The pilgrims in a Group photo before takeoff at Moyo parish.

By   Doreen Tasia

Moyo

A Total of 53 Christians from Moyo catholic parish in Moyo vicariate on Wednesday September 11, 2024 embarked on the journey to Indriani holy cross pilgrimage center ahead of the celebration.

Indriani, located in Pakele Sub County, Adjumani district is the first Spot where the Comboni Missionaries (then known as Verona Fathers) settled in 1912 to evangelize in the Madi Sub-Region.

Every year on the September 14, Catholics gather to pray for varying intensions at Indriani Holy cross pilgrimage center which is the birth place of catholic faith in madi sub region of Arua diocese.

The 53 foot pilgrims comprised of the youths, clergy, children, women and men from the parish.

While flagging off the foot pilgrims at the chapel at around 8am on Wednesday morning, Rev Father Ezati Rale George urged the Christians to embark on the journey with prayer intensions.

‘‘Pilgrimage is a holy journey and the Christians of Moyo catholic parish have left, there are twenty ordinary Christians and thirty three youth in number, by walking on foot, the Christians are expressing their faith in the holy cross of Jesus Christ, but again as they walk each one should have a personal intension to put before the holy cross of Jesus because it is power of the cross that our sins were taken away, ’he said.

Rev. Sister Lillian Abedican of Sacred heart of Jesus Moyo Convent who is also among the pilgrims remarked that the pilgrimage is part of prayer and also a way of emulating the missionaries. ‘‘The main reason I joined the pilgrims is to be exemplary as a Sister to them, I have decided to join which is also part of prayers,” she pointed.

The head catechist Moyo catholic parish Kevin Nyerima urged Christians to pray for the pilgrims as they trek to the holy pilgrimage center. ‘‘I am happy to present the youth from Moyo Maduga parish and I urge them to be with prayer intensions as they embark on this journey and also request we Christians to pray for them,’’ he said. He also encouraged youth who are remaining at home to have the zeal to join those on their way to the holy center.

The youth leader Moyo catholic parish Droma Martin Vukoni who led the pilgrims notes that the pilgrimage is a journey of faith that should be able to impact on the religious lives of the youth.

 ‘‘this is not a journey of adventure or leisure and we are hopeful that this will be the time to learn a lot as far as our faith is concerned, I am very proud to be one of the members and we should have our intensions with the believe that the Lord may help us through our burdens, journey and hope to explore the word of God to those we may meet on our way there, ’’ he pointed.

Hundreds of pilgrims from across the region and beyond visit the Indriani Pilgrimage centre every in remembrance of is as a centre of faith.