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Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi

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For other uses, see Saint Mary of the Snow (disambiguation).

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi, is a minor basilica located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centers in India dedicated to the Our Lady of Snows, a title given to Mother Mary. Even to this day, the Coastal People fondly call her Santa Maria Das Nevis(Senhora, Das Nevis), which means Our Lady of Snows in Portuguese. The shrine name refers to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The site is known for Portuguese architecture and Portuguese prayers and now it is recognised as a Tamil Nadu notable pilgrim site.

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi
Map
8°47′58″N 78°09′23″E / 8.799444°N 78.156389°E / 8.799444; 78.156389
LocationThoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
CountryIndia
DenominationCatholic
Websitewww.snowsbasilica.com
History
StatusBasilica
Founded16th century
DedicationSt. Mary
Past bishop(s)Rev.Dr. Yvone Amburose
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typePortuguese
StylePortuguese
Administration
DistrictTuticorin
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai
DioceseTuticorin
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most. Rev. Dr.Stephen Anthony.
RectorRev. Dr. Starwin T.
Assistant priest(s)Rev. Fr. Balan Prashath F.

History

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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 Protestant Dutch 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 the Paravars 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 an apostolic letter entitled Pervenusta Illa. [6]

 
Basilica of Our Lady of Snows - TOWER VIEW

Notable Parish Priests

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Servant of God Rev Fr. Antony Soosainather

See also

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.tamildigitallibrary.in › ...PDF THE HISTORY OF THE PEARL FISHERY
  2. ^ http://www.snowsbasilica.com/ [bare URL]
  3. ^ "Tuticorin Diocese".
  4. ^ Joseph, Sandra (2024). Chathanatt, John (ed.). Christianity. Springer Netherlands. p. 18. ISBN 978-94-024-2241-2.
  5. ^ Bayly, Susan (1989). Saints, Goddesses And Kings - Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society, 1700-1900. Cambridge University Press. p. 343.
  6. ^ "PERVENUSTA ILLA". 30 July 1982.
 
The Golden Car Procession of the Lady of Snows
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