Despite a forecast of severe rain, more than 500,000 of Pakistan’s nearly 1.7 million Catholics are expected to take part in the annual national Marian pilgrimage this weekend at the national Marian shrine in Mariamabad.
“Many people have already reached Mariamabad, while thousands more from all the dioceses of Pakistan are traveling in pilgrim caravans: on foot, by bicycle, motorcycle, truck and bus,” said Father Qaisar Feroz, O.F.M. Cap., spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan. “It is an impressive nationwide mobilization of faith: families travel thousands of kilometers to pray to Mary, place themselves under her mantle, entrust their lives and difficulties to her, and implore graces from their heavenly Mother.”