PEOPLE ASSEMBLED; ARCHBISHOP PREPARING FOR MASS AND CONDUCTING SERVICE; GROTTO AND STATUE OF VIRGIN MARY; PEOPLE AND OTHER CLERICS DURING SERVICE.




Initials LD/VS/MR/ES



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Background: AS AT THE END OF AUGUST EVERY YEAR, THIS AUGUST 31ST SAW THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS FROM TOGO, NIGERIA AND UPPER VOLTA JOIN THOSE OF DAHOMEY AT THE MARIAN GROTTO OF OUR LADY OF ARIGBO IN DASSA ZOUME FOR A PONTIFICAL MASS, CONDUCTED THIS YEAR BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF LOME, MSGR. DOSSEH.

THIS PILGRIMAGE ENDS A SERIES OF OTHER, LESSER ONES IN OUIDAH, LOKOSSA, CALAVI AND COTONOU.

MANY OF THE PILGRIMS PRAYED IN NATIONAL GROUPS -- OTHERS INTERMINGLED WITH THOSE OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE PILGRIMAGE IS THE ARCHBISHOP'S PONTIFICAL MASS -- EACH YEAR CONDUCTED BY A PONTIFF FROM A DIFFERENT CITY. THIS YEAR IT WAS MONSEIGNEUR DOSSEH, ARCHBISHOP OF LOME, WHO PRESIDED OVER THE CEREMONY WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY HIGH-RANKING CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PERSONALITIES.

ALSO ATTENDING WERE SUCH CHURCH DIGNITARIES AS THE ARCHBISHOP OF COTONOU, MSGR. GANTIN; THE BISHOPS OF ABOMEY MSGR. AGBOKA, OF PARAKOU MSGR VANDERBRONK, OF NATITINGOU MSGR. REDOIS AND OF LOKOSSA MRS ADIMOU.

THE PROCESSION WAS LED BY ARCHBISHOP DOSSEH FROM THE CALVARY TO THE GROTTO WHERE THE MASS WAS CONDUCTED.