Blessed Benedict Daswa Pilgrimage at Mother of Mercy Shrine

by Kati Dijane · March 25, 2026

Bl Benedict Daswa Pilgrimage at Mother of Mercy Shrine in Johannesburg

By Kati Dijane – More than 3 000 young people gathered at the Mother of Mercy Shrine in Magaliesburg on Saturday, 21 March 2026, for the fourth annual Blessed Benedict Daswa Youth and Young Adults’ Pilgrimage. The event, hosted by the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, marked the first time the pilgrimage was held outside the Diocese of Tzaneen, the home diocese of Blessed Benedict Daswa.

Pilgrims, clergy and the religious from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho came together to honour the life of Blessed Benedict Daswa, a South African martyr, while also raising awareness about gender-based violence and femicide. The day coincided with Human Rights Day in South Africa, adding another layer of reflection to the gathering.

Despite rainy weather and intermittent power outages, the atmosphere remained lively and engaged throughout the night. The programme opened with Mass presided over by Bishop Siphiwo Devilliers Paul Vanqa SAC, Bishop of Queenstown and liaison bishop of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Youth Office. Father Thato Mashokwe of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg served as programme director, guiding pilgrims through the night with music and prayer.

A notable presence at the pilgrimage was the family of Blessed Benedict Daswa. Benedicta Daswa, the Blessed’s youngest daughter, shared that she had been present at every pilgrimage since its inception. Their participation added a personal and tangible connection to the life being commemorated.

Bishop Vanqa’s homily: A call to witness

In his homily, Bishop Vanqa situated the pilgrimage within the broader context of South Africa’s history, recalling the significance of Human Rights Day and the memory of those who lost their lives in Sharpeville.

“We remember the people who were killed in Sharpeville on Human Rights Day,” he said. “We remember their struggle for freedom… they gave their lives so that this country may be free.”

Drawing a parallel between the sacrifices of the past and the witness of Blessed Benedict Daswa, the bishop described the Christian life as a journey marked by uncertainty but rooted in purpose.

“The journey of Blessed Benedict Daswa is a journey walked and followed by many of our people,” he said. “Like any of our journeys, we do not know where it will take us, but we travel it nevertheless.”

Bishop Vanqa identified four key dimensions of Blessed Benedict’s life, beginning with his call. He described Daswa as a teacher, catechist, father and community leader, emphasising that his response to God’s call was shaped by his faith and upbringing.

“God called him to be a teacher, a catechist and indeed a community leader, just like He is calling each and every one of us,” the bishop said.

Listen to God!

He encouraged young people to listen attentively to God’s voice and to live out their faith in their daily environments. “We are not called only to hear the Word, but to live according to that Word,” he said.

Reflecting on the challenges faced by young people, Bishop Vanqa acknowledged that standing for truth can lead to rejection or isolation.

“Maybe today we are not going to be ambushed,” he said, “but when we are ostracised, when we are not listened to… that is the challenge we face.”

He urged young people to resist harmful influences, such as substance abuse and criminal activity, and to remain rooted in prayer and integrity. “You may lose friends for being a person of prayer and honesty,” he said, “but we are called to be witnesses of Christ.”

The bishop also addressed questions of identity and self-worth, reminding the youth that their value does not lie in external measures.

“Your worth is not your salary, your looks or your popularity,” he said. “Your true worth is this: you are a child of God. You are loved, you are chosen and you are wanted.”

Concluding his homily, Bishop Vanqa called on the young people to return to their communities and live out the example of Blessed Benedict Daswa.

“Go to your families and your communities and try to live that life that Benedict shared with us,” he said.

A night of prayer, reflection and music

Following the Mass, the pilgrimage continued with a programme that included praise and worship, prayers against gender-based violence, a candlelight ceremony and a healing service. Sister Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi OP, promoter of the cause for Blessed Benedict Daswa, presented on the life of the Blessed, offering further insight into his witness and legacy.

Catholic musician Kgethang Konese also performed, adding to the reflective and prayerful atmosphere of the evening.

The event concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning with a closing Mass.

Youth respond: A moment of encounter

After the event, the chairperson of the SACBC Youth Office, Lesego Zikhali, expressed his joy and gratitude at the turnout. “Everything that was planned went accordingly, even though certain parts had to be omitted because of time. Going forward, I think the programme has to start earlier,” he said, adding that the pilgrimage got him closer to God and made him love the ministry more. “I’d like to thank every young person who made this pilgrimage a success, as well as those who led different parts of the programme.”

The head of department for the youth in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, Tiiso Mosoeu, reflected on his experience of the pilgrimage, describing it as his first time attending.

He noted the scale of participation and the visible unity among young people from different countries. “It was great seeing the youth from Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa and Lesotho flying their flags high,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation for the support of clergy and religious who accompanied the youth throughout the pilgrimage.

“At some point, I had an out-of-body experience when the music took over,” he said. “It was amazing seeing young people coming together to pray and honour our Blessed.”

He added that he looked forward to future pilgrimages and continued participation from across the region.

Meanwhile, Thuto Maboti, from Lesotho, said she was impressed by the youth owning the pilgrimage, from the programme to the young priests and religious who participated. “This event inspired me to ensure our own pilgrimage that we are organising of Blessed Joseph Gerard in May will be as spiritually fulfilling,” she said.