From Father Burusu – The Church Is One

From Father Burusu:

For this year 2024 the Diocese of Nyundo in Rwanda set a goal to renovate its Minor Seminary (Saint Pius X Seminary) which was devastated by the Sebeya flood.

SEBEYA RIVER DISASTER

The Sebeya is a river in Western Province, Rwanda that flows into the Lake Kivu just south of the town of Gisenyi. This river runs alongside Our Minor Seminary. Between the seminary and the Sebeya there is a distance of 50 meters.

In the month of May there was a lot of rain in Rwanda, and because this is a mountainous and volcanic region, this year, bad weather moved in the entire central eastern region of Rwanda. On the night of May 2 to 3, 2023, our school was hit by the flood disaster caused by the Sebeya river. Flood devastated our infrastructures; Food store was completely destroyed, drinking water pipes busted, and refectory, chapel and classes were filled by water and mud.

The Diocese of Nyundo is trying to rebuild herself after the genocide of 1994 against the Tutsi, where we lost more than 25 priests. We find ourselves having challenges to continue with seminarian formation because of the Sebeya flood we encountered last year. However, with your continuing hospitality and kindness we will be able to move forward with seminarian formation. These are the future priests of our local church and the Universal church.

However, in spite of the above challenge, The Church is One. We are one community of believers. And this is what we profess in our creed. The Missionary Cooperation Plan is an opportunity to support missionaries, religious and lay catechists among the suffering, and poor of the missions in the world.

Our mission is the same. Through baptism we are all united in the one body of Christ. We are all Disciples of Christ. We are all called to the mission of Christ. Because of our baptism we are one community. Therefore, the Missionary Cooperation Plan is a call for solidarity. Please pray fully to consider your donation to the mission in Rwanda this weekend.

May God bless you abundantly!