With hearts filled with joy and their steps guided by faith, the young people of Senegal set out on the Marian pilgrimage to Popenguine. This year, the event took on a very special meaning for us—pre-novices, novices, and SFP sisters—some of whom experienced this great march alongside our Diocese of Dakar for the first time. Inspired by the theme: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God,” we walked together, uniting our prayers and our energies. Amid enthusiasm, songs, and pushing beyond our limits, this pilgrimage was a true moment of grace and ecclesial communion that we invite you to relive with us through this article.
In fact, walking 52 km on foot seemed impossible to us. But thanks to prayer and the strength the Lord granted us, we managed to reach our destination. Sharing this journey with other young people stirred our hearts from the very first moments. The journey was marked by several significant milestones: the vigil Mass, which laid the foundation for the pilgrimage, allowing each of us to entrust our strength to the Lord; a joyful walk, sustained by the energy of the young people; the long journey, alternating between prayers (the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross), songs, and shared laughter, which gave us incredible energy. On the side of the road, under the hot sun, our hearts were moved by the sight of Muslim children holding up small signs on which they had written: “Have a blessed pilgrimage, our Christian brothers and sisters”; a gesture of purity and brotherhood that touched us deeply. This experience made us think of the disciples who walked from city to city to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth.
Under the Tent of Encounter, the words of Saint Peter Julian Eymard resonated within us like a bolt from the blue: “Every tabernacle in the world is a sun of grace.” They kindled a new spark within us, reminding us of Christ’s real and ardent presence in the Eucharist. At the Grotto of Notre-Dame de la Délivrande, we gathered and rejoined all the pilgrims. There we felt at home, enveloped by the love of our Heavenly Mother; the solemn Mass and the bishop’s homily on the theme of the pilgrimage were a moment of pure spiritual nourishment, inviting us to a total surrender to the divine will. We were deeply moved when he urged each of us to let go of our fears and, like Mary, entrust ourselves to the divine will. He then reminded us that, just like the Virgin Mary, we too have found favor with God’s eyes along this journey.
We returned from Popenguine transformed and with a strengthened faith, and we set out again with the certainty that, with God, there is nothing left to fear.
