This year, due to the pandemic, the pilgrimage to the tomb of Father Laval is taking on a special aspect this year. As a result, pilgrims must register in advance at morendezvous.govmu.org in order to access the tomb. This year, the Diocese of Port-Louis is celebrating the 180th anniversary of Father Laval’s arrival in Mauritius, and the 157th anniversary of his death.
Blessed Father Laval, who belonged to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit of France, arrived in Mauritius on 26 September 1841. A country doctor and later a priest, Jacques Désiré Laval was born on 18 September 1803 and died on 9 September 1864 in Sainte Croix, Mauritius.
Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Mauritius by Mgr Collier, he accepted to serve in the apostolate of the Blacks recently freed from slavery. On 23 February 1841, he left Pinterville for Mauritius forever.
All his life, he dedicated himself to caring for the blacks, to look after them and to make them know Christ, until his death. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 29 April 1979.
Father André Sunassee explains how this year’s pilgrimage will be carried out:
