Last year our Diocese signed a Partnership Agreement with the Diocese of Gitega in Burundi through CMSI
From 16th – 30th September, just past, a small team from the Diocese, Rev Derek Kerr, Mrs Davina McAlister (MU) and myself, visited that Diocese and were very warmly welcomed by Bishop Ame Joseph and well looked after by Rev Arsene Mfurbe. Rev Keith Scott also travelled with us as the CMSI representative.
Please also see a recent news sheet from the Diocese of Gitega
at this link.
It was a humbling and yet amazing experience to share with them for 12 days, at many of their Diocese events and in some of their parishes.
We attended an Ordination Service with well over 1000 people on the first Sunday, spoke at their Pre-ordination Retreat, their Diocesan Clergy Retreat and Training Day, a Sunday School Teacher Training event, met those being trained as Catechists and Lay Workers, as well as visiting schools, churches, MU’s and preaching in different churches on the second Sunday.
We had many wonderful experiences, but what we did witness was a church and Diocese that was very much working from the grass-roots upwards.
Training people who FROM the local community, living IN the local community and going BACK to the same community, to listen to what their needs were and to encourage and grow their churches and, in some cases, begin new church plants, such is the growth of the local church.
Being the 2nd poorest country in the world, by GDP, Bishop Ame Jospeh told us that you cannot preach the Gospel to an empty stomach, and so, their Diocese helps local churches and communities set up various projects to enable them to be self-sustaining, whilst teaching them to grow or harvest crops, look after animals such as their Goat Project, or dig clay from their ground to make bricks and fire them to build more sustainable homes than the traditional Burundi home, as well as build new churches.
We were also part of MU Enrolment Services, and I cannot emphasis enough the absolutely huge impact that the MU have in the Diocese of Gitega.
We were blown away at the work that goes on daily, weekly and monthly by every single member, through their Literacy Programmes, Business Skills and Financial Advice Programmes, Parenting Skills, and how they are taught to develop Faith and Prayer in their own lives and that of their families. It was very evident that these women were being empowered both spiritually and practically.
MU encourages them to go out and tell their neighbours and share with others what they are experiencing, because as they grow as Christians, the church grows as well.
At the end of our visit, I asked Bishop Ame Joseph what it was that their Diocese needed the most, and his reply was simple – Prayer… for all that they would seek to do under God and for the extension of His Kingdom in that Diocese.
So, please pray for Bishop Aime Joseph, Rev Arsene, all the Diocesan clergy and Mothers Union in their on-going ministry in the Diocese of Gitega.
Also, that we may be able to invite them to come and visit us in Armagh and share their experiences with us here.
If any parish would like to find out more about pursing a Parish Mission Link with Burundi, or join in with any Diocesan initiatives, please contact Archdeacon Elizabeth Cairns (email: revecairns@gmail.com)
or with CSMI directly (https://www.cmsireland.org/copy-of-contact)
Useful information:
(please click links)
1. Gitega Update July to October 2025
2. Brief Introduction to the Anglican Diocese of Gitega
3. Burundi - General Information
4. Easter Greetings 2025 from Gitega to Armagh
5. Easter Message 2025 from Armagh to Gitega
