Thanks to funds from the "Donation for missions where it is most needed" project, we helped missionaries from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Canonesses of the Holy Spirit de Saxia working in Burundi.
The Missionary Sisters, the Canonesses of the Holy Spirit, have been ministering in Gitega, Burundi, since 1981. They provide special care for the sick through the operation of a health center, hospitals, and delivery rooms. One of the major challenges in Burundi is the high incidence of malaria, particularly among children. Within the framework of Home Caritas, the sisters care for the lonely, the elderly, as well as children from the poorest families and orphans.
"Throughout these years, despite periods of unrest—especially during the 12-year civil war—the sisters have remained steadfast in their service to the people and the Church in Burundi. After the peace agreement was signed, the missionary sisters worked to rebuild health centers and establish new communities where, together with the African Burundian sisters, they continue to minister to all those in need," – says Sister Karina Ursula Markowicz, CSS, missionary referent of the congregation.
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Burundi is a small, landlocked country in East Africa, bordering Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With an area of just 27,000 square kilometers, it is home to approximately 13 million people, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Christianity (both Catholicism and Protestantism) is the dominant religion, while Islam and traditional African religions are followed by a minority.
Burundi’s economy is one of the poorest in the world and is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, which employs around 90% of the population. The main crops include coffee (the primary export product), tea, bananas, cassava, and maize. In addition to crop farming, rural communities also raise livestock—cattle in particular are considered a symbol of wealth—and engage in fishing. Urban residents, on the other hand, are primarily employed in trade, crafts, services, and public administration, although unemployment in cities remains very high.
The country continues to face serious social and political challenges, including longstanding tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, similar to those in neighboring Rwanda. Burundi also endured a devastating civil war from 1993 to 2005, which left deep scars on its society.
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Since 2010, the Sisters of the Canonesses of the Holy Spirit have been forming Burundian women who apply to join the congregation. To this end, the sisters purchased a plot of approximately 1.5 hectares in Gitega for cultivation and the construction of a formation house, a religious chapel, and an outdoor chapel for use by the local faithful and youth. Currently, 16 junior sisters are in formation, along with nine postulants in the initial stage.
"The religious formation of young women from this country will enable our sisters to assist the sick and the needy, and to live out the charism of merciful love among this impoverished people. Sisters of African descent will be able to evangelize their communities through catechesis and by educating children in kindergartens and schools. After completing their religious formation, professing their vows, and undergoing apostolic training, they will be able to support priests in parishes and outreach chapels," – explains Sister Karina.
The missionary sisters in Burundi have requested financial support from the Secretariat of Foreign Missions of the Sacred Heart Priests to build a fence around the property designated for the future formation house. Thanks to funds from the "Donation for missions where it is most needed" project, we contributed 85,000 PLN toward this investment.
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