St. Mary's Church, Cheruvally, Kottayam, Kerala
St. Mary’s Church,
Cheruvally P O,
Manimala, Kanjirappally Diocese,
Kottayam, Kerala,
India – 686543
For more information please visit: http://cheruvallypally.blogspot.in/
St. Mary’s Church, Cheruvally, Kottayam, Kerala
Immaculate conception Church, Pullichira, Kottiyam, Kerala
The history of Pullichira Marian devotion dates back to the 16th century A. D. The sailors of a Portuguese ship, who were saved from a perilous sea storm through the intercession of our lady had put the statue of Virgin Mary in their possession in a box and floated it on the Arabian sea with a resolve to build a church where the box with the statue was washed ashore. It was this miraculous statue that reached the shores of Pullichira around 1520 A.D. The faithful followers of Pullichira gladly placed the statue in the then existing small church. Later the Portuguese arrived here and built a church in 1572 A.D. with a beautifully carved wooden altar, at the top of which they installed the miraculous statue of Our Lady. The statue is preserved intact in this new church built in 1974. The Parish was established in 1627 A.D.
This church is located in Mayyanad Panchayath, Kollam District. It has been built at a place of scenic beauty on the banks of Pullichira Lake. This Church is accessible from Kottiyam (2 km), from Mayyanad (2 km), and from Kollam town (12 km). Annual pilgrimage, rituals and celebration of festivals are routine here.
Immaculate Conception Church
Pullichira PO,
Kollam, Kerala.
India 691304.
Phone: +91 474 2530411
For more information please visit: http://www.pullichiramatha.in
Holy Cross Church, Thangassery, Kollam, Kerala
Holy Cross Church,
Thangassery, Kollam, Kerala
Infant Jesus Cathedral, Thangasseri, Kollam, Kerala
Infant Jesus Cathedral
Infant Jesus Cathedral Church stands imposingly tall in the annals of Indian Church history. It dates back to as early as the thirteenth century, when Kollam went through Christian Renaissance, under the able leadership of Fr. Jordanus Cathalani, who was helped by both the Franciscan and the Dominican missionaries. They were instrumental to win back the lay Christians who were influenced by the Nestorian heresy, back to the Roman Latin rite. Eventually, Pope John XXII instituted Asia’s first ever diocese in Kollam in 1329. It was Fr. Jordanus Cathalani who built this Church for the first time. Back then, it was called ‘San Salvador’ Church (Church of the Holy Redeemer). It was renovated in 1548 by a Portuguese engineer Hector De La Casa.
Infant Jesus Cathedral, Thangasseri, Kollam
The fifteenth and the sixteenth century witnessed great trials and tribulations of the faithful residing in Tangasseri. It was the “Dark Age” of Indian Christianity, rife with persecution and adversities. The San Salvador Church was defiled and desecrated, the sanctuary utterly destroyed and the Church was left to ruin. The faithful were exiled into oblivion. However, lack of labor compelled the Dutch authorities to restore religious freedom and to call back the residents.
The arrival of Carmelite missionaries came to their rescue and gave the Catholics in Kollam a new lease of life. Like a phoenix that rose from the ashes, Kollam Diocese found its lost glory under their ministry. The alter was rebuilt by the Carmelites in 1610 and the Church was named Bom Gesu or the Infant Jesus Church.
Belgium-based Carmelite missionaries were given in charge of pastoral and parochial duties and so Rt. Rev. Bernard Pacinllie was appointed as the Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Kollam Diocese. He raised Bom Gesu Church to the status of Pro-Cathedral.
was succeeded by Very Rev. Fr. Maurice who was the Vicar Apostolic from 1854 to 1864. He was followed by Msgr. Charles Hyacinth in 1864, who died in office the same year. His mortal remains are still found entombed in the Cathedral. He was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Maria Ephrem OCD who in turn was followed by Msgr. Idelphonse. By 1853, Msgr. Ferdinand Ossi took over as Bishop of Kollam and he was succeeded in September 14, 1905 by the Eminent Msgr. Aloysius Maria Benzigar. It was he who instated Infant Jesus Pro-Cathedral into an independent parish. Fr. Alexander was the first parish priest. His pioneering efforts were zealously carried on by his successors Fr. Ambrose OCD and Fr. Biederman respectively.
