As the Catholic Church commemorates the Feast of the Holy Rosary on 7th October, the Diocese of Mangochi marked this sacred occasion with great fervor and devotion. The solemn celebration, steeped in tradition and spirituality, took place at St. Peter’s – Utale I Parish, a venerable institution that has been a bastion of faith since its inception in 1908.
The day’s celebrations, centered around the parish’s revered Marian Grotto, built in 1915, attracted over 150 children from Utale I Parish. The young followers gathered to pray the Holy Rosary, led by Fr. Steven Kassimu Limbani, chaplain of the Holy Childhood, who encouraged them to “take the rosary as their weapon in all aspects of life.” “Rosary is a weapon for any battle in our life,” he emphasized, adding that “the Year of hope is a year of reconciliation, a year of charity work, a year of brotherly and sisterly love and care.”
Fr. Paul Rappozo, the Diocesan PMS Director and guest of honor, echoed Fr. Limbani’s sentiments, highlighting the efficacy of the Rosary in the spiritual lives of the children. “It is through the Rosary you get whatever you want,” he said, citing the intercessory power of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Nothing is impossible if we pray through our Mother Mary,” he assured the young congregation, encouraging them to entrust their “worries and joys” to her maternal care. He further stressed the Rosary’s potency as a “powerful weapon” in their journey as young Christians.
The celebration at Utale I Parish, aptly described as the “Mother of all Grottos” in the Diocese of Mangochi, resonated deeply with the children and the larger Christian community. As the faithful gathered to honor the Holy Rosary, they reaffirmed their devotion to the Mother of God and the transformative power of prayer. In an era marked by uncertainty and turmoil, the Feast of the Holy Rosary serves as a reminder of the strong legacy of faith and the boundless potential of the human spirit, buoyed by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Communications Office – Diocese of Mangochi