By Robancy Amal Helen –
Tuticorin: The Catholic Diocese of Tuticorin celebrated the 440th Feast of Our Lady of Basilica on 5th August 2022 by Bishop Stephen Antony of Tuticorin diocese.
The feast was started with the flag hoisting on 26th July 2022 with the theme Mother Mary the New Relationship in God’s Way.
Marking the centenary celebration of the diocese, next year, the golden car procession will take place for the 16th time of the history of the diocese, the bishop announced officially.
The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Mary Major. This Basilica is one of the four Roman Basilicas known as Patriarchal Cathedrals.
St. Mary Major, representing the See of Antioch is the largest Church in Christendom honouring God through Mary. Legend has its that the magnificent Basilica was the result of a wealthy Roman couple, who being childless, wanted to pledge their entire fortune to the Mother of God.
Her approval of their vow was indicated by a sudden midsummer snowfall on the night of 4 August 355 and in an apparition to instructing them to build a Church at the spot.
Father Joseph Beschi, the Italian Jesuit priest who is known as Veeramamunivar in India brought a statue of Mother Mary from Manila and named her Our Lady of Periyanayagi which means St. Mary Major.
This is how our Lady is venerated by people of all cultures bringing everyone under the same umbrella of faith.
Our Lady of Snows is the Patroness of Seven Coastal Villages and her Statue was brought on June 9, 1555 from abroad by Saint Xavier known as the God Father of Fishery Coast 450 years ago and given to the people of the Fisher folks. It was installed in the year 1582.
During the British and Mughal invasions, many lives were sacrificed to protect the statue of Our Lady of Snow who is also known as Santa Maria Dasnavis
In 1532 – 1537 The Mass Conversion of the Paravars of Pearl Fishery Coast to Christianity. 1538 The first Parish St. Peter’s church was constructed with Father. Peter Gonsalvez as the first Parish Priest.
The Town of Thoothukudi and the surrounding villages were saved miraculously by our Mother Mary from the heavy thunder bolt on April 4, 1707. A new church was consecrated to our Lady of Snows (as it was called later) by Fr. Vigilius Mansi S.J.in 1713
The first Golden Car procession came in the streets of Tuticorin city on 2 February 1806. It was under the control of Madras – Mylapore diocese.
Thoothukudi diocese which was formed earlier in 1923. The church of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi gets accredited to Mary Major Basilica by Pope John XXIII due to the efforts of Rt. Rev.Bishop Thomas Fernando & Parish Priest, Rev.Fr.S.M. Dalmaida on August 5 1960
The Shrine of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi, was raised to the Status of Minor Basilica July 30, 1982 by Pope John Paul II due to the efforts of Bishop Amalanathar
The Jubilee year 2000 marked the 13th Golden Car Procession of Our Lady of Snows. The Indian Postal Stamp with our Basilica was released on 25th December 2007
Rev. Fr. Antony Soosainathar CR, the Second Parish Priest of the Shrine Basilica (1932-1938, was declared Servant of God on 13, January 2015
Dr. K. Senthil Raj, the District Collector of Thoothukudi District announced the feast day a public holiday. Devotees from in and around the city come and venerate Our Lady of Snow.