Our Lady of Snows, Kallikulam, Thoothukudi
The Church
of Our Lady of Snow is a Roman Catholic Marian church in Kallikulam, Thoothukudi district, Tamilnadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centres in India dedicated to the Blessed
Virgin Mary. This Church has tallest
tower Among Churches in India with very good engineering structure. This church
is maintained by Nadar community of Kalli Kulam. In recent times it became
popular because of vision and apparition of Mother Mary. Locally, Our Lady of
Snow is known as Panimatha. Panimatha is a TA.Mil word. In TA.Mil 'Pani (பனி)' means 'Snow' and 'Matha (மாதா)' means 'Mother'.
Every
year, the annual feast of Our Lady of Snow is celebrated from 27 July to 5
August. The feast starts with a flag hoisting ceremony on 27 July in the
evening. But surprisingly, along with Christians also other people worship in
this church. A flag with Our Lady of Snow's image is raised up the flagpole
situated just opposite to the church. On the 7th day of the feast, in the
morning, a special mass is conducted on the Apparition Hill.
On the
9th day, at night, a car procession is conducted. Three very large cars
participate in the procession. Our Lady of Snow's statue is placed in a Car and
taken through the village streets. On the 10th day of the feast, at 6.00 A.M,
the car procession comes to an end and the cars are parked near the church for
worship. Then a celebratory mass honoring Our Lady of Snow is conducted. The
feast comes to end with the evening novena on the 10th day.
History
People
inhabited Kallikulam as early as 1700 AD. In 1770 AD, a thatched church was built
in the name of Holy Mary by village people. In 1884, Kallikulam villagers
and Jesuit Missionaries decided to build a new church at Kallikulam
for Mother Mary. In 1886, a church was constructed in that place and consecrated to Our Lady of Snow. People inhabited Kallikulam
as early as 1700. They built a small temple to a Hindu deity for worship. The
village leader performed religious service in that temple.
Sometime
after, a lady with a child in her arm frequently came in the dream of village
leader and asked a particular portion of land at Kallikulam. That time Kallikulam
village people were legally fighting for ownership of Kallikulam village land
in the district court. That woman again came in the dream of village leader and
assured her blessing to win their legal battle. On the next day, village leader
and the people got final judgment in favour of them. So they decided to honor
that lady. With help of a European Roman Catholic priest they came to know that
that lady was Mary.
On 1770
AD, a thatched church was built in the name of Holy Mary by village people.
Jesuits helped them to convert into Christianity and formed small Christian community.
As catholic population increased, that church was enlarged, by Fathers Martin
and Mossette on 1838.
On 1884,
villagers and Jesuits decided to build a new church at Kallikulam for Our Lady.
They were undecided about the size and location of the church. They prayed to
Our Lady and requested her intercession to choose the location and size of
church. At that time, on a hot summer morning, they found a piece of land wet
with morning dew. They wondered about that unusual thing, and believed that that
was a miraculous intercession of Our Lady to mark the location of proposed
church.
On 5th
September 1884, Rev.Father Cousanal laid foundation for new church. With
donation and hard workmanship of people, church main building work was
completed on 1886 and consecrated to Our Lady of Snows. The church tower work
was started on 1941 and completed on 1942.
On 29th
March 1939, evening around 6.30 P.M, Mary appeared on a hill near to the
church. She appeared in the middle of bright white light. Six young people (Gnana
Athikkam, S.P. John, M.G. Thomas, D. Thasan, R. Thasan, and M.A. Thasan) saw
that apparition and informed that to parish priest Rev. Father Marianoos and
the village people. Rev. Father Marianoos and the people were uncertain about
that apparition and decided to request Mary to confirm that apparition. They
prayed to Mary and requested to confirm that apparition by a natural sign. The
next day, on that hot summer season, the arid zone Kallikulam got an unusual
heavy rain after thirteen years.
Since then,
thousands of people of all faiths, from all over India, have visited Kallikulam
and have left spiritually strengthened and renewed. Countless unbelievers and
physically or mentally afflicted, have been converted and healed. Not only do
multitudes of Catholic travel there throughout the year but many non-Christians
visit as well. Hundreds of miraculous cures are reported every year. Our Lady
of Snows devotions down through the centuries have proved the place to be of
divine origin.
