National Shrine of Our Lady of Aitara

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Aitara stands as one of Timor-Leste’s most significant religious sites, perched on Aitara Hill above the village of Soibada in the Manatuto district. The shrine is a focal point for Catholic devotion in a nation where approximately 98% of the population practices Catholicism, a legacy of centuries of Portuguese colonial influence.

The shrine’s origins trace back to a reported Marian apparition, which drew the attention of local people and church authorities. According to folklore, the Virgin Mary appeared to several women near an ancient banyan tree on Aitara Hill on October 16 sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The exact year is not documented, and the history of the apparition was preserved in oral tradition for more than 100 years. Over time, the apparition site developed into a formal place of worship, with the construction of a chapel adjacent to the old banyan tree and supporting infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims.

As a pilgrimage site, the shrine holds immense significance, serving as a beacon for communal prayer and intercession. The Timorese credit Our Lady of Aitara with bringing peace during periods of conflict, invasion, and hardship, viewing her as a protective mother who intercedes for the nation. The shrine serves as a place of prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal, where the faithful can deepen their relationship with God through Marian devotion. The remote mountain setting adds to the spiritual atmosphere, offering pilgrims a sense of retreat from worldly concerns as they make their journey to encounter the divine.

In 2002, it was formally recognized as the National Marian Shrine, a status commemorated a decade later in 2012 with a three-day event from October 12 to 14. The site hosts large gatherings on October 16, the date of the apparition, as well as on important Marian feast days and religious celebrations, when thousands of pilgrims travel from across the nation to attend masses, processions, and devotional practices. The Holy See has not officially confirmed the apparition, though popes including Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis have acknowledged it.