Pilgrims flock ‘sacred’ places in Nakuru for prayers, reflection

Catholic Faithfuls at The Village of Mary Mother of God Shrine in Subukia,Nakuru county on March 1,2019. [Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Jane Nyambura briefly forgot her three-year struggle in search for a job and her financial worries as she gazed upon a huge white cross rising skyward.

She was among hundreds of Catholic faithful gathered at the Marian Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for Easter pilgrimage.

“It is the best feeling of my life to be able to come here for prayers and reflection,” says Ms Nyambura, 29, as she stares at the white cross, ready to take the symbolic journey with Jesus through the meditative walk in the Way of the Cross.

It is her first visit to the shrine.

Nyambura travelled from Kahawa Sukari in Nairobi for the pilgrimage that attracts hundreds of Christians to the site hidden in the picturesque Subukia Hills.

This Easter holiday, the shrine seems to be the destination for many Christians.

Popularly known to Catholic faithful as the Village of Mary Mother of God, the shrine cuts into the side of a densely-wooded hill, about 10 kilometres from the tarmac and sits kingly amidst trees.

With its distinct architecture, the white cross rises skywards from among the trees.

The brick-red cone roof of a grotto that has stood there for more than a decade is now in the company of a maroon cone-roofed church that is under construction.

The Standard team travelled to the shrine on Good Friday to get firsthand experience.

“Here is a sanctuary for prayer and reflection where pilgrims can freely come to meditate and offer prayers,” says Father Erick Ondieki, in his late 30s, the Rector of the shrine.

“Welcome to the Marian Shrine,” he says, with his hands clasped close to his chest as if in prayers.

I hesitate a bit to stretch my right hand for greetings and Fr Ondieki continues: “Come say your prayers and have an experience with God... tremendous experience...!”

The shrine’s gateway, a contemporary symbolism of the entrance of the heavenly paradise, welcomes visitors as they start their journey to the heavenly banquet on earth, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Their symbolic journey with Jesus through the meditative walk in the Way of the Cross starts as they pass through the Eternal Flame at the Entry Gateway.

Within no time, we are joined by a couple from Nairobi’s Komarock Estate – Jane and Henry – and another group of five women carrying jerricans.

Ondieki, the priest, wastes no time with introductions and quickly goes through the motions.

“People from all over the world come for prayer, fasting and just for spiritual nourishment,” he says and the number of visitors increases by the minute.

Within no time, we are a crowd, consisting of locals and foreigners to begin our pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage starts at the way of light, proceeds to a white cross a few metres from where the new church – with a sitting capacity of 5,000 people – is under construction.

Fr Ondieki realises that my friend and I are on a different mission and explain to us the next step.

“We head to the grotto (a small picturesque cave, an artificial one in the garden) where we will begin the way of the cross,” he says as he points to it.

The priest offers pilgrims a booklet (pilgrimage prayers programme) to guide them for the rest of the pilgrimage. The book is, however, for sale at a makeshift bookshop within the compound.

The team then begins their pilgrimage with the sign of the cross “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...”

The Village of Mary Mother of God shrine has 14 stations representing the stages of Jesus’s suffering before death, says Fr Ondieki, as he and this reporter seat under a tree, while the rest of the group leaves.

“Pilgrims share in Christ’s cup of tribulations before they arrive at the top — the epitome of spiritual freedom. They stop at every stage to make their prayers,” says Fr Ondieki.

“Here is the chimneys for venting out chokes of smoke-resulting from daily worries,” he explains.

“Shrine provide a reflective and meditative atmosphere required to infuse a fresh spirit to an emotionally suffocating soul,” said Ondieki.

At the Menengai Caves where some Christians retreat for prayers, fasting and reflection, a number of worshippers are there for a night vigil.

The caves, that are currently becoming a destination for worshippers in need of solitude during fasting seasons, registered hundreds of worshipers who flocked the caves for prayers.

Mr Dominic Rading, a voluntary guide at the caves, said Easter holidays have been particularly busy.

“The caves are huge and can accommodate a number of worshipers who come over to fast for days. The Easter holidays has seen a number coming over to stay for days, fasting and praying,” Mr Rading says.

He said others have been visiting the place as part of tourist attraction while a majority purposely visit the caves for prayers.

In one of the small hollow calderas named ‘Eden’, that too hosts tens of worshippers, makeshift amenities like bathrooms, toilet and secluded places purposely for prayers have been set up.