Our host, David Rothrock, Seattle native and current Catholic Relief Services representative Burundi, will pick us up in Bujumbura and deliver us to the hotel for a good night's sleep. We are scheduled to travel to Ruyigi, Burundi (about a 4 - 5 hour trek east of Bujumbura towards Tanzania) the very next day to visit Maison Shalom, House of Peace. This House of Peace, as you know, was founded by Maggy Barankitse. Maggy was the recipient of the 2008 OPUS Foundation's Humanitarian Award at Seattle University. OPUS produced a video highlighting Maggy's work.
We arrive back to Bujumbura on Tuesday, July 21st to register for the Congress. The theme of this years Congress:
WITNESSES TO HOPE
Jesuit Alumni for a Better Africa:
What have we done? What are we doing? What must we do?
The Superior General of the Society of Jesus will give an address at the Congress like he has done at every conference. probably the most famous speech given at one of these Congresses was by Pedro Arrupe, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus (1965-1981). His talk, Men and Women for Others, challenged alumni of Jesuit schools to work for justice. A Jesuit education is not solely for one's benefit but instead is to be used for others in creating a more just and humane world.
Steve and I hopefully will update blog throughout our travels to give you up to date reports about what we have seen and heard each day of the Congress. through our eyes and ears hopefully you can experience what we have experienced. And even though thousands of miles away, we will be connected to all of you so that you might share in the experience too.
