Pilgrimage Stories

The challenge to live as African Christians in Europe

Human life dictates movement, and every movement is driven by faith and determination. As Africans in Europe the faith dimension of our life is a driving force that gives meaning to life. However, this reality is like a double-edged sword. Whereas Europe offers opportunity to encounter European Christian heritage, practical Christian living is very challenging.

Pilgrimage gives credence to the faith we acquired through European Missionaries

The primary motivation of many Africans in Europe is economic rather than religious. This makes the practice of the Christian faith as immigrants rather challenging. Many migrant people abandon their faith when they face life in Europe for the first time. For many, it requires much determination. Compared to life back in Africa, practicing one's faith will be considered less challenging, even though the Christian heritage will be considered rather remote. Being in Europe gives African migrants opportunity to make a firsthand experience of their Christian heritage in Europe. The experience and encounter of the European Christian heritage gives much credence to the faith we acquired through European missionaries in Africa.

Pilgrimage is an opportunity to deepen our Christian conviction

Our parish pilgrimage experience offers us the opportunity to deepen our evangelization. Our recent pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Fatima in Portugal and previously to Lourdes in France gave us a first-hand experience of the religious history of these sacred sites which we heard as children back in Africa as if they were bible stories. The pilgrimage experience reveal that God walks in human history; and that our humble encounters with divine realities appeal to our spiritual and faith sentiments. Being in Europe makes pilgrimage a reasonable step of faith to deepen our Christian conviction, it gives credence to our belief.

Some benefits of going on pilgrimage - We are one big family of God:

1. Building bridges

Our pilgrimage experience has been a bridge building experience. It has improved our interpersonal connections just as it connects us to the history of our faith. Pilgrimage helps us to connect our faith with the larger Christian family. Coming from different parts of the world and meeting many people from diverse races and cultures, we are able to express ourselves and pray with one accord. The pilgrimage has helped us to realize that we belong to one big family of God. As we journey along, we learn to listen and walk side by side. We learn to walk not as individuals but as a group paying attention to each other and caring for our common needs. We learn to meet new people and walk along the common path of faith.

2. Personal renewal

There is also the aspect of personal renewal. There are obvious signs of growth in our personal love for Jesus and Mary in our Christian devotions. Most of us have learned to be attentive to the signs of God’s presence and to give expression to it. As a church community, our pilgrimage experience has sparked a desire for the sacred in our people.

We have just returned from our journey to Medjugorje in Bosnia. We stayed there for 10 days, and it was truly a wonderful and blessed place to be.

The first day we faced our biggest challenge: climbing Cross Mountain. This is a mountain you should not underestimate. The path is extremely rocky and steep, and along the way you find the Stations of the Cross.

We started our climb at 11:00 AM and finally reached the top at 3:00 PM. It was very exhausting. Time after time we had to sit down to catch our breath. Halfway through the climb, we realized that we had taken the wrong path — actually the route people normally use when going back down. But we decided to continue.

One thing kept us going: the thought of how Jesus suffered on His journey to Golgotha. That gave us the strength to continue.

When we finally arrived at the top, we fell into each other’s arms and cried, because it had been such a difficult task to complete.

At the Cross, Catherine placed some intentions near the great white Cross, and together we prayed our personal prayers. After resting for a while, we carefully made our way down again, arriving back around 4:30 PM.

Every day at 10:00 AM we attended the English Mass, and afterward we prayed the Rosary together in a beautiful place in the shade. The temperature outside was around 33 degrees Celsius, so many people tried to avoid the heat during the middle of the day.

We also visited Apparition Hill several times and prayed the full Rosary while climbing the mountain.

At the place where Mary appeared, there is a beautiful statue where many people stop to pray and bring their personal intentions. This mountain is not as difficult to climb as Cross Mountain, but it is still a very special experience.

We met people from all around the world in this incredible place, where some of the visionaries still receive messages from Mary. The latest message was given on Pentecost, May 25.

“Dear children, may this time be for you a time of prayer and fasting. Return, little children, in love to God who is your peace. I am with you, little children, and I love you with my motherly tenderness. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

You can truly feel that Medjugorje is a very special place. We can sincerely recommend this journey to everyone. You will not regret it.

Catherine and I went to Lourdes on a five-day pilgrimage. It was both impressive and enlightening.

The atmosphere and tranquility of the place are truly special. Even though it is a very busy destination, we were always able to find space for silent moments with God.

We walked the Way of the Cross, visited the grotto where Our Lady appeared, prayed the Rosary, and attended daily Mass. We also lit a candle, a symbol of light that stayed with us during our time there and continues to bring strength and hope into our lives.

The candlelight procession was incredibly beautiful and deeply moving.

On the last day, we enjoyed the stunning view from the castle overlooking Lourdes and learned more about the life of St. Bernadette Soubirous.

If you have never been to Lourdes and you have the opportunity to go, we can only say: go. It will change your life.