Farewell

The Arch Bishop of Syro - Malabar Christians. A soft spoken, really enlightened human.

Thank you, for being what you were.

Marian Towers

Though Marian towers were dedicated earlier, it was open to public only a few weeks ago. They charged a nominal ticket fee for this awe inspiring experience of climbing the pier at Lady of Ransom church.
Top of the dome on a over cast afternoon.
Meenakshi Amma and the mother. Classic attachment.
The grill domes at the top for safety. It indeed felt safe even at such height. Even me, who has a fear of height felt safe at top. I should admit I was more afraid climbing the stairs than at the top.
Views, a generation ago, could not have possibly imagined even in their wildest dreams. A view of the church and the neighborhood from such a height!!!
The curator, sometimes handwork go painfully unnoticed. But some just smile and keep it going.

The cameras to monitor, these kind of control devices have become a need as the brotherhood sometimes turn into a convenient cover for wrongful indulgence.

Amma

On November fifth last year, the first Friday of the month she went to St. George's Church at Edappally as always for the adoration and mass. She spent the whole day there. On her way back, just about a 100 meters away from our home, she stopped at the shop to buy some grocery. There she collapsed and died instantly.

Above everything else, my dear Ammachi, I will remember you for teaching us to "Pray".

St. Gemma Gilgani

A very special association I have with this saint. She inspires me, makes me believe in my own faith and let me enjoy the unbelievable cheer that realization gives.

Thank you St. Gemma, you touch my heart in a very special way and make my heart smile each time I think of you.

A link to her web site:

http://www.stgemmagalgani.com

A link to a dedicated blogger:

http://stlouiscatholic.blogspot.com

Sant Cruz Baslica, Fort Kochi

Santa Cruz Baslica, Fort Kochi, another old church from 1500's. A beautiful memory.

Grape Vine

Capiar Roy's grape vine at the back of the sacristy.

Marian Tower dedication

There was a travel mart Exhibition going on at Bolghatty for which I wanted to go to very badly but could not. So when the bus I was traveling from Ernakulam reached the Bolghatty stop I leaned across from where I was sitting to have a look at the way to the exhibition ground. It was then I saw this rather tall girl in green salwar standing in the front of the bus.

When the bus reached the Church stop, most of the passengers from the bus got down, since it was the Sunday after the feast (Which was on a working day) lot of devotees were visiting the church and the bus when it stopped had created a mild road block too. I got down through the back door and crossed over to the other side. When I reached the other side and looked back at the bus, I saw this girl in the green salwar lying flat on the hot sun-scorched road senseless and some fellow church goers running up to her.

While she was crossing over to the other side of the road to the church by the front of the bus a biker who came up from behind the bus without seeing her, rode straight into her. Who ever were around her, ran up to her, tried to lift her up, but she remained unconscious, with no power in her limbs. I feared something worse, and stood watching motionless from where I saw her first.

Surprisingly after a few minutes, we all sighed a huge relief when she responded, actually it was the fear and the shock from the hit that made her go numb. Except for a few bruises on her forearm there was no other serious injury. I hope.

Lady of Ransom church, freshly painted for the feast. The first shot of the new towers after its completion. The towers were dedicated today.