December 12, 1937 marked a new epoch with the institution of the first ever indigenous Bishop – Admirable Jerome Fernandez under whose tenure, the parish was animated by Fr. Gracian Fernandez from 1939 to 1941 and then Msgr. Bernard D’ Cruz took over from him. That was when the near-dilapidated Church and belfry was refurbished. Fr. Stephen Netto was the parish priest from 1955 to 1960, followed by Fr. Christopher Morris till 1967. He was succeeded by Msgr. Peter Thekkevila. He was the first to come up with the idea of building the Cathedral anew. But, he was not able to realize it, since his relentless efforts were constantly impeded by infirmity. Fr. Joseph Martin who took over from Fr. Thekkevila kept alive this ambition of building a new Church among the parishioners. After Fr. Martin, the parish was temporarily assigned Msgr. Ferdinand Kayavil.
Bishop of Kollam on May 14, 1978. Fr. Charles Augustine was the parish priest in 1978 and Fr. Gracian Fernandez was the parish priest from 1981 to 1983. From 1984 to 1989 it was Fr. Charles Fernandez, after whom, Fr. Stephen Gomez was the parish priest from 1989 to 1990, followed by Fr. Richard Fernandez and was later succeeded temporarily by Fr. James Puthenpura. He put together the Committee to realize the construction of the new Cathedral. Fr. Paul Mullassery took over the baton from him as parish priest and with much deliberation with architect Tony Xavier, drafted together the plan and estimate for the new Cathedral and got the Bishop’s approval of the same. And in August 9, 2000, in the presence of all the parishioners, priests and religious laid the foundation stone. The Cathedral we see today was completed during Msgr. George Mathew’s tenure as parish priest.
Msgr. Stanley Roman was ordained Bishop of Kollam on 16 December, 2001. On December 3, 2005, the Cathedral was inaugurated by Cardinal Telesphore Topo. Since 2007, the parish is being animated with much success by Fr. George Rebeiro.
INFANT JESUS CATHEDRAL,
Tangasseri, Latin Catholic Diocese of Quilon,
Kollam – 691007, Kerala, India
Tel: +91 474 2797870
For more information please visit: http://www.infantjesuscathedral.com
Vaanloga Rani – Our Lady of Lourdes – France
Lourdes in France is the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary, who said “I am the Immaculate Conception” appeared to St. Bernadette several times. It is the most miraculous places on the earth. May people get extra ordinary graces just by visiting this holy place of the apparision of the blessed Mother.
St. Stephen’s Church, Thope, Kollam, Kerala
St. Stephen’s Church, Thope, Kollam, Kerala
St. Sebastian’s Church, Neendakara, Kollam, Kerala
St. Sebastian’s Church, Neendakara, Kollam, Kerala.
Chindhaaththirai Matha Shrine, Nagapattinam
The History of Our Lady of Chindhaaththirai (Happy Voyage) Shrine, (Patron of Travellers),
Erukkur- Tanjore Diocese
The Virgin Mary, our Heavenly Mother of God, has appeared is various parts of the world. By intercession, innumerable miracles are taking place in these places and people irrespective of caste, creed and religion throng to these places to receive the grace of God
In our Indian soil, she has chosen many places as her holy dwelling place. One among them is the Shrine of Our Lady of Happy Voyage (Chindhaaththirai Matha), Erukkur.
Our Lady of Happy Voyage Shrine, Erukkur 6KM away from Sirkali is on the right side of the National Highway 45A (Eastern Coast Road) leading from Sirkali to Chidambaram.
Erukkur is one of the Panchayats in Kollidam Union, Sirkali Taluk of Nagapattinam District in Tamil Nadu State, India.
The Parish Church of Erukkur houses the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Happy Voyage which has a remarkable history to remember.
In 1534,A.D The Portuguese merchants erected warehouses and chapels in and around the villages or islands of the Eastern Coast of Bay of Bengal Sea namely Pulicate alias Anantharayanpattinam, Satras, Kunimedu, Kalapet, Pondicherry, Devanampattinam, Cuddalore, Porto-Nova, Coleroon, Thirumullaivasal, Tranquebar, Thirumalaipattinam, Nagore, and Nagapattinam.
Around 1550, AD there arose a warehouse and chapel at Kottaimedu which was then called Coleroon, an island farmed at the juncture of river Kollidam, a distributary’s of Cauvery and Bay of Bengal.
