What a beautiful site for a Marian shrine!

The small seaside village of Poponguine in Senegal has been home to a popular Marian pilgrimage since the 19^th century. It was instituted as a national religious city in 2015 by the President of the Republic of Senegal.

Every year, thousands of faithful Catholics from all over Senegal and bordering countries come to Poponguine to pay homage to Our Lady and seek conversion, to become better images of the Mother in today’s society.

This Marian shrine dates from 1887. Bishop Mathurin Picarda was visiting the mission of the Holy Ghost Fathers in Guéréo, Senegal, for the baptism of its first Catholic converts when, taking a walk along the coast to the village of Poponguine, he observed: "What a magnificent site for a Marian shrine!" A native of Brittany, he decided to designate a famous Black Madonna from the neighboring province of Normandy, Our Lady of Deliverance, as patron saint of the shrine he wanted to see built. A Norman benefactor provided a replica statue and it was installed in Senegal on May 22, 1888, the Tuesday after Pentecost, with a great procession. 

In June 1963, Senegal and Gambia were consecrated to Our Lady of Deliverance. In 1965, a pilgrimage was inaugurated in the presence of the late President of the Republic of Senegal, Léopold Sedar Senghor. The Marian Shrine now extends over an area of ​​74 acres.

Sudonline