Monrovia, 18 December, 2025 / 3:10 PM
The annual pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Peace in Virginia in Liberia’s Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, was a witness of faith, unity, and quiet endurance, the Communication Officer of Council 145 of the Knights of Marshall has told ACI Africa.
In a Thursday, December 18 interview with ACI Africa, Wilfred Lawrence D’Souza recalled the high moments of the December 5-6 event that brought together thousands of pilgrims.
“It was intense and deeply moving. Extremely crowded. Yet within that sea of people, I could clearly see faith, raw, patient, and unwavering,” D’Souza said.
He added, “Despite the discomfort, intense heat, long waits, and exhaustion, people continued to move forward with humility and hope. The crowd did not feel chaotic; instead, it felt united by belief.”
D’Souza, who originally hails from India’s Mangalore Diocese—often referred to as the “Rome of the East” for its strong Catholic heritage—said the expressions of faith he witnessed in Liberia resonated deeply with him.
“Here I witnessed the same spirit—perhaps even more enthusiastic. The faith I saw was bigger than any one individual or group. It was something greater than all of us,” he told ACI Africa.
Reflecting on the moments that left the strongest impression, D’Souza pointed to simple yet powerful scenes: “elderly devotees walking slowly but resolutely, parents carrying children on their shoulders or backs, strangers assisting one another without being asked, and a visible stillness in people’s eyes amid the noise and dust.”
“These moments showed me that faith does not have to be loud; it is resilient,” he said.
D’Souza added, “The way people venerated and fully participated in the celebrations was deeply inspiring.”
The two-day prayer gathering, led by Archbishop Gabriel Blamo Snosio Jubwe, also marked the conclusion of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year in Monrovia Archdiocese.
The pilgrimage opened with an evening vigil on December 5 that drew a large, patient, and prayerful crowd for the Stations of the Cross, praise and worship, adoration, Divine Mercy devotions, and a healing and anointing service.
The vigil concluded with Holy Eucharist that was presided over by Fr. Solomon Gbaki, a member of the Religious Institute of Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB).
On December 6, thousands of pilgrims took part in a solemn rosary procession from Moulton Corner to the shrine entrance.
Along the route, members of the Legion of Mary offered live reflections and spiritual commentary, which were broadcast on Radio Maria Liberia and streamed on the station’s social media platforms, allowing thousands more faithful to participate virtually in the prayerful journey.
Community outreach emerged as a defining feature of the pilgrimage.
SDB members distributed free bottled water to pilgrims—an act of hospitality that was widely praised for its timely service to participants.
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The Knights and Ladies of Marshall distributed scapulars blessed by Archbishop Jubwe to mark the opening of the Knights’ centenary celebrations.
Liberia State Grand Knight Worthy Brother S. Clarance Borbordee told pilgrims, “We distribute this scapular, which is a simple yet powerful sign of Mary’s protection. May this scapular strengthen your faith, deepen your devotion, and draw you under Our Lady’s loving care. May this pilgrimage remind us that hope is our shared gift and peace our shared responsibility.”
Pilgrims later received the Sacrament of Reconciliation before joining a festive Mass celebrated by Archbishop Jubwe and concelebrated by about 30 Priests, including the Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio.
In his homily, Archbishop Jubwe urged the faithful to embrace forgiveness and interior renewal.
“In calling us to forgiveness and personal transformation, Mary shows us the way to rebuild our relationship with God and one another,” he said. “Nothing is impossible for God; let us renew our hearts and work together for justice and unity,” the Archbishop said.
In the December 18 interview with ACI Africa, D’Souza highlighted the participation of children from Oscar Romero School for the Deaf - an institution providing vocational skills training for persons with disabilities, particularly the deaf and hard of hearing (HOH)- who actively participated in the celebrations.
One of the school’s senior students, he said, translated the Archbishop’s homily into sign language.
Beyond personal reflection, the Indian-born Cooperator of the SDB Religious Institute said the pilgrimage carried an important message for a divided world.
“This pilgrimage reminds us that faith alone can bring discipline, compassion, and unity,” he said, adding, “When people place their trust in God and believe in something greater than themselves, they learn patience and empathy.”
In a fast-paced and often polarized global context, he said, pilgrimages invite people to “slow down, endure together, respect one another’s journeys, and live with renewed faith and hope.”
Offering a candid personal reflection, D’Souza acknowledged that the experience challenged his own understanding of faith.
“The faith I witnessed here was raw and deeply personal. It was not expressed through structures or programs, but through endurance, sacrifice, and silent surrender. At some moments,” he said.
D’Souza added, “I felt they had more faith than I did—not because they spoke more about it, but because they lived it so completely.”
The Our Lady Queen of Peace Shrine, established after Liberia’s civil war by the late Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis and designated an Archdiocesan Pilgrimage Centre in 2000, remains a focal point of Marian devotion and national reconciliation.
The annual pilgrimage continues to draw thousands each year in prayer, reflection, and communal solidarity.
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