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
Father Nathan St Gabriel | November 3, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | November 05, 2019 A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. Last Sunday right after the weekend Mass a parishioner came to me and thanked me for bringing the parish together. I felt happy about that, but at...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 27, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 27, 2019A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. THE EUCHARIST – SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF ECCLESIAL LIFE The Catechism of the Catholic Church beautifully explains the holiness and sacredness of the Holy...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 20, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 13, 2019A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. “This missionary mandate touches us personally: I am a mission, always; you are a mission, always; every baptized man and woman is a mission… — Pope...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 13, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 13, 2019 A Message from Father Nathan My dearest people who are close to my heart. Do something beautiful for God. Do it with your life. Do it every day. Do it in you own way , but do it!” –St. Theresa of Calcutta One of the...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 06, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | October 06, 2019A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. October – the month of the Rosary! Of all the prayers, the Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest in grace; it is the one most pleasing...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | September 29, 2019
Father Nathan St Gabriel | September 29, 2019A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart. During the Mass right before the priest shows the LAMB OF GOD saying “BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD” the celebrant bends...