Every year, around the feast day of Our Lady of Assumption, patroness of our diocese, we come together at "Santissima Anunnziata" in Florence. For the last two years we normally meet at Luve, some 10 km away, at about 3 pm and from there we walk, pray and sing for about three hours when we reach Florence.
This year, though planned, it was not so. The weather suddenly changed and not only became cold but it rained enough to make it very difficult to walk in the mud. So, at the last minute, everyone was asked to go to Florence.
I arrived at 7 pm according to the announced time we would start our program. I had not seen anyone and wondered how many people would be strong enough to face the weather and remain all night. As it has happened in the past, I was once again happily surprised by everyone's commitment. There were about 1500 people under the tent. It was easy to guess the number as they had taken all the available chairs.
The pilgrimage started as usual with the blessing of the water (a 5000 later tank outside the tent!) and the penitential service. By then most of the priests have arrived and the prayer is lead by the bishop. Fr Nkomo's talk followed and helped everyone prepare for the sacrament of reconciliation. Priests were allocated their places and one could see long queues everywhere for the following two hours.
While some priests kept confessing, the rest of us were back at the tent for the first talks of the evening. For the first time we had a theme that lead them each one of the events of the pilgrimage: "We want to meet Christ". All the talks were linked to this theme:
- "The journey to a profound encounter with Christ begins with reconciliation" (by Fr Nkomo)
- "Mary assumed into heaven, as our model for a profound encounter with Christ" (by Fr D. Vilakati)
- "Sacraments, a canonical approach" (Fr Ndwandwe)
- "The Eucharist as the centre and foundation of our encounter with Christ" (Fr Onyango IMC)
Every year at the pilgrimage one gets a clear picture of the team work of our priests which leaves no one behind. Both diocesan and religious are always involved. While Fr Shabangu SDB (Salesian) was the new MC of the evening, Fr Onyango IMC (Consolata) gave one of the talks, many diocesan priests gave the others and all worked under the leadership of Fr Mazibuko OSM (Servite).
The rosary was prayed walking outside the tent and was lead by the Children of Mary. We then remembered the dead and ended our pilgrimage with a healing service but I could not be part of these final events as, for the first time, I could not stay the whole night with them.
The pilgrimage to Santissima Annunziata is always very demanding as many details have to be prepared. We are grateful to God for all the people who worked behind the scenes to make it possible, for all those who lead the different moment and, certainly, all those who attended it.
