Thousands of Christians Gather at Mugera Marian Shrine in Burundi for Feast of the Assumption

More than 150 kilometers from Bujumbura, thousands of Christians visited the Mugera Marian Shrine in central Burundi on Thursday to mark the Feast of the Assumption, a big Catholic event. Attracting devotees from all throughout the nation and beyond, the shrine—known not only as a tourist spot but also for its great cultural relevance.

Burundian history maintains a particular position for the Mugera Marian Shrine. Rector of the shrine Father Venant Mpozako clarified, “This mountain has long been regarded sacred, even before evangelism. Being a sovereign territory with its own gods—who were considered as sorcerers—it was revered. Sometimes the faithful insult me since it’s rooted in the society when I tell them to avoid sorcery. The king always conferred with the Mugera gods.

Some pilgrims traveled to the shrine with prayers for peace and a seamless election process as Burundi gets ready for the 2025 polls. Among them was Ferdinand Manirakiza, a committed pilgrim who covered more than 70 kilometers to get to the place. “I came to pray for my family, other families, and for my country, Burundi, especially as the elections approach so they may proceed smoothly and without conflict,” he added.

Along with others from surrounding nations, the trip brought Congolese Christians from Kisangani—known as the Pilgrims of Hope. Congolese pilgrim Father Trésor said, “The Pilgrims of Hope in the Archdiocese of Kisangani, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ask for God’s mercy for their country through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and the Mother of the Church, our Lady of the Assumption, to spare their country from war, especially in the East.”

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High-ranking Burundi authorities such as President Evariste Ndayishimiye and his wife also took part in the pilgrimage, therefore highlighting the national significance of the occasion.

Attached with four Catholic bishops from Burundi and Prince Louis Rwagasore, a prominent member of the independence cause for the country, the Mugera Marian Shrine was consecrated on August 15, 1961 The shrine, which welcomes about 200,000 pilgrims annually on August 15th, is pillar of religious life in the nation.