Pope Francis elevates Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar to Minor Basilica
Shivamogga: The Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar has been elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Francis through the sacred congregation for the divine worship and discipline of sacraments, Vatican, Rome said Dr Francis Serrao, Bishop of Shivamogga Diocese.
The Bishop was speaking at a press meet held at the Shrine premises on Saturday, October 5. Harihar is a small town located in the heart of Karnataka, the Taluk Headquarters in the District of Davangere. It has a beautiful Shrine where the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Health has been venerated for centuries. On 18th September 2019, the Vatican raised the Shrine to the status of a Minor Basilica. It is indeed good news for the whole State of Karnataka. Only two Shrines in Karnataka have received the status of Minor Basilica to date. They are St. Mary’s Minor Basilica in the Archdiocese of Bangalore and St. Lawrence Minor Basilica in the Diocese of Udupi. Now, the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar is added to this illustrious list.
Bishop Dr Francis Serrao, SJ, Rev. Dr Anthony Peter the Parish priest of Our Lady of Health Shrine, Harihar and his team of priests and lay leaders of the shrine committee had helped in the documentation work.
The celebration of this milestone will be held on 15 January 2020. The planning for the event is done by Dr Francis Serrao, SJ, the Bishop of Shivamogga, along with Rev. Dr Anthony Peter the Parish priest of Harihar, the priests of the Diocese, the Religious and the lay faithful. The Ecclesiastical and Political dignitaries will share the dais on that day, he said.