A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people closest to my heart!
God bless you and your generous heart.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, also known as Sanctuary of Our Lady of Velankanni
Special Parish Mass & Celebration Sept 8.
4 PM Pass, followed by a Marian Procession and Rosary.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, also known as Sanctuary of Our Lady of Velankanni is a Christian shrine located at the town of Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, India. The shrine is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
3 Miracles Occurred at this site
The devotion has existed since the mid-sixteenth century. It is attributed to three separate events which occurred at the site: The apparition of the Madonna and Child to a slumbering shepherd boy, the miraculous healing of a handicapped buttermilk vendor and the rescue of Portuguese sailors from a deadly sea storm.
Initially, a modest chapel was built by the Portuguese from Goa and Bombay, soon after they washed ashore safely in spite of a severe tempest. An annual novena is celebrated and draws nearly 5 million pilgrims each year.
“ Lourdes of the East”
Pope John XXIII raised the Marian shrine to the status of a minor basilica via the pontifical decree Salutem Supplicibus Dilargiens, signed and notarized on November 3, 1962. He called the shrine “ Lourdes of the East” due to the massive influx of pilgrims. The shrine is located in my home state and our Blessed Mother attracts people of all faiths.
Annually 20 million pilgrims flock to the shrine from all over India and abroad, out of which an estimated 3 million people visit the shrine during its annual festival from August 29th to September 8th. People from India have such a great love and devotion to our Blessed Mother.
Parish Celebration
On Sunday, the 8th of September we are going to have a special Mass here at St. Gabriel for people at 4:00 p.m. in our vernacular language, and following the Mass we will be carrying our decorated statue of our Blessed Mother around the church, reciting the rosaries and praising our Blessed Mother. We are going to pray the rosary around the church, we will pray for those who are sick, that our Blessed Mother heals them all.
May God bless you all.
Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,
— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan
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Past Messages from Father Nathan
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 2, 2026
A Tribute to my Mother
She loved God, the Church, and her priests.
“The greatest gift God can give to a family is a priestly or religious vocation. A vocation born in a family is God’s blessing to that family, a joy to the parish, and a grace to the whole community.” The quote above is often attributed to St. John Bosco, and I have always felt it speaks the truth about my own family.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 26, 2026
The Gift of Time and Prayer.
If the secular world cannot come to Christ in prayer, why don’t we bring them to Christ through our prayers? They are weary and burdened, and they, too, need to find rest in Christ Jesus. Prayer honors God. It acknowledges His presence and His greatness. It exalts His power, trusts in His providence, seeks His help, and, above all, makes us humble.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 19, 2026
The Eucharist: The Center of Our Lives. My dearest people, closest to my heart,
As a second and third grader, I would sometimes go to church at 3:00 a.m. and sleep on the church steps until it was time to open the doors. That was simply part of my routine. I wanted to be an altar server…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 05, 2026
Discover the meaning of the Holy Mass, why it is the heart of Catholic worship, and the many intentions for which a Mass may be offered.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | June 28, 2026
God Bless America! 🇺🇸
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” — Psalm 33:12
As we celebrate 250 years of American freedom, let us give thanks to Almighty God for the many blessings bestowed upon this great nation.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | May 10, 2026
We are planning many events for our Jubilee Year. I encourage each of you to take part in these activities. Get Involved Volunteer. I will be in India next weekend.