Poondi Madha Basilica, Tirukattupalli, Thanjavur
Our Lady
of Lourdes Basilica, Poondi, is a Catholic pilgrimage center located in Tamilnadu, South India. Poondi is a small village
located near Tirukattupalli in Thiruvaiyaru Taluk (also spelled as Taluka), about 35 km away
from Thanjavur. Poondi is usually associated with Alamelupuram village
located besides the Basilica and so is called as Poondi-Alamelupuram, officially.
Poondi
is a small hamlet sandwiched between the rivers Cauvery and Coleroon
Alamelupuram. Poondi is believed to have got its name from Poondu, a shrub in
Tamil, which grew in abundance here earlier. The hamlet is significant thanks
to the renowned Poondi Madha Shrine (The Shrine of Our Lady of Poondi).
Poondi
Madha Shrine is an important pilgrim spot for Roman Catholics and is almost as
famous as Velankanni, which is also in Tamilnadu. Thousands of devout
worshippers from across India throng to this church with an unshakeable belief
that their prayers will be answered. The church is an imposing and elegant
building and stands tall and proud; you can’t miss it from a distance because
its tall towers reach out to the sky.
History
Rev.
Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi S.J., popularly known as Veeramamunivar an Italian Jesuit
missionary and Tamil Scholar, built the Church of Mary Queen of Immaculate
Conception between 1714 and 1718. Poondi Madha Shrine was officially classified
a Minor Basilica by Pope
John Paul II on 3 August, 1999. Veeramamunivar
authored many Tamil literary works including the famous Thembaavani and
Paramartha Guru Kadhai. He holds a special place in Tamil culture and the Tamil
Nadu government has honored him by erecting his statue on the popular Marina
Beach.
Within
the dome of the church is the statue of the miraculous Lady of Poondi. This
extraordinary statue is one of the three statues that were completed in France
after the apparition of Our Lady at Lourdes and was brought to India by Rev.
Father Darres. According to available records when the French Missionary
Fathers (MEP Fathers) where taking care of the Pastrol Mission in Kumbakonam
Diocese, Father Mette Louis Jules started a Catechetical School in
Poondi around the year 1900 to train Catechetics.
The Holy
Mother appeared to Bernadette in 1858 in Lourdes in France. Statues of Our Lady
of Lourdes were sent to different parts of the World. Out of the three
statues that came to India, one was brought to and remains in the Poondi
Shrine. This statue is so unique, that while looking at it, one gets a
feeling of looking at a live person. Since the time the statue was
installed in the church, a mysterious brightness has been filling up the entire
church during night time. People started special devotion to Our Lady and
several miracles started happening here, which continue till day.
Rev.Fr.Lourdes
Xavier after being appointed as Parish Priest of Poondi on 1st September 1955
gave immediate attention to improve the condition of the Church, the central
roof of which was in a bad condition and it was feared that it might collapse
at any moment causing great damage. So he consulted an engineer. They wanted to
demolish only the central roof without any damage to the front elevation, the
doom and the altar. Fr.Lourdes Xavier was worried as it would cost too much and
it would be beyond his means to find the necessary funds to reconstruct the
Church.
Not
having sufficient funds to carry out the repairs, he fasted and prayed to the
Holy Mother for 15 days. On the 15th day morning, he heard an inner voice and
told the people that the front portion of the church would come down on its own
by that afternoon. Exactly as he said, the building collapsed. This
happened on 22nd November, 1956 and the reconstruction was completed by 2nd May
1964. This is vividly remembered and described by people even today.
A small
piece of the original cross of Jesus was brought to the church by
Rev.Fr.Rayappa in 1976. One can see this below the Statue of the Holy Mother.
Several thousands of devotees throng the Poondi Madha Basilica on September 8th
every year, the Birthday of Our Holy Mother. A procession is taken out in an
ornamental chariot which is witnessed by people irrespective of caste and
religion, who gather and pray here on this auspicious day.
The
church has a membership scheme whereby one can pay as less as Rs.100 as a
monthly subscription. When the amount reaches Rs.5000/- the person becomes a
life member and the person is remembered and prayed during every mass offered
in the shrine.
His
Eminence Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy declared the Shrine of our Lady of Poondi as
a permanent pilgrimage center of our Lady of Immaculate Conception. On
03.08.1999, the shrine was declared as Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II.
Shrine
The
present structure of the shrine has a mixture of Gothic and French architectural
styles. The facade above the portico has a row of statues of the Twelve
Apostles, St. Francis
Xavier and Fr.
Constantine Joseph Beschi. There is an imposing
statue of Father, Constantine Joseph Beschi in front, above the portico. The
church has a relic of the True
Cross, believed to be the one
on which Christ was crucified.
Relic of the Original Cross:
A small
Piece of the “The Original Cross” is kept at Poondi Madha Basilica. On the
feast of The Holy Cross, there will be special blessing and on 5th Friday of
lent, there will be a procession of the relic from Michealpatty to Poondi Madha
Basilica followed by mass.
Museum:
This
Church has a small museum showcasing its history and collections. It has an
interesting collection of articles and artifacts gifted by grateful devotees
whose prayers have been answered.
There is
a hodgepodge of all kinds of objects from body parts fashioned in silver (to
cure diseases or ailment) to gold and silver jewelry, pens, even stethoscopes
and models of houses. It’s quite amazing.
Depot:
There is
also a Depot in the Church complex which sells various items like
pictures, idols, books, CDs, Calendars, Bibles, and Rosaries etc. Holy oil and
water are also available in this depot.
Mass
Schedule
Three
Holy Masses are offered daily in our Basilica;
|
06.00 A.M
|
Holy Mass
|
|
11.15 A.M
|
Holy Mass in Tamil
|
|
05.15 P.M
|
Holy Mass in Tamil
|
On Sundays and Feast Days:
|
06.00 A.M
|
Holy Mass in Tamil
|
|
08.30 A.M
|
Holy Mass in Tamil
|
|
11.15 A.M
|
Holy Mass in Tamil
|
|
12.30 P.M
|
Holy Mass in English
|
|
05.15 P.M
|
Holy Mass in Tamil
|
Festivals
Birthday of Our Holy Mother:
This
hugely popular event draws thousands of devotees to Poondi Madha Shrine. There
is a grand procession with an ornamental chariot. This festival attracts people
from different religions and castes.
Contact
The
Rector, Poondi Madha Basilica,
Poondi, Tirukattupalli
Via,
Thanjavur
– 613105
Phone: 91-4362-280422
Connectivity
The
Poondi Madha Basilica is in Alamelupuram Poondi near Tirukattupalli in
Thanjavur District of Tamilnadu.
By Air:
Nearest
Airport is located at Trichy which is at a distance of 45 kms
By Train:
·
Budhalur
- 18 kms
·
Thanjavur
- 35 kms
·
Trichy -
35 kms
By Road:
Several
State and Private Buses are available from Chennai, Vailankanni, Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Trichy, Kallanai, Lalgudi, Pullambadi and Perambalur.