Kollidam River was called by Portuguese as Coleroon River. The river Cauvery from Metturdam traverses a distance of 115 miles before reaching upper anicut in Thiruparaithurai Village limit in Trichy District. All along this length it irrigates on both sides.
At upper anicut the river Cauvery branches off into two arms. On the left side, it is called river Cauvery. A barrage has been constructed on the Coleroon in the year 1836 from this point the river Coleroon serves as a flood carrier and runs almost parallel to the Cauvery arm. Coleroon River travels and reaches Bay of Bengal at Palaiyar.
Coleroon Island is in the Coleroon River itself. Now also we reach by boat and see the damaged houses which were built by damaged warehouse’s bricks.
At that time Europeans, Eurasians and the people from Goa lived at Coleroon Island. The Franciscan missionaries of Portuguese looked after their spiritual needs and missionary activities of the region. After 1606 A.D diocesan priests of Mylapore Diocese and religious visited the Christians living in this place and ministered to them.
As settlement of Catholics grew up around this island the “Miraculous state of Our Lady of Nazareth of Travelers” was installed. This is the replica of the statue of Our Lady, of preserved at the Basilica of Holy Family in Nazareth. She was called Our Lady of Voyage, in Tamil “Chindhaaththirai Matha”.
In the oldest Tamil dictionary “Chindhaaththirai” means Chindhaa + Yathirai, Chindda signifies not Failing, Yathirai Signifies Voyage or Journey. Therefore it expresses victory or safe Voyage and also it means safety, welfare, and prosperity.
During the time of kings, whenever the king went for battle, the poets and Ministers under him wished him as “Chindhaaththirai”. Therefore Portuguese called Our Lady of Travelers as Chindhaaththirai Matha.
This is the first Tamil Name given to the Mother of Jesus Christ.
In 1659 A.D., where the Dutch confiscated Coleroon Island along with its warehouse and chapel, the Portuguese confided the miraculous statue to the new converts of the area who in turn handed over it to the Christians of Erukkur.
The Christians of Erukkur were converted to Catholicism due to the missionary activities of St. Francs Xavier in 1545 A.D., of Sirukadampur (Traditional saying) and also ancestors of Erukkur Christians were converted by Franciscan missionary of Portuguese, St.Farancs Xavier, St.John de Britto, Fr.Freire, Fr.Laynez and after the martyrdom of saint John de Britto. The Christians who lived at Maravanadu, Madurai and Tutucorin areas migrated and in and around Erukkur, where the Christians lived without any persecution in 18th and 19th centuries.
For the past 350 years, the miraculous statue that is venerated under the title of “Chindhaaththirai Matha (Our Lady of Happy Voyage) is the Parochial Church of Erukkur this statue is found in the church till today.
From 1699 A.D up to 1744 A.D Erukkur was a mission centre under the carnatic mission.
In 1850 A.D the apostolic vicar of Pondicherry Mission, Mgr. Bonnard, lifted an Erukkur as parish. Rev.Fr.Lazar Appavoo was the first parish priest of Erukkur. In 1899 A.D Erukkur Parish came under, the diocese of Kumbakonam, then in 1929 A.D it was reattached with Arch diocese of Mylapore and when Diocese of Tanjore was created in 1953 A.D Erukkur came under it.
Our Lady Of Chindhaaththirai also known as in the name of Our Lady Of Happy Voyage, Star of the Sea, Our Lady of Bon Voyage, Travellers of Nazareth, Stella Maris, Apostleship of the Sea.
Mass Timings:
Monday to Thursday : 06:30 AM – Mass
Friday : 06:30 PM – Mass
Saturday : 06:30 PM – Rosary, Novena and Mass
Sunday : 08:30 AM -Mass
First Saturday : 11:00 AM – Novena, Mass & Benediction, 06:30 PM – Novena, Mass
Last Friday : 06:00 PM – Way of the of the Cross, Special preach & Mass
Special Novena:
(8th day of Month) : 05:30 PM – Healing Adoration & Benediction,
: 06:30 PM – Small Car Procession of Our Lady Of Chindhaathtirairai,
: 07:15 PM – Mass & Blessing of the Sick
Annual Feast:
April – 30 : Flag Hoisting (Starting Of Annual Feast)
May 1st – May 6th : Novena Days
: 06:30 PM – Eucharistic Adoration
: 06:30 PM – Car Procession
: 07:15 PM – Mass
May 7th : Corpus Christi (Festival of Communion)
May 8th : 08:30 Grand Mass
: 11:00 PM (Full Night) Grand Car Procession of Our Lady Of Chindhaathtirairai
May 9th : 05:30 AM – Thanks Giving Mass and End of Annual Feast
Our Lady Of Chindhaaththirai Church,
(Our Lady of Happy Voyage Shrine) – Diocese of Tanjore
Erukkur(Post), Sirkali(Tk),
Nagapattinam(Dt) – 609108,
Tamilnadu. INDIA.
