17/01/2018 - Senegal

 Gorée Island

Our Guiding Star invited us to walk in the footsteps of those who were forced to leave their country as slaves... The Under 60s' group took time out on Sunday to visit the island of Gorée just off the coast of Dakar, Senegal. For over 300 years, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast and was ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French.

We were deeply moved by the experience - as was Pope St John Paul II in 1992. One participant wrote:

Significant was the time we spent in Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves). Upon entry into the compound you could not but notice the stark contrast in the architecture of the grim slave-quarters and the elegant house of the slave traders. Several poignant moments still echo in my memory ... the silence as one of us stood in turn at 'la porte du voyage sans retour' (the door of no return) and the spontaneous quiet singing of 'Amazing Grace' by a group as we were leaving the slave traders' quarters.... then finally the moment of silent prayer and singing 'Lord have mercy' as we prepared to leave Maison des Esclaves.

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