Goroka Diocesan Teachers Make Prayerful Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Mendi

On July 12–13, 2025, Catholic teachers from the Diocese of Goroka, accompanied by Bishop Valentine Gryk, SVD, and several priests, undertook a deeply moving pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Muli, Mendi Diocese. This spiritual journey was part of the diocesan observance of the Jubilee Year of Hope and served as a time of renewal and grace for all who participated.

In a beautiful gesture of unity, teachers from other Christian denominations also joined the pilgrimage, making it an ecumenical experience of shared faith, healing, and hope. The atmosphere was profoundly prayerful and reverent from the beginning.

The pilgrimage began with the Way of the Cross, a time of silent meditation and reflection on the suffering of Christ. Pilgrims then entered through the Holy Door of Hope, marking their commitment to conversion, forgiveness, and new beginnings during this Jubilee Year. As each teacher climbed the steps of the shrine, many were visibly moved to tears, crying and praying with deep sincerity. It was a powerful witness to their faith and devotion.

Upon entering the shrine, pilgrims venerated the Holy Cross and spent time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Sengol Jeyaseelan provided meditative reflections during adoration, drawing connections between Marian apparitions—especially at Fatima—and the Jubilee Year of Hope. He invited the teachers to see Mary not only as a motherly intercessor but also as a beacon of hope in uncertain times. Teachers were led to examine their lives, and many received the sacrament of reconciliation, emerging renewed in spirit.

In the evening, the Holy Rosary was prayed with deep devotion, with each school taking turns to carry the image of Our Lady in procession. That night, many teachers came forward to give testimonies, sharing how the pilgrimage had touched their hearts, healed wounds, and strengthened their faith.

On Sunday morning, the program continued with the Holy Rosary, followed by the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration. Each school was assigned liturgical roles, including readings, choir, and offertory, reflecting the unity and shared responsibility of the diocesan teaching body.

During his homily, Bishop Valentine Gryk, SVD, meditated on the life of Mother Mary as the Mother of Hope, particularly in the context of the Gospel of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). He invited the faithful to imitate Mary’s compassion, her attentiveness to human need, and her unwavering trust in God's plan. Bishop Gryk emphasized that just as Mary responded to God’s call with a generous "Yes," teachers too are called to be messengers of hope in their schools and communities.

He further reflected that Mary, like the Good Samaritan, draws near to those in distress—not with judgment, but with healing love. In this Jubilee Year, he urged everyone to let Mary teach them how to be present to the wounded, to teach with love, and to serve with a merciful heart.

The Mass concluded with the veneration of the relics of St. Jacinta and St. Lucia, two young visionaries of Fatima, reminding all of the power of childlike faith and holiness.

The pilgrimage was a moment of profound spiritual awakening and communal renewal, leaving every participant uplifted and strengthened in their vocation as educators and disciples of Christ.