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Tag Archives: October Month of the Rosary

Marian Devotion to Our Lady of Kibeho Marks October in Lira Diocese.

Fr. Isaac Ojok, Communications Office, Lira Diocese

Every October, Catholics around the world dedicate special attention to the Holy Rosary, a period that invites the faithful to deepen their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary through prayer and reflection. In Lira Diocese, this year’s Rosary month has been marked by the pilgrimage of the image of Our Lady of Kibeho, which is being taken from parish to parish.

The image arrived in Lira Diocese at the beginning of October 2026. On 1 October 2026, it was received with joy by the faithful at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Lira, before being taken to St Peter Anai Catholic Parish. From there, the Marian image proceeded to Boroboro St Leo the Great Parish and St Peter Claver Ober Parish, as part of the ongoing visitation to Catholic communities across the diocese.

According to the programme drawn for the Marian visitation, the image of Our Lady of Kibeho will visit all 31 parishes and four sub-parishes in Lira Diocese. The programme is intended to give Catholic communities across the diocese an opportunity to welcome the image, gather in prayer and reflect on the messages associated with Marian devotion.

The visitation is being coordinated by Mary Bashaasha, Coordinator of the Visionaries in Uganda. The programme draws attention to the reported apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Kibeho, Rwanda, which began in 1981 and continued until 1989.

The three visionaries recognized by the Catholic Church in connection with the Kibeho apparitions are Alphonsine Mumureke, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka and Marie-Claire Mukangango. Alphonsine reported the first apparition on 28 November 1981, while Nathalie and Marie-Claire subsequently reported apparitions beginning in 1982. The apparitions associated with Alphonsine continued until 28 November 1989.

During the October visitation, particular emphasis is being placed on prayer, especially the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. The faithful are being encouraged to use the month of the Holy Rosary as an opportunity for deeper prayer, reflection and renewed devotion.

In addition to the Seven Sorrows, the programme includes reflection on the ten points associated with the messages attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary during the reported apparitions at Kibeho. These teachings form part of the spiritual content being shared with Catholic communities as the image visits different parishes.

The pilgrimage of the image provides an opportunity for parishioners to gather in prayer and to reflect on the role of Marian devotion in the spiritual life of the Church. Through the October programme, the faithful in Lira Diocese are being invited to make prayer, particularly the Rosary, a central part of their observance of the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary.

As the image continues its journey through the diocese, all 31 parishes and four sub-parishes are expected to receive it in prayer, reflection and devotion, making the October visitation a diocese-wide Marian prayer programme.

End.