present and active with the Holy Spirit, we are called to continue the mission of the Incarnate Word who truly became one of us. First step of this process is to set up a tent among the brothers and sisters whom we are sent. We share their joy and sufferings; their hopes and dreams of a more humane, just and fraternal life.”(art. 10).
From now on, Sr. Olga, Sr. Lucia e Sr. Bernardetta are one with the Burundian people, for ever. To them it was requested that the alliance, the incarnation be sealed with blood, a pact of fidelity that can never be broken. Every missionary is called each day to say yes to God, with simplicity, humility and surrender to God’s will, no matter what.
The Archbishop commissioned the congregation with these words: “May the blood of mama Olga, and mama Lucia, and mama Bernardetta shed for the Gospel, be a seed for vocations to spread the Reign of God” To the young people he said: “The Lord continues to call and he is waiting for your YES”.
Now we echo the song that was dear to mama Olga: “I heard the Voice of Jesus Say: ‘Whom Shall I Send? I said to the Lord: ‘Here I am, Send Me!”...
