Bishops, clergy, religious men and women, together with thousands of pilgrims gathered in Magaliesburg for the blessing and opening of the Mother of Mercy Shrine on Saturday 27 April 2024. According to Archbishop Tlhagale OMI, this Shrine is meant to “be a warm welcoming home away from home,” and “a place of refuge from a world of harsh discrimination, of hate, of jealousy, and from a world where human hearts are simply cold.”
This is very significant because it is coming as a response to the call of Pope Francis on 2 April 2016 who encouraged that each diocese must have an institution of mercy, which would be a living memory for that diocese. Addressing pilgrims the Archbishop of Johannesburg said the Magaliesburg Marian Shrine “will become a place of reconciliation,” where one can experience the “unconditional love” of Mother Mary.
Bishop Robert Mogapi Mphiwe of Rustenburg Diocese called on the people of God to continue supporting the Archdiocese for the completion of the Sanctuary.
The opening and blessing of the Mother of Mercy Shrine on the day South Africa celebrated 30 years of democracy saw the attendance of pilgrims from all cultural denominations making it a rainbow nation celebration.