23rd February 2019.
We had been to Thiruchennampoondi Sri Kadaimudi
Mahadevar Temple through this Poondi Madha Basilica, two times and thought of
visiting this 18th-century Basilica one day. That day happened on 23rd
February 2019. It was around 19.00 hrs when we visited this Basilica and a mass
was about to finish. So we had the chance to visit the Basilica too.
This Basilica as a Church was built ( 1714 to 1718 CE ) by the great Italian missionary
Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi S.J. popularly known as “Veeramamunivar”. He
came to India and first landed in Goa to preach the teachings of Jesus Christ. Before coming to Poondi
he served at 8 places in Tamil Nadu. After mastering the Tamil Language, he
changed his name to “Thairiyanathaswamy”, since the name was in Sanskrit he
changed to Tamil name “Veeramamunivar. He wrote 23 books, which
includes “Thembavani”, the life history of Jesus’s corporeal father
Joseph. His work “Paramartha
Guru Kadhai”, Tamil Grammar and Dictionary are well appreciated by the scholars.
He was called as
Father of Tamil prose. Fascinated by the Thirukural, he adopted/quoted many
Kurals in his works. Tamilnadu Govt honored him by erecting a life-size Statue
on Chennai Marina Beach.
The Church was named “Mary Queen of Immaculate Conception” when it was constructed. After Veeramamunivar, the church was taken care of by the
French Missionary Fathers ( MEP Fathers )
of the Pastoral Mission in Kumbakonam Diocese. In 1900 CE Fr. Mette
Louis Jules started a Catechetical School at Poondi to train Catechists. By the
divine grace of Madha, Rev. Fr. Lourdes
Xavier rebuilt the dome, which collapsed due to rain. From then onwards many miracles happened at
the Basilica and to the Devotees. In 1999 CE, the church was declared a
Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul –II.
The specialty of
this Church is a small piece of the original cross in which Jesus was crucified is
kept here. This relic will be taken in a procession from Micheal Patty to Poondi Madha
Basilica. This Basilica also has one of
the rarest Madha statues brought to India from Lourdes City France is
kept under worship.
The present Basilica
was constructed in a mixture of Gothic and French architecture. 12 disciples of
Jesus Christ, saints like St. Francis Xavier, and also one of Fr Constantine
Joseph Beschi statues are erected at the portico.
The Complex has a
canteen, a depot / a Shop, which sells articles related to the Christian faith,
A marriage organizing center, a Community hall, a Tonsuring hall, a
Museum which contains the gifts offered by the Devotees in terms of Gold,
Silver, etc., Stay house for the pilgrims, etc.
The annual festival will
be celebrated between May 6th to May 15th with flag hoisting. Madha’s birthday will
also be celebrated in September every year.
Devotees from various parts of Tamil Nadu used to reach this place by
walking all the way from their native places.
MASS TIMINGS:
Mass in Tamil will
be held at 6.00 hrs, 11.15 hrs, and 17.15 hrs during the weekdays, and in addition to this 09.30 hrs mass will be
conducted on 1st and 3rd Saturdays. A Mass in English will be held
at 12.30 hrs on Sundays.
HOW TO REACH:
Poondi is in
Alamelupuram Poondi near Thirukattupalli in Thanjavur District.
Railway stations
Budalur is 18 KM, Thanjavur is 35 KM and Trichy is also 35 KM.
Direct buses are
available from Chennai, Velankanni, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Kallanai
etc,.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The landline number
+91 4362 280422 may be contacted for further details.
---OM SHIVAYA
NAMA---
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