By Robancy A Helen
Cuddalore: Anthony Cardinal Poola the newly appointed Cardinal is the face of the Dalit Christians in India. In the history of the Church in India, it is the first time, a Dalit Archbishop from the Dalit community raised to the honors of a cardinal.
His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Poola was installed on August 27,2022 together with 20 cardinals. The newly ordained cardinal was invited for the bicentennial celebration of the belfry of Our Lady Periyanayagi Shrine, Konankuppam in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu.
The Shrine was built three hundred years ago by the Italian Priest Joseph Constantine Beschi known as Veeramamunivar in Tamil. The Shrine is famously known for its gift of blessing the barren couple with a child.
Hailing from Italy, he was very much interested in inculturation; hence, upon reaching Tamil Nadu, he learnt Tamil, preached all over Tamil Nadu.
The statue of Our Lady of was brought from Manilla, an image of the virgin, in native dress of Tamil Nadu and bearing the child Jesus in her arms, fashioned after a model he had made. (It is in this regard; the devotees offer sarees and ornaments to Our Lady Periyanayagi when they pray to her.) The image eventually arrived and was set up in the Church, where it still is today. He also named Our Lady in Tamil ‘Peiryanayagi Madha’ after the ‘Basilica of Mary Major’ in Rome, Italy.
His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Poola with a festive Eucharistic celebration in the presence of Archbishop Dr. Francis Kalist, of Pondicherry –Cuddalore.
Our Lady is a miraculous lady. Her intercession is so powerful. With faith when it is prayed, she is ready to grant us. She knows about our needs, says the Cardinal during the homily.
The role of Mother Mary the New Eve in the Salvation history was to turn curse into blessing. In true obedience, to bear fruit for the salvation of many people.
Pope Francis asks all of us to pray for peace in the world. When he visited the Church of Mary Maggorie, he requested us to pray for peace in Ukraine.
There is no peace amongst us, divided into many pieces, but Mother Mary is the symbol of peace, unity and obedience. We need to grow with Mother Mary and to live in peace invites the Cardinal.
Let us be united in Eucharist, in Christ and pray for peace and examine ourselves,
Around 1000-1500 pilgrims participated in the annual pilgrim walk from Infant Jesus Church, Ulundurpettai to Our Lady Periyanayagi Shrine, Konankuppam followed by the Holy Mass. in the festive Mass.
To make the inauguration of the bicentennial celebration of the belfry more meaningful, now a replica of the ‘Queen of Peace’ statue kept in the Basilica of Mary Major is placed in the ground floor of belfry, which was blessed and opened by His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Poola on October 1, 2022.
His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Poola, along with the archbishop, was given a motorcade reception from Mangalampettai by the parishioners of Konankuppam. Hence, His Eminence was honoured during the felicitation ceremony held later that day during which he also blessed and opened the ‘selfie wall’ built in the Shrine campus.
Father Devasagayaraj Zackarias, Rector of the Shrine and Father. P. Antony Raj, the Assistant Parish Priest organized the programmes.