Opera M Center in Burundi, social enterprise, landmark and gathering place
The Opera M Center of spazio + spadoni in Bujumbura, Burundi, was strongly desired by spazio + spadoni, which has financed and supported it since its inception, amid dreams and difficulties, to promote works of mercy
Run by the Bene Mariya Sisters, whose charism is “to spread the spirit of Christ in the families of the world,” the center “is also a point of reference and aggregation. In addition to a ceremony hall where graduations, birthdays, funerals, traditional feasts, etc. are celebrated, there are also stores where basic necessities are sold.”
On Saturday, Feb. 8, the Center opened its doors to members of the State Police, class of 1997, with their wives. “There were 24
couples and they gathered for the exchange of New Year’s greetings,” says Sister Hyacinthe Manariyo, of the Congregation of the ‘Bene Mariya Sisters,’ explaining that in Burundi, it is customary for associations to celebrate New Year’s Eve within the first three months.
Generals, colonels, people who attended the Academy and who hold important positions (the head of the Immigration Office was also present) gathered together as families and meditated on the works of mercy.
“It was touching; we felt like family; a special New Year’s Eve; we will bring other friends and our children as well”… These are some of the comments of those gathered at this ‘blessed place,’ which ”is the Center of spazio + spadoni established as part of the Hic Sum project to come to the aid of girls in difficulty by offering them work.”
In the absence of the association’s chaplain, leading the prayer was Sister Hyacinthe, who is in charge of the center for the ceremony and an ambassador of the works of mercy for spazio + spadoni (it is thanks to her experience in Italy at the Misericordia of San Sepolcro (province of Arezzo) that the Hic Sum Project later matured).
After the various speeches, lunch, moments of fraternal sharing and planning, the
day ended with music and dancing, thanks to Hervé, a young florist who was very good with animation and acoustics.
“The guests then enjoyed the place (whose set-up was taken care of by a group of girls led and coordinated by Audrey), the garden with the variety of its vegetation, the flowers, the birdsong and, above all, the texts of the works of mercy in the local language (Kirundi) and in French, the official language. And they made appointments for next year. Some also asked to return to deepen OPERA M, so spazio + spadoni has many other ambassadors even among the high-ranking officials of a security institution in our country.”