More than 500,000 Catholics expected at Pakistan's Mariamabad shrine
Pakistan's national Marian pilgrimage to the shrine at Mariamabad is expected to draw more than 500,000 of the country's nearly 1.7 million Catholics this weekend, despite forecasts of heavy rain
More than 500,000 of Pakistan's nearly 1.7 million Catholics are expected to take part this weekend in the country's national Marian pilgrimage to the shrine at Mariamabad. Heavy rain is forecast, but large numbers of the faithful are still making the journey, according to Father Qaisar Feroz, O.F.M. Cap., spokesman for the Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference.
"Many people have already arrived in Mariamabad, while thousands more from every diocese in Pakistan are traveling in pilgrim caravans: on foot, by bicycle, by motorcycle, by truck and by bus," Feroz said.
Families travel thousands of kilometers to pray to the Virgin Mary, to ask for her protection, to entrust their lives and difficulties to her and to ask graces of their heavenly mother.
