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| Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi | |
|---|---|
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 Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi | |
| 8°47′58″N78°09′23″E / 8.799444°N 78.156389°E /8.799444; 78.156389 | |
| Location | Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | www.snowsbasilica.com |
| History | |
| Status | Basilica |
| Founded | 16th century |
| Dedication | St. Mary |
| Past bishop | Rev.Dr. Yvone Amburose |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Portuguese |
| Style | Portuguese |
| Administration | |
| District | Tuticorin |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai |
| Diocese | Tuticorin |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop | Most. Rev. Dr.Stephen Anthony. |
| Rector | Rev. Dr. Starwin T. |
| Assistant priest | Rev. Fr. Balan Prashath F. |
Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Tuticorin, is aminor basilica located atTuticorin. It is one of the Catholicpilgrimage centers in India dedicated to theOur Lady of Snows, a title given toMother Mary. Even to this day, the Coastal People fondly call herSanta Maria Das Nevis(Senhora, Das Nevis), which meansOur Lady of Snows in Portuguese. Theshrine name refers to theBasilica di Santa Maria Maggiore inRome. The site is known for Portuguese architecture and Portuguese prayers and now it is recognised as a Tamil Nadu notable pilgrim site.
In 1538, St. Peter's church, the first parish was constructed with Fr. Peter Gonsalvez as the first Parish Priest. On 9 June 1555, the Miraculous statue of Mother Mary arrived Tuticorin through the ship named Santa Helena. In 1658, When the ProtestantDutch rule began in the Pearl Fishery Coast,[1] the feast of Our Lady of Snows was banned, the Catholic Churches were taken away and made warehouses and celebrating the Holy Mass was prohibited. The Dutch tried all the ways possible to convert theParavars to their own faith but all their attempts failed as the Paravars were firm in their Catholic faith. The Paravars shifted the statue to different places to protect it. On 4 April 1704, Tuticorin and the surrounding villages were saved miraculously by Mother Mary from the heavy thunder bolt.[2][3]In the year 1713, a new church was built and consecrated in Tuticorin, which would become the Basilica of Our Lady of Snows.[4]
The first of the notable golden festivals that take place at the church began in 1720, when Paravar elites ordered the construction of a golden car to house the Mother Mary statue and a ten-day festival. That car was used until 1806, followed by the construction of the car that is still used today.[5]
On 30 July 1982,Pope John Paul II elevated the building to the status of a minor basilica in anapostolic letter entitledPervenusta Illa.[6]
Servant of God Rev Fr.Antony Soosainather