For more information please visit: http://www.ourladyofvoyageshrine.org/
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St.Lourdes Shrine, Madurai
As a sizable population of Catholics were living in Kosakulam Pudur, which was in the territory of Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Fr. Endaline S.J. bought a piece of land in K. Pudur, on the very site where the present church stands, and built a small church of Our Lady of Lourdes, in 1920. In 1931 Fr. Gabriel Gomez, S.J. enlarged the church and brought the C.I.C. sisters to start a Primary School When in 1938 Madurai diocese was born and the Bishop’s house was built in K. Pudur, this church of Our Lady of Lourdes became important. The city expanded; transport facilities increased; more Catholic families came to settle down in K. Pudur. Fr. Pudumai who was in the Bishop’s House regularly went to cater to the spiritual needs of K. Pudur Catholics.
In 1951 K. Pudur was canonically erected as a new parish with Fr. M. T. Amalaraj, S.J. as its first parish priest. The rapid growth of the Catholic population necessitated the expansion of the church which Fr. M.T. Amalaraj undertook and finished in 1958. Christmas night of 1960 was especially a joyous night for this church as it was announced to be the Cathedral of the diocese, and Fr. Silverius, S.J. was the parish priest. Mgr. Diraviam took possession of the Archdiocese in the church on 29th June 1967, the same year Fr. S. Irudayam, the V.G. was the parish priest. But this privilege of being the Cathedral was shortlived. In 1970 Our Lady of Dolours church became the Cathedral and Fr. T,A. Michael took charge of the parish of K. Pudur, in 1972.
A new flavour was added to the apostolate of the Archdiocess when on 24th September 1975 when the Salesians of Don Bosco took charge of K. Pudur Parish. Fr. Vincent Durai Raj was the first Salesian Parish Priest. He had the privilege of celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Parish and of starting Don Bosco Yourth Centre and building the upstairs of the parish house. During the time of Fr. Jeswanth in 1977, the building of the Don Bosco Youth Centre camp up, a place for cemetery was acquired, Sarvodaya building for girls was built, R.C. Primary School and Kadachanendal was raised to be a Middle School. Don Bosco Primary School was built at Quarry (Yanamalai) and dispensaries at Yanamalai and Mangalapuram were entrusted to the care of Leuca Sisters. When in 1980 Fr. Jeganathan became parish priest. St. Antony’s church was blessed at Kadachanendal, the Community Hall was put up in Sandanamada Street and Don Bosco Foot Ball and Volley Ball Tournaments were conducted for Youth in State level. Then came Fr. Christy in 1982, who was responsible for the women’s cottage industry at Lourdu Nagar. From 1985 Fr. A. T. James was is the parish priest. Fr. Edward Xavier and Jeganathan were assistants. During his period the church of Mary Help of Christians was built in B.B. Kulam, Don Bosco Non-formal Technical School was put up and started functioning, Don Bosco Foot Ball and Volley Ball Tournaments were continued; for the help of poor children tuition centers were begun in four villages; occasionally Good News conventions have been conducted. The Catholics are making their Christian life fuller through associations like Vincent de Paul Society, Legion of Mary, Don Bosco Youth Centre, Charismatic Group etc. The Parish Priest is planning to build a High School for boys to renew the church building, to make the Sellur area into a new parish and to build houses for the poor.
St.Lourdes Shrine,
K. Pudhur, Madurai – 625007.
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/lourdes-shrine-k-pudhur/
Anbinmadal – Tamil catholic website
A Tamil Catholic web site based on the scripture ACTS 4:20.to share your experience in Jesus and Mary with everyone. This site was started in September 8, 2002
Website: http://anbinmadal.org/
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