Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Shrine for Pere Laval

byEmilie Ng
11 September 2014
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA

Mauritian hero: Blessed Jacques-Désiré Laval

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Emilie Ng

Mauritian hero: Blessed Jacques-Désiré Laval
Mauritian hero: Blessed Jacques-Désiré Laval

CATHOLICS from the island nation Mauritius will soon be able to venerate the country’s great hero, French Catholic priest and missionary Blessed Jacques-Désiré Laval.

Mauritians across the state will visit Marian Valley, Canungra, on September 20 for the blessing and opening of Blessed Laval’s shrine, the first in Queensland.

Blessed Laval’s shrine at Marian Valley is a significant achievement in Australia’s Catholic history. The Church in Australia was administered by Mauritius between 1820 and 1834.

Blessed Laval, affectionately known to Mauritians as Pere Laval (Father Laval), trained as a doctor before falling from a horse and realising he could be called to the priesthood.

He was ordained in 1838 and later entered the Congregation of the Holy Spirit to become a missionary priest.

In 1841, Pere Laval was sent to Mauritius, then a French colony, and ministered to poor slaves for nearly 23 years.

It is believed he converted more than 67,000 people to Christianity.

Pope John Paul II beatified Pere Laval on April 24, 1979.

Pere Laval is considered a source of hope for many Christians and people of other religions in Mauritius, a country of great poverty.

Related Stories

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Mauritians Serge and Josette Kishtoo have spent the past year preparing for the shrine to celebrate their country’s champion for the poor.

The couple invited Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green to dinner last year when he was still at Marian Valley as a Pauline priest.

They said Bishop Macbeth-Green suggested the Mauritian community place a shrine to honour Pere Laval at Marian Valley.

“He gave us the idea, but it is a big responsibility and a lot of work so we didn’t think too much about it,” Mrs Kishtoo said.

But a second dinner with the now-bishop “ignited the flame” to move the Kisthoos into action to set a grotto for their beloved saint.

“We couldn’t rest until we surrendered to God’s will,” Mrs Kishtoo said.

The couple said prayer was the single greatest contributor to making the idea for a Pere Laval shrine into a reality.

“We prayed for it to happen, and we are pretty sure it is our trust in God, praying contently and believing in Him and Pere Laval that we have done this,” Mrs Kishtoo said.

Mr Kishtoo said he always tried to “walk in the footsteps” of Pere Laval.

“He showed every emotion to people, regardless of colour, creed or religion,” he said.

“There were times in his ministry in Mauritius where people said he was wasting time looking after the slaves.

“But nobody else was with them.

“That’s something I relate to, and I always try to help out anyone I can.”

The couple said the shrine embodied Pere Laval’s love for the poor and his great humility.

A French-English Mass will be celebrated at the official blessing on September 20 from 11am at Marian Valley, followed by a procession to the Chapel of Blessed Laval and lunch with the Mauritian community.

For more information contact Josette Kishtoo on 0408 477 064.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

For some Iraqi Christians, returning to homeland is not an option

Next Post

Man ordained on his death bed

Emilie Ng

Emilie Ng is a Brisbane-based journalist for The Catholic Leader.

Related Posts

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church
Australia

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting
World

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022
Next Post
Hospital ordination

Man ordained on his death bed

The Catholic Leader wins five media awards

Do you relate?

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Archbishop calls for prayers in “troubled times”

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

by Staff writers
26 May 2022
0

ETHIOPIAN Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel says his trip to Australia gives him the chance to thank individuals and...

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022
Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

25 May 2022
Hong Kong

Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China

25 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping