By Sr Benigna Menezes, MSI
Vijayawada, Feb 11: Millions of people attended the three day festival of Our Lady of Lourdes of Gunadala Shrine started 100 years ago by the PIME missionaries in Vijayawada from February 9-11. Nearly 25 acres of bushy, hilly and barren land bought 100 years ago was filled to the capacity as they people participated in the Holy Eucharistic Thanksgiving Mass in the Bishop Grassi school grounds on February 11 marking the 100 years of the establishment of the spiritual centre in the outskirts of the city.
The Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Most Rev. Leopoldo Girelli who with eleven other bishops of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and over two hundred priests officiated the Holy Mass and blessed the gathering with the Papal Blessing. He equated the Telugu land to the Garden of Eden and suggested that Adam and Eve, the first parents of the human race must have been of Telugu descent as he smilingly appreciated the rich biodiversity of Andhra Pradesh and valued the legendary hard working farmers who produce the fruits of the land in abundance being the hands in the map of India.
The Papal delegate also shared the message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis for the World Day of the Sick. Because of the sin of humanity the people have no relationship with each other and the nature. The healing that comes from the Church is both external to the body and also to the internal suffering of the human mind and conscience. It is necessary to heal all the areas of relationships to oneself, to others in the family, in the nation and internationally and also with the creation to be truly peaceful and live a happy life, he stated quoting the Holy Father’s message to the world Day of the sick.
Musician Bishop Thelegathoti Raja Rao, SMM the local ordinary of the diocese of Vijayawada since six years welcomed the guests and profusely thanked the PIME missionaries who had blessed the land with their faith and hard work sacrificing their entire lives for the growth of the local church. The diocese will always call them as their Fathers of Faith and keep their memory alive through their zeal and pastoral assistance to the people, the prelate promised. He honored the Superior General of the PIME Society, Rev. Fr. Ferruccio Brambilasca and others with Shawls and garlands and mementos of the 100th anniversary of the shrine. A new building was inaugurated to the memory of the PIME Missionaries on this occasion, said the Bishop.
The nine days novena prayers in preparation of the feast was held as every Parish of the diocese participated in turns climbing the hill to the grotto where the statue of Our Lady has been placed since 100 years in a niche and attending the Holy Mass and adoration in a candle light procession for nine consecutive days. The three day festival, 9-11, February saw different bishops and jubilarian priests presiding over the morning masses and exhorting the people to thank the Lord for his healing graces and blessings. Thousands of people remained in the centre with their families for three consecutive days witnessing the Holy Rituals and prayers and also cultural activities held in the evenings. Charismatic healing prayers from different groups were also held for the sick and the suffering.
All Liturgical celebrations were well organized and the music and singing was rich in quality and pleasing to the ears said a devotee. Many felt that the celebrations were well organized and thousands received the healings of both body and mind through the healing coming from the intercession of Mary who appeared in Lourdes as a source of alleviation of human suffering.
Our Lady of Lourdes appeared in the city of Lourdes in France in February 11, 1858 as an affirmation to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception proclaimed by the Holy Father Pope Pius IX who was the Founder of the PIME Society of Italian Missions.