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St Mary’s Basilica basks in festival glory
St Mary’s Basilica is beautified on the occasion of ‘Lady of Assumption into Heaven’ feast that is celebrated on August 15 every year. People from various parts of the country pay a visit to the church to witness the Mother Mary and the famous bleeding sacrament.
Secunderabad: St Mary’s Basilica is beautified on the occasion of ‘Lady of Assumption into Heaven’ feast that is celebrated on August 15 every year. People from various parts of the country pay a visit to the church to witness the Mother Mary and the famous bleeding sacrament.
Speaking about the significance of the festival, parish priest Y Bala Showry said, “Mary was taken into heaven, both body and soul, for her sacrifice.
On the feast day, all will thank the lord and thank her for leading people in the right path every day.”
He further said, “It is one of the important feasts for the Roman Catholic. Catholics believe in the ‘Assumption of Mary into Heaven’. We trust that her earthly life was finished, Mary was taken up, body and soul into heavenly glory, where the lord exalted her as Queen of Heaven.”
The 18th century’s St Mary’s Basilica is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in Secunderabad. St Mary’s, originally named way back in 1850, was later rechristened by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as St Mary’s Basilica in 2012. This is the only basilica in the twin cities.
One more unique thing about the church is ‘Our Lady of Velankanni Grotto’. This grotto (shrine) was inaugurated by late Fr Anthony Reddy in October 1986. Regular offerings are made here both by Catholics and non –Catholics as a sign of their devotion. Many claimed to have witnessed miracles and said prayers were being answered.
“The basilica always wears a homely ambience and in the midst of the city’s hustle and bustle, this is a serenity abode for many who come to pray or rest a while and simply enjoy the presence of God. Many people come to this church and walk away with abundant graces and blessings,” said Sister P Ethel.
St Mary’s Basilica is a blend of Indian-gothic and renaissance architecture, elegantly designed and depicted in a slight contrast to almost every other basilica seen anywhere else in the world.
Devotional art such as statues, paintings, murals, mosaics, icons, and classic-stained glass, tall well- crafted pinnacles, intricate tympanums and elaborate big- osetta windows make the shrine a devotional marvel.St. Mary’s Basilica is truly unique. The bell in the church was set up in 1901. In this church, masses are held in three languages Telugu, Tamil and Hindi.
By Sravanthi Sanam
