Onam

The most festive day of our year. 

Thiru Onam. 

Pookalam.

The Golden morning. 

Sumptuous Sadya for lunch. 

Friends and Family. 

Picture from Forum Mall, Kochi. 

The Feast

Our Lady Mary's feast day. 

Marian Pilgrimage and it's culmination at the Basilica. 

Big Stage for an high mass. 

Orchestra practicing the whole day for the mass in the evening. 

Saint Peter Nolasco

...so they keep the Nolasco Chapel open all day at Vallarpadam. My Sunday Vallarpadam time spent there in the company of the Saint who was ready to give his life and freedom for the freedom of others. 

Isn't that sweet...to give up one's own life for the sake of others life, for their freedom. 

The listener..

...the boat was being swamped by the waves... they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us!"

Mt 8:23-24

We have our friends and family, still we do not tell them all the thoughts that weigh on our minds. We are afraid they may Judge us, start thinking about us in bad light, stop being in love or our friends.

But with Jesus, who lives in our hearts, we have no such fears, he listens, he cares, he consoles...he has showed us that with his own life many times over. 

It doesn't matter...

who we are, what colour we are of, what our religion, caste or tribe is. 

When the centurion came requesting Jesus's spiritual help, all Jesus looked at was his humility to come to him, his concern for his slave and most importantly his faith. 

Trust in him, he listens, he sees our hearts and he won't let us perish. Rejoice! Our help is coming. When a door is closed a window will open for us. 

Be ready to take our opportunity and work hard. 

June

Some graceful view from the Basilica in June. 

A new look picture of Lady of Ransom on the 500th Jubilee year. 

Etched in our memories as we leave the Basilica and get on with our lives wherever it is..

A lucky Sunday

Fr. Antony Valumkal took charge as the Rector and Parish Priest of the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam in 2021 when we were reeling under the Corona induced panic and lockdown. Since then attending his Service was a blessed part of my Sunday Hours at the Basilica. Highly Educated and surprisingly humble, the Rector, won the hearts of all those who engaged with him. The History seminar he organised at the Basilica was my personal high point of his tenure. 

The Rector, church folks say, used to love his quite hour at the Lady of Ransom in the evening after the Basilica was closed to the public for the night. That Spiritual Union one can possibly achieve in deep meditation at the church dedicated to the Holy Spirit is the reason why many visit Meenakshi Amma's memory bearing Church. 

I was away when the Rector was ordained the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Verapoly and missed the event. 

Luckily, on this Sunday, while I was there at the Basilica, there was a small event at the Basilica which he attended and I could see him from a distance. 

Best Wishes and I am sure, Your Excellency, that you will miss your quite hour at Vallarpadam. 

A summer Sunday

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry.” - Jn 6: 35

Coming to Lady of Ransom after a month.

The Altar is still under maintenance, dome above is glistening like a sky. The clouds of centuries ago.

This is the Lady of Ransom I goes to at Kanyakumari. Probably built by the same missionary fathers of the Mercedarian Order who was involved with our Vallarpadam too.

And, strange though it may sound, deep and abiding faith does result in every kind of hunger being met. Christ is indeed the bread of life!

Summer months are tough. Those who work in the sea find it difficult with the heat and phases of no wind and patches of "Cat Paws". The catch is few.

Some unlucky among us find themselves let down by their mates in these tough months.

Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

Acts 7:60

Forgiveness comes easier when we blame the sin, and not the sinner.

Good Friday, March 2024

The Good Friday Observance at the Lady of Ransom Church, Kanyakumari. 

Palm Sunday

The temperature was only 32 degrees. But at Kanyakumari with three seas around water gets heated up quickly and warms up the land. With less wind in these months, it is rather very warm. 

Here are some pictures from the St. Roch Church at Vavathurai in Kanyakumari from the Palm Sunday. 

State of Mind

Happiness is a state of mind. It has nothing to do with our being rich or poor etc..