The
Church
The
church architecture is based on Roman architecture. It has three towers, one
main tower and two sub towers. The main tower height is 160 feet and sub tower
height is 68 feet. The church building height is 55 feet. The total length of
church is 151 feet and width is 56 feet. The main tower has internal spiral
steps for 143 feet. The main statue of “Our lady of Snows” and church bell were
brought from France.
Apparition
An oral
tradition in Tamil Nadu states that on 29 March 1939 around 6.30 P.M, six young
people claim that they saw the Mother Mary appear on a hill near to the Church.
People from different part of India visit Apparition hill on first Saturday of
every month.
The
Apparition Hill
From the
time of Adam, God has spoken to his saints and prophets through visions, dreams,
and inner voices. Miraculous events are common in the worlds of the Old and New
Testaments, and the lives of the saints are marked by supernatural intervention.
The last century-and-a-half has seen numerous accounts of appearances of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Jesus, Himself, is said to speak to a few of the seers.
Some of the apparitions have received official approval by the Roman Catholic
Church.
On 29th
March 1939, evening around 6.30 P.M, Mary appeared on a hill near to the church
at Kallikulam. She appeared in the middle of bright white light. Veiled in
white, she stood towards the church and worshipped with folded hands. A water
fall was falling down from her feet. Six young people (Gnana Athikkam,
S.P.John, M.G.Thomas, D.Thasan, R.Thasan, and M.A.Thasan) saw that apparition.
They saw
that apparition for few seconds and after that it disappeared. Next day morning
they went to the apparition hill and found a pair of human foot print on the
rock at the apparition site. They marked the foot print and informed that
apparition to parish priest Rev. Father Marianoos, school head master Laxmana
Iyer and the village people. Rev. Father Marianoos and the people did not believe
them initially.
The head
master told that he would believe that apparition only if he saw a real
waterfall from the hill. It was a drought time and for 13 years there was no
rain in the arid zone Kallikulam. On that day after noon, around 3 P.M there was
a heavy rainfall for one and half an hour, in and around of Kallikulam. A
waterfall formed on the hill top at the apparition site. After that natural
sign, they believed that apparition, and setup a Pandal (temporary structure)
with coconut leaves on the apparition site. A stone cross is placed on the
apparition site.
Every
night a Hurricane lamp was lit up at that place. One day the Hurricane lamp
fell down and rolled over the hill and reached down the hill foot. There people
found the Hurricane lamp straight and lit without any damage. After some time,
a young boy from Singamparai village came to the hill to get cured from his
disability. All his hand fingers were folded and he was not able to do any
work. One day he poured oil on the foot print at the apparition site and rubbed
it with his palm and fingers. At once his fingers were unfolded. He was very
happy and with great gratitude he told that miracle to village people and
showed his fingers.
On 1940,
construction of steps to apparition site was started. That time Rs. 2.5 was the
labour charge to carve a step on the Apparition hill. So many people sent money
to build steps to the Apparition site by Money Order. It was during the World
War II. Most of the Money orders came from military people. From that donation
and other offerings the village people built steps and side support pillars to
the Apparition site on the hill.
On 1941,
Tuticorin bishop Roch Victoria came to this hill and blessed it and laid a
commemorative plaque. One Grotto was constructed on the hill in the
commemoration of Our Lady's apparition. Since then, people from the parish and
from the surrounding areas gathering there every Saturday. Every Saturday
evening prayer service is conducted here. Every year, a ten day annual feast is
celebrated here. The celebration starts with the flag hoisting ceremony. During
feast, morning mass and evening novenas are conducted.
The
seventh day of annual feast of Our Lady of Snows Kallikulam is celebrated here
with morning celebrity mass. On Good Friday, after Stations of the Cross prayer
service, Holy Communion service is celebrated here. People from different part
of India visit Apparition hill on first Saturday of every month.
