On Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th, 2025, the Diocese of Ziguinchor will hold its diocesan pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Our Lady of the Mission in Elinkine, in the department of Oussouye, under the theme "Religion, Faith in Ziguinchor." This is an opportunity for the faithful of the southern region and beyond to gather around their pastor and priests to give thanks during this Advent season, a time of preparation for Christmas, and to pray for the diocese, the Casamance region, and Senegal.

For this year's pilgrimage, Bishop François Durand of Valence, France, will celebrate Mass on Sunday, December 7th. In an interview about the pilgrimage, published in Religion Foi à Ziguinchor, Bishop Jean-Baptiste Valter Manga spoke with our colleagues at RFZ about the choice of the Bishop of Valence and the pilgrimage's schedule for this December.

He also praised the improvements made to the religious site by the State of Senegal. "They are almost finished. And this is an opportunity for me to thank the State of Senegal, which helped us upgrade this place of prayer, under President Macky Sall and whose work was continued by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye."

The prelate of Ziguinchor is thus inviting Catholic faithful to mobilize and go en masse to Elinkine. "I invite them all to come in large numbers, since this is our diocesan pilgrimage, so that we can go to the foot of the Virgin Mary, draw strength, ask for protection, and pray for ourselves, for our families, for our diocese, and for peace in the world and in our region."