Pics: Lionel Pereira
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Oct 22: It was a historical day for Kalmady parishioners on Sunday October 21. A miraculous incident took place at the Velankanni Shrine here in Kalmady. A non-Christian devotee handed over a statue of Our Lady of Velankanni to the shrine which was in his house for more than a year.
Umesh, a resident of Kidiyoor village, works as a real estate agent. He had sold a one acre plot to a Mumbai based businessman named Paul long back in Kadike. The plot was near to the seashore and was continuously hit by sea erosion. Paul established a statue of Our Lady of Velankanni and all his difficulties solved. He used to celebrate every Christmas in his resort in Kadike and worship Our Lady of Velankanni. Later, he sold the land to a non-Catholic. At this point, the statue of Our Lady of Velankanni was given to another friend of Umesh. Umesh himself had delivered that statue to his Christian friend’s home.
“After six months, I was eager to see the statue which I was given to my Christian friend in Udupi. When I saw the statue lying in a corner of his home, I was hurt. I decided to take the statue. I was a great devotee of Our Lady of Velankanni since my childhood. I brought the statue to my home. My own mother also supported me in this,” says Umesh.
“Many miracles have happened through Our Lady of Velankanni in my life. My friend who was in coma for several days had become normal after I wholeheartedly prayed to Our Lady of Velankanni. I had prayed for the successful delivery of one of my friend’s wife. Our Lady of Velankanni has showered all her blessings on me and my family. From the past one and half year, the statue was in my house and no one knew about it except my family members,” he adds.
Fr Alban D’souza, parish priest of Kalmady church, blessed the statue and installed it inside the church. On the occasion he said, “Let Our Lady of Velankanni continue to shower her blessings on Umesh’s family and friends. Let our relationship continue all our lives. This statue of Our Lady of Velankanni will be worshipped with great respect in our church and every year during the annual feast it will be taken in procession.”
The shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni here in Kalmady is world famous. Many miracles have happened in this shrine. Recently, the new church building was constructed.
The statue was brought in procession from Umesh’s house in Kidiyoor to Kalmady Church. A large of devotees took part in the proceedings.
Sanjay Andrade, pastoral council vice-president Br Pradeep and Fr Praveen Monteiro were present during the ceremony.