SW News: A Spanish Catholic missionary outfit’s magnanimity will soon equip a seminary in the impoverished African nation of Burundi. Thanks to the Missionary Solidarity Library, which is an initiative of the Ad Gentes Foundation of Valencia Archdiocese, and the Fr Juan Schenk Foundation, as many as 8,000 books and 36 pieces of classroom furniture will be donated to the Rutana Minor Seminary in Burundi.

The donation was made possible through the intervention of a Burundi-born priest Fr Yves Nizigiyimana who has been in the archdiocese since August last year for his higher studies. The 34-year-old priest said, “I thank the foundations for their help as well as all the people who want to make a donation to defray the shipping expenses.”

The books and furniture would be shipped to Tanzania and from there they would be sent by trucks to the St Peter the Apostle Minor Seminary in Rutana in land-locked Burundi 1,500 kilometers away. En route, the convoy is expected to cross several border and customs checks. It is estimated that the transportation cost would be around 5,000 US dollars. As soon as donations come in to cover the cost of shipping, the books and furniture would be dispatched to their destination. It is expected that the consignment would reach the seminary before the onset of the academic year in mid-September.

Fr Yves said that the minor seminary lacks an Internet connection, a generator to tackle the frequent power outages and a lightning conductor as the locality is vulnerable during the rains. Born in Burundi's Gitega province, he was ordained a priest four years ago for the Rutana diocese, which is a comparatively young diocese as it was founded just 13 years ago. “The seminary does not have sports facilities either and needs a van or car to transport sick seminarians to the nearest health center 10 kilometers away and to transport firewood for the kitchen.”

He expressed optimism that this donation from the Church in Valencia would add to the resources of priests, seminarians, and religious.