Annual
Fair
Every
year, the annual feast of Our Lady of Snows Kallikulam is celebrated between
27th July to 5th August in a colourful and jubilant atmosphere. This ten days
feast is very popular in this area. Thousands of people converged on the
grounds of the Our Lady of Snows Kallikulam church during the feast.
The
feast commences with flag hoisting ceremony on 27th July, evening. A flag with
Our Lady of Snows image is hoisted in a flag post situated just opposite to the
church. This is followed by Rosary, Novena Prayers, Litany, Sermon and
Benediction. During the feast days morning two special masses and evening
Rosary, Novena Prayers, Litany, Sermon and Benediction are conducted.
On 7th
day of the feast, morning a holy mass is conducted on the Apparition Hill in
commemoration of Mary's apparition on the hill. On 8th day of the feast a grand
mass is conducted in the morning by Bishop. In that mass children take Holy
Communion for the first time. In the evening Eucharistic procession and solemn
festive vesper and benediction is conducted.
On 9th
day of the feast, evening a grand vespers is conducted by Bishop. After that
around 12.00 A.M a midnight mass is conducted. That is followed by an
illuminated car procession. Three massive cars participate in the procession.
Our Lady of Snows' statue is placed in the main car and taken through the
village streets by the devotees in a colourful procession singing hymns and
reciting prayers. Thousands of people participate in this procession and pray
to Our Lady of Snows. It lasts for six hours.
On 10th
day of the feast morning 6.00 A.M the car procession comes to an end and the
cars are parked near the church for worship. The feast will culminate with
solemn festive High Mass celebration. During the feast tens of thousands from
all faiths visit the shrine. They pray to Our Lady of Snows for thanks giving
or requesting of favors.
The
entire area is decorated with festoons and colorful lights. The shrine looks
more spectacular due to the decorations and assembly of people from all walks
of life. Silver plates, shaped like human parts are sold in the church stall.
The sick and suffering, choose one that corresponds to their ailment and donate
it to Our Lady of Snows with the pious hope that Our Lady of Snows will cure
their ailment. Various sports events, cultural programs and entertainment programs
are organized as part of the feast.
Regular
Schedule
Every
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday: - First Mass in the morning at 5.30 A.M
and Second Mass in the evening at 6.30 P.M in our Lady of Snows Church. Every
Tuesday: - First Mass in the morning at 5.30 A.M in St.Antony's Church and
Second Mass in the evening at 6.30 P.M in our Lady of Snows Church. Every Friday:
- First Mass in the morning at 5.30 A.M in St. Michael’s Church and Second Mass
in the evening at 6.30 P.M in our Lady of Snows Church. Every Sunday: - First
Mass 5.00 A.M & Second Mass 7.00 A.M and Benediction evening at 6.30 P.M in
our Lady of Snows Church. Every month last Tuesday there will be a Mass in the
evening at 6.30 P.M in St.Antony's Church in Siluvai Patti.
Schedule
for the month of May
Every
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday:- Only one Mass in the morning at 5.30
A.M & Benediction in the evening at 6.30 P.M in Our Lady of Snows Church.
Every Tuesday:- First Mass in the morning at 5.15 A.M in St.Antony's Church and
Second Mass again in the morning at 5.45 A.M in our Lady of Snows Church. And
Benediction evening at 6.30 P.M in our Lady of Snows Church. Every Friday :-
First Mass in the morning at 5.15 A.M in St. Michael’s Church and Second Mass
again in the morning at 5.45 A.M in our Lady of Snows Church. And Benediction
evening at 6.30 P.M in our Lady of Snows Church. Every Sunday: - First Mass
5.00 A.M & Second Mass 7.00 A.M and Benediction evening at 6.30 P.M in our
Lady of Snows Church.
Schedule
for First Saturday of the Month
Every
first Saturday of the month, evening at 6.30 P.M a grand Mass is celebrated in
Our Lady of Snows Church. Thousands of people from Tamilnadu and Kerala
participate in that mass. After the Mass fellowship meal is served.
Contact
Our Lady
of Snow Church,
Kallikulam,
Thoothukudi District,
Tamilnadu,
India – 627113.
Phone: 04637 235161.