The Holy Father, Pope Francis has sent his apostolic blessings to the people of Zambia and Christians who gathered on Saturday 17 August, 2013 for the Lusaka Archdiocesan Marian Shrine annual pilgrimage.
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| Lusaka Archdiocese Marian Shrine |
In his homily Archbishop Mpundu explained the significance of Mary in the life of a Christian. “Those of us who honour Mary are privileged as she was chosen by God to be the mother of our Lord. Mary is the true image of our Lord. You cannot despise what God himself chose through Archangel Gabriel, as irrelevant,” he said.
He wished that more and more people would visit this Marian shrine for prayers instead of looking for miracles in the mountains and in far distant and questionable places. “At this holy place, the Blessed Virgin Mary is saying, do whatever Christ tells you. Do not look for miracles elsewhere. Miracles happen here and Christ is here where Mary is at her home. Right here Mary will show us how to reach to Christ’s heart for our needs with ease,” he said.
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| Altar of Lusaka Archdiocese Marian Shrine |
The history of Marian Shrine in Lusaka dates back to 1970s when Archbishop Adam Kozloweieki, s.j. brought a statue of Our Lady of Fatima back to Lusaka from Fatima. At the Archbishop’s request, a committee was formed to see that the statue visited each of the parishes in Lusaka.
The Archbishop later on commissioned the committee to find a suitable place where the statue could be placed in the Archdiocese as a place for pilgrimage and prayer. Fr. Lawrence Tomasin, S.J. who was an excellent builder, was asked to build a small shrine - a miniature of St. Peter's in Rome for the statue of Our Lady.
From that time onward, the Marian Committee continued to meet and conduct monthly pilgrimages to the grotto from parishes. In the 1990s the area of the grotto was expanded and sheltered by a steel pavilion to shield pilgrims from rain and sun.
SOURCE: ZEC Communications Office