“Do not return the same”: Annual Pilgrimage to Muxima Shrine in Angola Ends With Call to Transform Faith Into Action

In brief

Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias challenged thousands of Catholic pilgrims to change how they live and serve others following the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Muxima in Angola. During the closing Mass on Sunday, September 6, the Archbishop of Luanda told the gathered faithful that the spiritual journey must result in inner transformation rather than just traveling a physical distance.

Archbishop Dias said the true meaning of the pilgrimage lies in the change it inspires in a person. He explained that traveling by car, bus, motorcycle, or bicycle only becomes spiritually meaningful if it leads Christians to open their hearts to God and move beyond themselves.

The Archbishop urged pilgrims to bring a renewed readiness to serve their families and pastoral communities once they return home. He told the pilgrims not to return the same and encouraged them to ensure their spiritual enthusiasm leads to tangible changes in their daily lives instead of disappearing after they leave the shrine.