Konankuppam: In a significant event to mark the 300th year of the construction of the Our Lady Periyanayagi Shrine at Konankuppam, a new altar and a perpetual lamp (Anaya vilakku) was lit on 8th September 2021.
History tells us that an Italian constructed the church in the year 1720. An Italian Jesuit missionary Fr. Constantine Beschi who is also called as Veeramamunivar (Father of Tamil prose), the Church is located in Konankuppam, Mangalampettai, Cuddalore District in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
In 2020, Most Rev. Anandarayar, the former Archbishop of Pondicherry, declared Konankuppam as the diocesan shrine.
This year the shrine celebrates the completion of 300 years of this famous monument. To mark the event, a new altar was dedicated to Our Lady Periyanayagi with the help of donation of the devotees. Rev. Fr. Amirthasamy, the Vicar General of Kumbakonam diocese, presided over the Mass. Rev. Dr. Thisai Gerry spoke about the importance of Mother Mary in the faithful’s lives.
An ‘Anaya vilakku’ (perpetual lamp) was lit to mark the 300th year of the construction of the Church. Since many people from different places, countries, cultures and religion come to the shrine to worship Our Lady Periyanayagi, Fr Joseph Constantine Beschi (Veeramamunivar) in his time itself emphasized the Inculturation. So as a sign of inculturation, an ‘Anaya vilakku’ (perpetual lamp) was installed in the shrine. Three women from three different faiths namely Hindu, Muslim and Christian lit the lamp together.
Earlier Rev. Dr. Cosmon Arockiaraj spoke about inculturation in the Church. Rev. Fr. Pichaimuthu Muthu Sithar explained the importance and meaning of the perpetual lamp. Besides, the devotees every day one family each will pour oil into the lamp.
Rev. Fr. Devasagayaraj the parish priest and Rev. Fr. P. Antony raj the assistant parish priest coordinated the event.