Pere Laval's Shrine, Mauritius - MauriTrips - Tours & Travel in Mauritius - the Island Paradise

Pere Laval's Shrine, Mauritius is the shrine of the holy missionary Pere Laval the 'Saint of Mauritius' who fought against slavery all his life. His resting place is still believed to be imbued with miraculous healing powers. Every year towards the hour of sunset on the 8th of September, men, women and children from every part of the island, leave their houses and embark on a long march to the Pere Laval's Shrine, Mauritius, situated in the suburbs of Port-Louis.

Father Laval was a missionary who devoted his life in Mauritius to the abolition of slavery of the island's slaves. Father Laval was born in 1803 and brought up in a strict religious background. He qualified as a medical doctor before becoming a priest and a missionary. He arrived in Mauritius in 1841 and soon converted thousands of locals to Catholicism. The total number of converts during his stay is said to be more than 67,000. He is also considered as a patron 'saint'. He died in Mauritius on the 9 September 1864 and was the first person to be beatified by John Paul II, in a ceremony in 1979.

The death anniversary of this blessed man's is a holy day in the Mauritian calendar, when locals and travelers of all ethnic groups converge on the shrine. The tomb of the saint becomes a symbol of racial harmony and integration for all and came to be known as the Pere Laval's Shrine, Mauritius. The church, in which his body rests, Sainte Croix, lies just to the north-east of Port Louis town centre and has become the site of an annual pilgrimage, in addition to receiving pilgrims throughout the year. It is one of the most popular churches in Mauritius.

The church building itself was built on the foundations of the original church, and was consecrated in 1968. The structure is ahead of its time in style, and a 'spacious, modern vault' next to the main building contains the remains of the blessed Laval, along with a picture of him adorned with garlands. Near the church there is also a small museum that contains depictions of the life of Pere Laval, along with clothing and other personal effects.