The Vice Province of Nigeria runs one of the oldest Marian shrines in Nigeria called ‘Oke Maria,’ it literally translates as ‘the hill of Mary’ Pilgrimage centre, located on the hills of Otan Ayegbaju, Osogbo Diocese in Osun State, Nigeria. The Marian Shrine is also an approved UNESCO TOURIST DESTINATION in Nigeria. It is served by the Redemptorist Vice Province of Nigeria. The Redemptorist Pastoral team working there are Revd. Fr. Christopher Osasumen Uwadiale, C.Ss.R. (Director) Revd. Fr. Benedict Temitope Adu, C.Ss.R. (Associate Director) and Bro. Emile Millogo, C.Ss.R. (Pastoral year Confrere). The Pilgrimage which started on the 14th of February 2026 ended at 7:45am on the 15th of February 2026 with the Holy Mass.
Annually the Shrine conducts a Pilgrimage in the second weekend of February, which attracts thousands of Pilgrims from across the Country. This year’s annual Oke Maria Pilgrimage recorded the participation of over 50,000 Pilgrims across all walks of life. In attendance were, the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Revd. Dr. John Akin’ Oyejola, the entire Clergy of the diocese, consecrated men and women and the laity of Osogbo Diocese, other pilgrims from other dioceses, and top government officials from the state.
The 2026 Oke Maria Pilgrimage program started at 3:00pm in St Nicholas Pro-Cathedral, Otan Ayegbaju, with a penitential service led by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo. After the penitential service, there was a solemn and faith-inspiring procession of about 2.3km distance with the Statue of Our Blessed Mother Mary, from St Nicholas Pro-Cathedral to Oke Maria Pilgrimage Centre. Upon reaching Oke Maria, bishop crowned the statue of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and led the prayer of Consecration to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. This was followed by devotional songs to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary led by the Fransican Sisters of the Immaculate. Other prayerful activities through the night were the thematic teaching on the theme (Mary, our help in adversity), deepening the faith, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and healing service.
The Holy Mass was presided over by his Lordship, Most Revd. Dr. John Akin’ Oyejola, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo. At the Holy Mass, Revd. Fr. Benedict Temitope Adu, C.Ss.R. was the homilist. In his homily, Revd. Fr. Benedict Temitope Adu, C.Ss.R. enjoined all present to do whatever Jesus tells them because it is in obedience to the will of God that Mary becomes our help in adversity as it happened at Cana in Galilee. At the end of the Holy Mass, the bishop praised the efforts of the Redemptorist Missionaries in the shrine in keeping the spirituality and the faith of the people high in the Lord and Our Mother Mary through their expression of their charism in the Pilgrimage.
Fr. Peter Chijioke Onyeno, CSsR.
Director of Media and Comms,
Redemptorist Vice Province of Nigeria
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