|
Every year on the eve of the anniversary of Pere Laval's death, his followers make a pilgrimage from their homes to the shrine where his remains lie in St. Croix. Many churches and Catholic groups organize group pilgrimages and carry signs detailing their place of residence or group affiliation. However, other pilgrims walk towards the tomb on that evening. |
|
Although a majority of Christians in Mauritius are Creole Catholics, there is also a significant Sino-Mauritian Catholic community. Sino-Mauritians trace their ancestors to Chinese merchants that came to offer supplies to the early settlers and workers. Currently about 5% of the population, much of the community are active Catholics and have their own parishes. Pictured here is St. Paul's Church of Port Louis where the Catholic mass and religious calendar are sometimes enhanced by traditional Chinese customs such as the celebration of the Chinese New Year. |
|
There has also been a recent influx of Chinese Protestant churches. Straying from the traditional Catholicism of the island, these new evangelical communities have gained great popularity in the last few years. |
|
Most of these new Christian centers focus on one ethnic community on the island. Pictured here is the new Centre Evangelique Charismatique that is primarily aimed at the Creole community. Although the current center is above a store, it has become so popular that the congregation is spilling out of the door. Although many of these new movements receive funding from abroad, many of them are dependent on the individual religious leader. The exception to this is the organized movement and expansion of the Assembly of God, which is currently attracting Mauritians from many communities including the Tamil Hindu community. |
|
The St. James Cathedral is one of only a few Protestant churches on the island. This is an Anglican church and served the British administration during the time that Mauritius was a British colony. The church still has a small following of international workers and local Protestants. |
|
Although many Mauritians of Chinese descent are Catholics, there are also many practicing Buddhists and those that continue their traditional religious practices such as ancestor veneration. This is one of the most famous Pagodas of the island. |
|
Many Chinese Mauritians that are not active year round in traditional Chinese religious practice come to certain centers for special festivals or life cycle events. The most notable and widely celebrated of these is the Chinese New Year. |
|
The gates of the Lam Soon Temple overlook the popular Champs de Mer, the horse race track of Mauritius. |
|
Although there are only a few such Chinese temples, the inside of the Lam Soon Temple is not open very often so people often leave their candles and incense outside on the table provided. |
|
Although there were no Sikhs that came to Mauritius with the initial influx of Indian laborers in the 19th century, sporadic immigration from India has continued as Mauritius continues to develop its high-tech industry. There is now a small Sikh community on the island and a relatively new Sikh temple or gurdwara, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha. |
|
On the same site as the Sikh temple, a new Catholic church is being built demonstrating the close encounter and shared space of the diverse religious communities of Mauritius. |
