In the Augustinian Recollect mission of Kamalo (Sierra Leone) the daily prayer of the rosary has become a fundamental tradition for the life of the community, which gathers every evening at 7:00 pm. This moment of shared prayer not only fosters unity, but, as Fr. Jess Marco Sanchez from the Philippines explained, it also“strengthens the commitment to the spiritual values of the mission, consolidates faith and strengthens devotion to the Virgin Mary”.
The month of October, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, has a special meaning for the faithful around the world. During these weeks, activities in honor of the Virgin Mary have been held to promote her veneration among people of all ages. At the end of the month, the community organized a special ceremony in which 70 children individually recited the “Our Father”, the “Hail Mary” and the “Gloria”, in a sincere tribute “that seeks to root devotion to Our Lady in the younger generations”.
Fr. Jess Marco, explained from Kamalo that “The Virgin Mary is vital to this community. Her figure represents not only devotion and love, but also the fundamental role of women in society and in the way of salvation.” .
For many mission families, in a region where Catholicism is a minority, “the Virgin Mary is seen as an example of femininity, spiritual strength, dignity and respect“. In fact, in one of the mission’s most remote communities, Laminaya, the chapel has been consecrated as Our Lady of Sierra Leone, an act that symbolizes Our Lady’s influence even in the most remote corners.