By Pontšeng Monnane – To walk in the footsteps of a missionary is to do more than retrace the places he once visited. It is to encounter his story, reflect on his faith and ask how his witness can continue to shape the lives of those who follow.
This was the spirit of the weekend pilgrimage undertaken by the Missionary Associates of Mary Immaculate (MAMI), who gathered in Roma, Lesotho, under the theme, “In the Footsteps of Blessed Joseph Gérard: Pray, Walk and Evangelise.”
Pilgrims travelled from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Bloemfontein for a programme that brought together prayer, historical reflection, fellowship and a renewed commitment to the missionary charism of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).
The pilgrimage opened on Friday with the celebration of Mass led by Fr Stephen Koenane Molefi, OMI, Provincial for Lesotho and Botswana. Several other priests joined the celebration, including a Polish priest serving in the office of the Oblate Superior.
Welcoming the pilgrims, Fr Molefi wished them a prayerful pilgrimage as they embarked on a spiritual journey to deepen their understanding of the life and missionary legacy of Blessed Joseph Gérard.
Retracing a missionary legacy
Saturday’s programme began with morning prayers and Mass, followed by a reflection on the life and work of Blessed Joseph Gérard, the Oblate missionary whose witness remains closely associated with the history of the Catholic Church in Lesotho.
Fr Raphael Mothe, OMI, of the Archdiocese of Bloemfontein in South Africa, who has had the opportunity to study in Roma and Rome, offered the pilgrims a brief account of Blessed Gérard’s life and missionary journey.
Fr Mothe highlighted three fundamental pointers for the pilgrims: to retrace the footsteps of Blessed Joseph Gérard, to walk the way he walked, and to evangelise.
These principles brought the pilgrimage’s theme into focus, presenting the missionary legacy not simply as a story to be remembered, but as a calling to be lived.
Fr Mothe connected this vision with the preface to the Oblate Constitutions, which expresses the heart of the Oblate missionary approach: helping people become fully human, grow as Christians and ultimately strive for holiness.
His reflection invited the pilgrims to consider evangelisation as a journey that begins with recognising the dignity of every person, nurturing faith and accompanying others on their journey towards God.
History brought closer to the pilgrims
The reflection was followed by a presentation from Rev. Fr Matekane, OMI, who guided the pilgrims through the archives associated with Blessed Joseph Gérard.
The pilgrims had the opportunity to view personal artefacts associated with the missionary, including his cross, offering them a tangible connection to his life, work and enduring missionary legacy.
The encounter brought the history of Blessed Gérard closer to the pilgrims, allowing them to engage with the life of the man whose missionary witness continues to inspire the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and their associates.
The pilgrimage then moved beyond the archives and into Roma itself. The group visited the site of Blessed Gérard’s first grave and the place where early Sunday services were held, retracing locations associated with his missionary work.
They also visited the tomb of the late Archbishop Emmanuel Mabathoana, OMI, remembered as the first African Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Maseru.
The pilgrims’ journey continued with a visit to the second coffin associated with Fr Gérard, providing another opportunity to engage with the historical memory surrounding the missionary.
Through these visits, prayer and historical reflection came together, connecting the pilgrims with the places and objects that preserve the memory of the Oblate mission in Lesotho.
Prayer, fellowship and a renewed missionary spirit
Saturday’s programme concluded with Mass celebrated by Frs Mothe, Mahlangu, Molefi and Matekane, all OMI.
After a day devoted to prayer, learning and historical reflection, the pilgrims gathered for singing and fellowship. The joyful gathering offered an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of communion within the missionary community.
The pilgrimage concluded on Sunday with Holy Mass, bringing the weekend’s programme to a close.
As the Missionary Associates of Mary Immaculate departed for their respective districts, they carried with them new knowledge of Blessed Joseph Gérard’s life and work, together with renewed faith and hope.
Yet the significance of the pilgrimage extended beyond what the participants had learnt or the places they had visited. Its central challenge was to translate the experience into daily Christian witness.
To follow in the footsteps of Blessed Joseph Gérard is to embrace the missionary spirit that inspired his life: to pray with faith, walk alongside others in their struggles and hopes, and evangelise through both word and deed.
For the Missionary Associates, the journey through Roma was therefore more than a pilgrimage into the past. It was an invitation to carry the missionary spirit into the present, returning to their communities ready to live out the Oblate charism and share the Gospel in their everyday lives.
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