The Archdiocese of Bombay hosted its annual Lenten Walking Pilgrimage on the night of March 21, drawing hundreds of faithful from across Mumbai. The pilgrimage began at Cross Maidan Dobhi Talav, South Mumbai, and concluded at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra, covering a distance of approximately 20 kilometers. Participants walked through the night in prayer for peace.
Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes flagged off the procession at 10:30 pm, while Fr. K.T. Emmanuel, Judicial Vicar of the archdiocese, presided over the concluding Eucharistic Mass at the basilica at 5:30 am.
The pilgrimage featured two floats, one carrying a statue of Mother Mary and the other a statue of Jesus with the cross. Devotees on the floats led the recitation of the Rosary, while groups of pilgrims accompanied them with guitars, hymn books, and devotional singing. Hymns were sung in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, and English, reflecting the city’s cultural diversity.
The route included halts at Haji Ali and Salvation Church, where pilgrims could rest and refresh. Volunteers offered water, biscuits, tea, and cold drinks, and mobile toilets were provided along the way. Many devotees walked barefoot, creating an atmosphere of shared prayer, music, and devotion.
In his homily at the concluding Mass, Fr. K.T. Emmanuel reflected on the pilgrimage as a journey of hope. “You walked, offering your suffering for world peace. Jesus is our hope and our light. We are all pilgrims of hope, journeying back to God,” he said. He emphasized the spiritual significance of HOPE:
- H – Hand of God: God cares for and protects us at all times.
- O – Other-Centered: Like Jesus, we should care for others and not be selfish.
- P – Peace: Jesus gives peace, and we are called to live peacefully in the world.
- E – Eternal Life: Our ultimate hope is life with God in eternity.
Fr. Emmanuel encouraged pilgrims to entrust the world’s troubles to God and to continue walking in faith, prayer, and solidarity.
The Lenten Walking Pilgrimage of the Archdiocese of Bombay is a night-long devotional journey marked by prayers, the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and other spiritual practices. It brings together families, youth, priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful from across Mumbai as a public witness of faith and a prayer for peace in the world. Beyond being a physical walk, the pilgrimage symbolizes the Christian journey of faith, moving together toward Christ with hope, sacrifice, and communal solidarity.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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