Praying for Peace: Our Lady of Fatima Procession in Beira, Mozambique
In commemoration of the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, Christians in Mozambique’s City of Beira gathered to light votive candles and prayed the Rosary, seeking the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession for peace in the troubled region. Since 2017, terrorist attacks have plagued Mozambique’s Province of Cabo Delgado.
Vatican News with Roger Maduca – Beira, Mozambique
13 May marks the anniversary of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparition to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917.
Rosary Procession through the streets
On the eve of this feast, priests in Beira led a large procession with the image of Our Lady, dedicated to the apparitions of Fatima. This year, the procession and prayers were specifically aimed at asking for peace in Cabo Delgado.
The evening procession wound through the city streets, with faithful carrying votive candles and rosaries, praying and singing Marian songs. Their heartfelt prayers invoked Our Lady’s intercession for an end to the war and terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado.
The Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima, Father Diamantino Andrade, emphasized the significance of the month of May dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The procession culminated in a Holy Eucharist celebration.
The Marian Procession in Beira
The war in Cabo Delgado
For the past seven years, the Al Shabab militia linked to the terrorist group IS has been carrying out an insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s northern region. Civilians have suffered losses, endured human rights abuses, and have been forced to flee their homes.
Mozambique’s military, Rwandese forces, and a SADC force have all deployed troops to fight against the gunmen in an effort to bring peace to the region.
