From 24 to 26 September 2026, the Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours Charitable Center in Bujumbura, Burundi, became a powerful place of prayer and intercession.
Led by Cyril John, Coordinator of the CHARIS Intercession Commission, the Intercession Conference brought together around 30,000 participants, including 40 priests and more than 150 religious sisters and seminarians.
The Conference was organized by the CHARIS National Service of Communion of Burundi, under the leadership of National Coordinator Parfait Nzikwikiza, together with Fr Felix Fupi, National Spiritual Director, Fr Venuste Niyontore, Bujumbura Archdiocesan Spiritual Director, and their team.
But the spiritual journey had already begun before the Conference itself.
For four evenings, the people gathered in prayer for the Jericho March, entrusting Burundi and its people to the Lord. What began as preparation gradually became a great movement of intercession: a people standing together before God, believing that prayer can open new paths where human strength alone cannot.
Throughout the Conference, teachings on intercession alternated with praise and worship, Eucharistic celebrations, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
At the heart of these days was a profound conviction: intercession is not simply asking God for something; it is standing in the gap for others, listening to the heart of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our prayer into service for the Church and for the world.
The prayer reached its culmination on 26 September, when the assembly took part in seven rounds of the Jericho March in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Before Jesus in the Eucharist, thousands of voices became one prayer for Burundi.
The government and its leaders, the Church, families, young people and the many needs carried in the hearts of the people were entrusted to the Lord. It was a moment in which personal prayer became the prayer of an entire people — a cry of faith, hope and surrender rising to God.
The concluding Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Archbishop Salvator Niciteretse of Bujumbura, bringing these intense days of prayer back to their source and centre: Jesus Christ.
Burundi witnessed something simple, yet powerful: when a people gathers in faith, kneels before the Lord and allows itself to be led by the Holy Spirit, intercession becomes more than prayer — it becomes a prophetic act of hope.
Walls may still stand before us, but the people of God continue to pray.
And when the Church intercedes, the Holy Spirit is already at work.
