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Located on the Bay of Bengal, lakhs of devotees visit the Church of Velankanni aka 'Vailankanni', Mother each year. Daily, Holy Mass is celebrated in all South Indian languages, Hindi and English.
Priests of the Parish
Rector : Rev.Fr.A.M.A.Prabakar
Vice-Rector & Parish priest: Fr. Susaimanickam S.A
Procurator : Fr.Yagappa Rajarathinam
Administrator of pilgrim Quarters: Fr. A. Anto Jesuraj
House Minister : Fr. M. Arokia Stephan Raj
Office Administrator : Fr. D. David Dhanaraj
Assistant parish priest : Fr. J. Vital Prasath
Counselor Confessor : Fr. Jesu Dasan S.F.X (Konkani)
Counselor Confessor : Fr. Ponsontoppo (Hindi)
Counselor Confessor : Fr. L. Pradeep (Telugu)
Counselor Confessor : Fr. A. Susai Arul (Tamil)
Counselor Confessor : Fr. Paul Vechoor SSP (Malayalam)
Counselor Confessor : Fr. Michael Arockia Nathan (Tamil)
Counselor Confessor : Fr. M.C. Michael (English)
Administrator of department : FR. Arone
History of Velankanni Church
In 1560, the first miracle was seen by a Hindu shepherd boy. When the milk seller shepherd boy was resting under a tree near a pond, a woman appeared and asked him some milk for her son to drink. The boy gave milk from his jar without any hesitation. When he arrived at the regular milk vending places, the boy explained what had happened he in anticipation apologised to the regular buyers for not providing enough milk. When the vessel was opened to their amazement, the vessel had, in fact, more milk than usual. Immediately the householder along with the boy started to the place where the boy had seen the mother and kid. The mother again appeared to them again as they arrived here. The Christian believers in the area gathered there and the pool near the tree where the shepherd rested was named 'Mathakulam'.
Years later, Mother appeared to a young man with weak legs selling buttermilk. The mother asked the boy to give some buttermilk to the boy in her hand. He cheerfully acknowledged her. Her mother asked him to inform this to a wealthy Catholic brother living near Nagapattinam. As he was trying to get up, the boy realised that the weakness of his legs had gone away and he was able to walk without difficulty. The previous day, the Mother had appeared to that person in Nagapattinam and asked him to build a chapel. When the boy informed him about the Mother's request, together they came to the place where the Mother had appeared and built a chapel. This is the present 'Arogyamatha Chapel'.
In the seventeenth century, a Portuguese sailing from China to Srilanka for trade was caught in a sea storm. The sailors on the ship were scared. When the ship was in drowning, they vowed to build a shrine for Mother Mary, at that place where they could harbour safe. Following the constant prayer, they safely reached on the banks at Velankanni. The villagers understood their intentions and brought them to that little chapel that was built. On their way back, they rebuilt that little chapel to a church.
It was consecrated on the day of The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8th September. Later it became a custom for the sailors passing by, to pray at this church.
Velankanni, Location, rites and feasts
Velankanni is located at a distance of 350 km from Chennai and 12 km from Nagapattinam. In 1962, became a parish in 1771. In 1962, the Pope John XXIII elevated the church to a Basilica. The Basilica come under the Thanjavur diocese. It is built on the Gothic style. The main feast is celebrated every year from 29th of August to 8th September which is the feast day of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mass is celebrated in Tamil, Malayalam, English, Kannada, Telugu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi from 5 AM to 9 PM.
Velankanni village had many Hindus living nearby and some rites and practices in Hinduism came to be part of this pilgrim centre. Some of them are body cleansing by bathing in the sea, swim on knees, Shayana pradhakshinam around the church etc. Another belief is that of presenting candles made in the shape of body organs for the healing of various diseases related to that organ.
Important places within the Basilica Premises
Within the church premises, apart from the Basilica, the faithful visit, Our Lady of Tank Church, St. Sebastian's Church, Our Lady of Dollar's Church, Morning Star Church, Nadithittu Church, Arogyamatha Church, Perpetual Adoration Centre, Museum, Way of the Cross, Rosary Stations, Holy Path, Seven Sacraments, Institute of Mariology, Mathakulam, Retreat Centre and Karuna illam. More number of people visit from August 29 to December 8, which is the feast of Immaculate Conception.
How to reach Velankanni Church
The closest airport to Velankanni is Trichy International Airport. Travelling time from Trichy airport to Velankanni is about four hours. The Velankanni railway station is close to the church. Velankanni Railway Station is the nearest railhead to Nagapattinam to Velankanni by road takes 40 minutes. Apart from Government bus services from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, many private bus services are also available from the above-mentioned states.
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