DEKAT DIGITAL 2019 - 2020

The mystic tradition in Christianity is long and, in many ways, honoured. Perhaps it’s here where the
Marian apparitions belong. A Marian apparition is a supernatural appearance of Mary to a person (or
group of people), often with repeated messages to the witnesses on topics such as peace, penitence,
sacraments, the apocalypse, and a closer relationship with Christ. Many of these sites, such as Fatima
and Lourdes, have become world-renowned places of pilgrimage for worshippers seeking salvation,
advice or healing.
Ngome near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal is regarded as a place of miracles and one of the most
important Marian apparition sites in Africa. Many miracles have been reported there and several have
been documented and photographed. It has also become a popular destination among pilgrims.
It is said that Mary appeared several times to Sister Reinolda May, a German Benedictine nun, between 1955 and
her death in 1981. On each occasion Sister Reinolda received profound messages that she documented in detail to
her regional bishop, and one of the messages led to the building of the shrine: “I wish that a Shrine be erected for me
in the place where seven springs come together. There I’ll let My Graces flow in abundance.”
Many pilgrims have reported miracles and being cured of illness, and hundreds of people have witnessed dramatic
phenomena appearing in the sky above Ngome. The most recent was documented in 1997 during the feast of the
Immaculate Conception, and aired on the SABC’s 50/50 programme.
Visitors go to the church, the convent and the shrine, and also to the grave of Sister Reinolda, where many people pray
and ask for assistance. You can also walk to the place of the springs mentioned by Sister Reinolda, where pilgrims
pray and collect water. Visit www.ngome.co.za for more information.
SUNGAZER PILGRIMAGE, PAUL ROUX, EASTERN FREE STATE
Our forefathers regarded ‘spirituality’ and ‘nature’ as synonymous, and spending time in the great outdoors offers us
a ‘touchstone’ or connection to the spiritual essence that lies in each of us. More and more people are discovering it
is possible to shift from an occasional informal relationship with nature to one that is intentionally spiritual.
Named after the sungazer lizard (Smaug giganteus), ‘sungazer’ or ‘ouvolk’ in Afrikaans, The Sungazer Pilgrimage
route opened in the Free State in 2017. It offers an opportunity for anyone wishing to escape the stresses of everyday
life to become immersed in nature via hiking or cycling trails. Your contemplative journey takes you through historical
villages and farms. The Witteberge and Maluti mountains offer spectacular scenery, and you might spot game and
birdlife during your hike. Overnight facilities range from sandstone guesthouses to cabins in secluded spots of natural
beauty. The walks take you past cherry farms, rock formations and caves; you can swim under waterfalls, and at night
relax around the fire and gaze at the stars.
Journeys can be tailor-made for groups, ranging from a few days to the full Newbery Passion option, which takes
12 days through seldom-visited landscapes.
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