The fifth1st Saturday of the Jubilee month, May 3, 2025, was held on the African continent. The chosen shrine was that of “Marie Reine de la Paix” in Mugera, Burundi. This country, the poorest in Africa, is at the heart of the Great Lakes region, a region affected by a war that has claimed almost ten million lives in thirty years and continues today. The peace of Fatima is therefore a crucial issue, and the bishops of Burundi unanimously wanted a major event. The scale of this1st Saturday of the month marks a turning point in the Jubilee 2025.
Two weeks before the event: The team coordinating the1st Saturday of the month in Burundi, in liaison with the central Jubilee management in Europe, spares no effort in a country where transport is complex and very expensive: as the country’s service stations are closed, fuel is often distributed in water bottles. The team, led by a layman named Bénit, assisted by a committee of 12 priests and some 50 faithful, is exceptional. It travels the country in vehicles rented by the organization, enabling it to cover all dioceses. It handles every aspect of the event: relations with Church, administrative and police authorities, the presence of first-aid attendants, preparation of the choir, site decoration, choice of songs, generator, sound system, photo and video coverage, and so on. Nothing is left to chance. The days often last until 3am. No one is counting the hours. What self-sacrifice, what efficiency! Of course, the Jubilee organization will cover the costs, but without the faith of the organizers, the priests, the nuns, the laity, without the support of the bishops of the episcopal conference, without the fierce determination to make this1st Saturday an exemplary moment, nothing so exceptional would have been possible. Here, in Africa’s poorest country with a deeply rooted Marian faith, nothing is too good for the Blessed Virgin. Burundi will thus celebrate the biggest1st Saturday of the Jubilee month.
Friday May 2, eve of D-Day. The faithful begin to flock to the Sanctuary of Mary Queen of Peace in Mugera, thanks to the carefully prepared shuttle bus routes throughout the country. Throughout the night, the 36 buses chartered by the Jubilee organization made one rotation after another. But given the scale of the demand, this was far from enough. Many worshippers, aware that they won’t find a place, choose to come on foot. After a warm welcome from the rector, Abbé Venant Mpozako, and a mass celebrated at 6pm by Abbé Savin Ndereyimana, secretary of the bishops’ conference, a long night of adoration and singing began in preparation for Saturday 1st. A whole night of prayer, even though some had walked several days to get here… What a lesson in faith! The songs and Rosary for this vigil were prepared by Abbé Désiré Ninahazimana. While the faithful keep vigil, the buses keep arriving, bringing pilgrims until 8am.
Saturday May 3, 8:00 am: The pilgrimage begins. At the head of the procession, the large statue of Our Lady of Fatima is carried forward with fervor. The joyful mysteries are recited in Kirundi. A pious crowd of men, women, often with babies, and children, follow their heavenly Mother in great humility and piety. This country, scarred by a civil war that left 300,000 dead, is now moving forward in hope, fulfilling the act requested at Fatima to bring peace to Burundi and the world. The second rosary begins. And then, a magnificent coincidence: the path taken by the pilgrims is a veritable Way of the Cross leading to the shrine. Praying the sorrowful mysteries, the crowd passes the stations, including the one where Jesus meets his Mother. Tears flow.
The choir decorated in Vatican colors:At around 9:30 a.m., after the glorious mysteries, the procession reaches the sanctuary. The drums take over from the prayer, as it’s time to get into position. The traditional Burundian hymn resounds as the pilgrims climb the huge hill overlooking the shrine’s altar, atop which stands the large statue of Mary Queen of Peace, venerated at Mugera. The entire site is decorated in yellow and white. A random choice made a month earlier… And yet, today, three days before the conclave, the Vatican’s colors take on their full meaning. An invisible hand has naturally guided every step of this event. Is this not the sign of a profound supplication for the future pope to fulfill the requests of Fatima, an essential condition for world peace? As on every 1st Saturday of the Jubilee, the Alliance des Premiers Samedis de Fatima, organizers of the Jubilee, gave a brief reminder of Our Lady’s requests. This was followed by fifteen minutes of profound silence around Mary, before the arrival of Monsignor Bonaventure Nahimana, Archbishop of Gitega.
A Holy Mass combining profound piety and great joy: the songs, sung by a choir of one hundred voices, alternate between Kirundi and Latin. The Kyrie, Christus Vincit and Pater Noster resound in this sanctuary overlooking the horizon, between magnificent local songs such as Nje ndishongora mana yanje, Kaze mwami Yezu twibanire nawe, Mu maboko Yawe Mariya niho nishize… Below the altar, dances punctuate the celebration. But here, no frantic rhythms or unrestrained gestures incompatible with the honours due to God: these dances, deeply respectful and rooted in local traditions, always end with a collective kneeling at the feet of Our Lady. A vibrant tribute to the Queen of Heaven. What a moving alliance between the living culture of this country and the sacred respect due to God who gives himself to us in the Eucharist!
Renewal of Burundi’s consecration: At the end of Mass, broadcast by Radio Maria, Bishop Bonaventure Nahimana descends from the altar and kneels before the large statue of Our Lady, Mary Queen of Peace. In a strong, fervent voice, he renews the consecration of Burundi to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, repeating the same prayer used at the first consecration in 1961. Then the Ave Maria de Fatima is intoned, rising into Heaven to join the Heart of Mary, as an act of immense reparation offered by the people of Burundi.
Elsewhere in Burundi, a celebration for the martyrs of peace: At the same time, in Buta, another sanctuary in Burundi, another ceremony was held in honor of the martyred seminarians: During the civil war, 44 seminarians were captured. Their captors asked them to split up along ethnic lines, so as to kill some of them. But they united, closing ranks to testify to their love in Christ and affirm that they were all the same children of God. In response to this demonstration of peace, the Kalashnikovs spat out their fire, killing them all. The mass in their honor took place on that same 1st Saturday of the month, celebrated by Monsignor Salvator Niciteretse, President of the Episcopal Conference, who has worked so hard for this 1st Saturday in Burundi.
Closing the event: At around 1 p.m., with mass over, the crowd of faithful began to make their way home. Meanwhile, a conference has been organized for the afternoon, bringing together 500 priests, nuns and organizers for a grand closing meal. The Shrine’s Rector began by expressing his joy at seeing such an event take place in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Then, the Alliance of 1st Saturdays will recall the various aspects of Fatima and 1st Saturdays, to deepen understanding of this great request of the Blessed Virgin. Finally, Monsignor Bonaventure Nahimana will bring the day to a close with a reminder of the importance of peace and charity among all. Then the whole audience intones a final Hail Mary, in salute to the One whom everyone has come to serve and honor on this 1st Saturday of the month, and who, in the silence of Heaven, has made the unattainable possible.
The last shall be first : so what can we say about such an event? To date, Burundi is the country that will have put the most energy and faith into the Jubilee 2025 to make reparation for the offences committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And meanwhile, at home, in France, Europe, the United States or elsewhere, what are we doing? Are thousands of us coming to the foot of Our Lady every 1st Saturday to perform the act of obedience she has asked of us? No. We delay. We procrastinate. So let’s look at the faithful of Burundi. Let’s take a good look. Will we be able to follow the admirable example set by those whose material poverty makes them so rich in humility and obedience to Our Lady? Their reward will be great in heaven.
The next1st Saturday of the Jubilee month, June 7, 2025, will now take place in North America at the Crosse Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. For the first time, it will be a cardinal, Cardinal Burke, who will celebrate the1st Saturday.