Mayo Rosary Rally to hear from Nigerian bishop who faced Boko Haram violence
Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme, a global voice against religious persecution, will share his testimony of survival, faith and peace-building at the 41st annual gathering in Knock
A Nigerian bishop who survived the violence of Boko Haram and became a global voice against religious persecution will headline this year’s All-Ireland Rosary Rally at Knock Shrine.
Oliver Dashe Doeme, Bishop of the Diocese of Maiduguri in North-East Nigeria, will be one of the main speakers at the 41st Rosary Rally taking place at Knock Shrine on Saturday, June 6.
Bishop Doeme leads a diocese at the centre of the conflict with Boko Haram, the Islamist extremist group founded in Maiduguri in 2009. Since then, the insurgency has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across Nigeria.
Reflecting on the dangers of his role, Bishop Doeme said: “On the day I agreed to be bishop, I knew I was signing my death sentence. Despite all this, we do not give up our public witness to our faith.”
The bishop is internationally recognised for advocating peaceful and spiritual resistance to violence and has spoken widely about the resilience of communities affected by extremism.
Speaking ahead of the event, Rosary Rally co-organiser Fr Marius O’Reilly said Bishop Doeme’s testimony would resonate strongly with pilgrims attending the gathering.
“Bishop Doeme is coming to Ireland to share his testimony of survival, peace-building, and the inspiring story of the resilience of the Nigerian people in the face of radical extremism,” he said.
Bishop Doeme said the crisis had strengthened faith among many Catholics in the region despite devastating losses, including destroyed churches, displacement and killings.
“The faith of our people is unshakeable,” he said. “We have more Catholics now than before the Boko Haram crisis.”
He recalled how more than 200 churches were destroyed and entire parishes devastated during sustained attacks between 2009 and 2014, while clergy continued to travel to villages to administer sacraments and support communities.
The bishop also described a profound spiritual experience during prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in which, he said, a sword transformed into Rosary beads — an event that inspired a major prayer movement across schools, parishes and families in the region.
Fr O’Reilly said organisers were honoured to welcome Bishop Doeme to Knock, describing his message as one of hope, resilience and solidarity during uncertain times.
“We are honoured to have Bishop Doeme with us, where his powerful personal witness is a huge example of faith and hope which we are sure will resonate and inspire the Rosary Rally pilgrims,” he said.
The annual All-Ireland Rosary Rally attracts pilgrims from across the country and will return to Knock Shrine for its 41st gathering this weekend.