RVA Pope Prayer Request
RVA App Promo Image

Marian Statue Pilgrimage Ignites Interfaith Harmony in Indonesia

Catholics and Muslims join in the Marian Statue Pilgrimage to open the Golo Koe 2025 Festival in Labuan Bajo.

With vibrant processions and shared prayers, Catholics and Muslims in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo inaugurated the Golo Koe 2025 Religious-Cultural Festival with a Marian Statue Pilgrimage, held at St. Martin Parish in Bari, Flores, Indonesia.

The festival’s central icon statue of Our Lady of the Assumption, is set to journey through 26 parishes from July 9 to August 14.

Though initially planned as a maritime procession, the pilgrimage was later shifted to an overland route due to inclement weather.

It was launched from the Vicariate House in Pacar and received in Bari with traditional Manggarai dances, songs, and rituals.

Muslim villagers, dressed in traditional attire, joined the celebration, decorating their streets with bamboo to welcome Mary, marking a powerful witness of interfaith solidarity.

Presiding over the opening Mass, Bishop Maksimus Regus called Mary a model of unity and presence. “Her visit reminds us that God walks with us. The involvement of our Muslim brothers and sisters reflects the inclusive spirit of this festival,” he shared.

Fr. Richardus Manggu, Vicar General and Festival Chair, described the event as more than just religious: “It’s a spiritual and cultural movement of togetherness—transcending religious and ethnic lines.”

Fr. Fransiskus Nala, Diocesan Secretary General, added, “Mary Assumpta is a sign of hope. This journey reflects the synodal path of walking together in faith.”

Local government officials also joined the celebration. Aloisius Lahi, Assistant to the Regional Secretary, highlighted how the event boosts social cohesion, preserves cultural heritage, and promotes sustainable tourism. Subdistrict Head Dorotheus Ugan thanked the organizers for bringing such grace to his community, despite infrastructural challenges.

The journey will culminate in a grand August 14 procession from Waterfront City to Golo Koe Hill, concluding the month-long festival in one of Indonesia’s prime tourist destinations.

Held annually by the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, the Golo Koe Festival serves as the spiritual and cultural climax of the Marian pilgrimage. Drawing thousands of participants from across the region and beyond, the festival celebrates not only the Assumption of Mary but also the rich harmony of faith traditions, indigenous identity, and communal hope that define the Catholic Church in this part of Indonesia. 

 

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.