Annual Feast of Our Lady of Velankanni, Kalmady to be held on August 15
Udupi: The annual feast of Our Lady of Velankanni will be celebrated at the Stella Maris Church, Kalmady here on August 15.
Addressing the meidapersons at the Press Club Udupi on Saturday, August 3, Fr Alban D’Souza the parish priest of Stella Maris Church said that the nine-day novena service for the preparation of the feast will be held from August 6 to 14. Each day of the novena is dedicated with intentions and themes.
The flag of Our Lady of Vailankanni will be hoisted on the newly inaugurated column of honour beside the Church on 6th August 2019 to mark the beginning of the 9 days novena. Rev. Dr Ronald Serrao, Rector of St Joseph Seminary, Mangalore will be the Main Celebrant for the Holy Eucharist.
With immense gratitude to Almighty God the Annual Feast of Our Lady Of Vailankanni will be celebrated on Thursday, 15 August 2019 with the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at 4:00 pm. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi will preside over the Holy Eucharist.
On Wednesday, 14 August 2019 the Car Procession of Our Lady Of Vailankanni will be Flagged off by Ivan Dsouza, MLC & Former Parliamentary Secretary at 2:45 pm from Adi Udupi Junction. Thereafter the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at 4:00 pm will be presided by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore.
Stella Maris church devoted to Our Lady of Vailankani at Kalmady attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world. Devotees and parishioners have recorded testimonies of miracles and special favours by Our Lady of Vailankani. We have strong witnesses that there have been miracles taking place in this place. A large number of devotees from all castes and religions visit this place every day and seek God’s blessings.
Inspired by the Noah’s Ark, Stella Maris Church in Kalmady, Udupi is built in the shape of a boat and also has a bell tower in the shape of a lighthouse. The 1st of its shape in KARNATAKA, 2nd in INDIA and 3rd in ASIA.
Stella Maris means the star of the Sea and this name suits beautifully to this Church. Stella Maris Church is situated on the coastal banks of the Arabian Sea. It is very close to the Malpe natural harbor in Udupi district, Karnataka, India.
Stella Maris Church of Kalmady being a great pilgrim center, like the morning star guides the devotees of Jesus and Mother Mary to give up their sinful life and to follow the path of prayers truthfulness, nobility, love and sacrifice and to walk on the footsteps of Jesus. So it helps the sinners to give up there evil ways, bad habits and helps them to come out of it and lead a good life.
Kalmady being a small village was totally unknown to the outside people. But now because of Stella Maris Church and the lady of Velankanni Shrine, it has become a great pilgrim Centre. Today Kalmady has marked its own boundary in the world map. People from all over the world come to this Church seeking favours from our lady of Velankanni and when they receive favors they come again with the gratitude to give thanks. So the place Kalmady which is chosen by God himself has become a place of miracles and devotion and has brought communal harmony and brotherhood here.
Before 1972 there was no church in Kalmady. People of Kalmady had to go to Udupi Mother of Sorrows Church or St. Anne Church, Tottam for their religious need. Thereafter a small Chapel was built by Fr Charles D’Souza, the founder of Stella Maris Church Kalmady being a native of Kalmady. This Chapel was blessed by Bishop Basil D’Souza on 5th February 1972.
It was on 15th of August 1988 the Statue of Our Lady of Velankanni donated by father Wilson D’Souza was brought from Velankanni to be installed at the Kalmady Church. On August 15, 1988, it was blessed in Mother of Sorrows Church Udupi and was brought to Kalmady in a grand procession and was installed here by Bishop Basil D’Souza. Since then it has become a great shrine and pilgrim center.
Thereafter every year the feast of installation of Our Lady of Vailankanni statue at Kalmady is celebrated on 15 August. On August 14 Our Lady of Vailankanni car procession is held to commemorate the procession.
The new Church was inaugurated on 6th January 2018 during the tenure of Fr Alban Dsouza.