Bove Farm Marian pilgriamge explodes in popularity

By Matthew Monisse
The annual May Pilgrimage held in honour of the Mother of God at Bove’s farm south of Busselton drew more than 800 people on 1 May.

Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan concelebrated Mass with Busselton parish priest Fr Wally Kevis and Fr Brian Morgan, a priest of the Bunbury diocese.
After Mass, the statue of Our Lady was crowned and pilgrims processed around the property, reciting the Rosary, concluding the procession at the Shrine of Our Lady Queen of the Holy Rosary with Benediction.
Luisa Bove, who, with her husband Luigi, hosted the event, thanked all the people who so generously helped organise the day after which all the pilgrims enjoyed an afternoon tea. As the Busselton parish celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, the event drew several more pilgrims than in previous years including many first time pilgrims.
This first annual May Pilgrimage dates back to 1980 when Luisa Bove received two prior miracles – her own physical healing from an ongoing illness and her husband’s conversion to God and the Church.
Because of this, the devotion on Bove Farm was begun “to acknowledge and thank God for the many special graces received through the intercession of Our Lady”, a booklet commemorating the 25th anniversary of the event in 2005 stated. In 1987, when Blessed Pope John Paul II declared the year was to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a stone grotto on Bove’s Farm was constructed and blessed on the first Sunday in May in 1988.
It was then suggested that people gather every first Sunday of the month to pray the Rosary and sing hymns and this tradition continues at Bove Farm to this day.
Ten years later and after much prayer, a chapel was constructed on Bove Farm which today houses the Blessed Sacrament. This is where Mass was celebrated and where Benediction took place.
Comments on the day were positive, with the older ones happy to see so many young children there and, one pilgrim said it was the highlight of her year.
Luisa and Luigi Bove took great joy in seeing the delight on so many faces as well as the many graces those people honouring His Mother would have received from the Lord.