Like every year, an annual walking pilgrimage begins from Infant Jesus Church at Ulundurpettai to Konankuppam in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, where the famous Roman Catholic church dedicated to Mary – Mother of Jesus, more famously known as Perianayagi Madha Shrine is located.
Also read: Perianayagi Madha Shrine: The Italian Connection
Thousands of people undertake this 15-kilometre walk as a pilgrimage. This year it starts on 5th October 2019 at 2 pm flagged off by Fr. I Ratchagar, and led by Fr. Paurajkumar and Fr. Lenin.
Fr. Thisai Gerry will preside over and con-celebrate the Holy Mass. Fr. Jesu Nazarene will conduct the all-night prayer service. Fr. Devasagayarar, Rector and Fr. Alex Olil Kumar, Assistant Parish Rector of the shine will coordinate the annual pilgrimage to the shrine.
Our Lady of Perianayagi (Mary Major) Shrine at Konankuppam is situated in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry, Cuddalore. in Tamil Nadu This famous church was built in 1720 by an Italian Jesuit missionary called Constantine Joseph Beschi. The specialty of the village shrine is the statue of Mother Mary made is adorned with saree and earrings. Fr. Beschi adopted the native Tamilians’ lifestyle in his life and in his missionary work. For example, he adopted the saffron-coloured robe generally worn by a sannyasi (Indian ascetic). He visited several important centres such as Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur and, of course, Madurai to learn the Tamil language. This gave him mastery over the Tamil language in which he soon showed great proficiency.
No sooner had he arrived in India than he began to study Indian languages such as Sanskrit, Telugu, and especially Tamil. Thanks to this genius and indefatigable effort, he mastered the Tamil grammar in five years, and for the next 20 years made so thorough a study of the whole field of Tamil literature that the native men of letters bowed to him as their master. He wrote many poems and books in Tamil the most famous is Thembavani (The Unfading Garland) – an ornament of poems as sweet as honey, 3615 stanzas long on salvation history and the life of Saint Joseph).
The first church Fr .Beschi erected, was at Konankuppam which he named as Aryanoor near Ulundurpettai. After its completion, Father Beschi proceeded to Mylapoor, and solicited the then bishop of that diocese, to procure for him, from Manila (Philippines), an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the native dress saree and earrings, with the child Jesus in her arms, according to a model he had drawn for that purpose.
The prelate complied with his request, and on its arrival, he performed a devotion of 11 days; and, on the 13th day, placed the image in the church which was dedicated to God in the name of Perianayagi (Mary Major). Thus Fr. Beschi started the inculturation process by adopting the native culture.
Every year the feast is celebrated (14th to 23rd January) during the Pongal season, the harvest festival of the Tamils. The devotees from different parts of Tamil Nadu as well as from other states visit the shrine and pray by offering sarees and Pongal to Mother Mary. Many people come from different parts of the state and southern India for varied favours such as bride or bridegroom, for child, success in business, health, job etc.