Gunadala Matha Shrine

Gunadala Matha Shrine (also: Our Lady of Lourdes or Mary Matha Church),[2] located in the city of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh,[3] is a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site[4] attracting approximately 10 lakh devotees during its annual festival. It is considered the second biggest worship place of Mary, mother of Jesus after Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankanni in Tamil Nadu.[5]

Gunadala Matha Shrine
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary Matha Church
Mary Matha Church at the base of the hill. 2013
16°31′15″N 80°39′34″E
LocationGunadala, Vijayawada
CountryIndia
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitehttp://www.gunadalashrine.org/
History
StatusChurch
Founded1925
Founder(s)Rf. Arlati (Rector of St. Joseph's Orphanage, Gunadala)
Consecrated1971
EventsGunadala Matha Festival, Feast for Our Lady of Lourdes
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Vijayawada
Clergy
Bishop(s)Thelegathoti Joseph Raja Rao[1]
RectorWilliam Jayaraju
Vicar(s)Gabriel Mesapam

Geography

Situated amidst a cluster of hillocks, Gunadala stands as the tallest hillock in the city, offering a unique topographical feature within the otherwise flat terrain. Roughly one-third of the hill's slopes are occupied by dwellings, distinguishing it from other smaller hills like Gandhi Hill and Indrakeeladri.[6]

Annual festival

The Gunadala Mary Matha festival takes place on February 9th, 10th and 11th each year, becoming a significant event as devotees come not only from all corners of the state but from the neighboring Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states during the festival. The festival commences at Padavala Revu, formerly a bustling wharf for boats traveling to Machilipatnam, and stretches along Eluru Road to the Ramavarappadu Junction.[7]

During the festival, pilgrims visit the Mary Matha Church at the base of the hill and ascend on foot to pay their respects to the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes consecrated in 1925 within a grotto midway up the hill. Additionally, devotees offer prayers at the 18-foot-high holy cross erected at the hill's summit.[8] The festival will also feature prayers and cultural programs at the nearby Bishop Grassi High School ground.

Many people come here to offer their hair as a symbol of their faith. They also break coconuts at the shrine. In addition to Christians, a significant number of individuals from various religious backgrounds also visit this location, believed to possess healing properties. Numerous worshippers attend the festival with their infants, seeking blessings from the Mother.[9]

History

The development of Gunadala, particularly the Mary Matha Shrine, is credited to the efforts of Catholic priest Huges Pezzoni. Starting with the establishment of an orphanage, Fr. Pezzoni laid the foundation for several Catholic institutions in Gunadala. According to the history chronicled by Fr. John Leoncini of the Vijayawada Catholic Diocese, Fr. Pezzoni acquired a 25-acre area through donations and purchases in 1923. The first manager of Gunadala Catholic Institutions, Fr. P Arlati, overcame numerous challenges to clear the land.[10]

On June 24, 1924, the St. Joseph's orphanage was officially inaugurated, and Fr. Arlati installed a small statue of Our Lady of Lourdes (Mother Mary) in a natural grotto on the slopes of Gunadala hill the same year. In 1937, the Diocesan festival started. During that year, Fr .Arlati put a new statue in the Grotto, which is in the middle of the hill. This marked the beginning of the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which was moved to September 8th every year. They also built an altar in front of the niche for Masses on various occasions.

To improve accessibility, they widened the pathway, deepened the Grotto, and leveled the ground in front of it. Despite the challenges, dedicated individuals like Monsignor A. Bianchi, the Vicar General, Reverend Brother Bertoli, and Reverend Brother Cripp worked tirelessly and patiently to complete these renovations. In 1947, after Monsignor Bianchi returned to Italy, Brother Bertoli continued the work. Due to issues caused by September rains for pilgrims, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was moved to February 11.[11]

Subsequently, a church was constructed and consecrated in 1971, establishing the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes as an annual event since then.[12]

References
  1. "Gunadala Mary Matha fete off on a grand note in Vijayawada".
  2. "St. Mary's Church". aptdc.gov.in. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  3. "Gunadala Mary Matha church". The Hans India. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  4. "Thousands have darshan of Gunadala Mary Matha". thehindu.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. "Gunadala Mary Matha fete off on a grand note in Vijayawada". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. "Gunadala, a place steeped in history". The Hindu. 23 December 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. Boda, Tharun (7 February 2023). "Stage set for three-day Gunadala Mary Matha festival from February 9 in Vijayawada". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. Bureau, The Hindu (9 February 2023). "Gunadala Mary Matha festival begins in Vijayawada". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  9. "Grand start to Gunadala Mary Matha fete". The Hindu. 9 February 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. Srinivas, Rajulapudi (7 February 2017). "Gunadala shrine to be developed on a par with Velankanni church". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  11. "Gunadalamatha Shrine". Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  12. jangir, suresh (2 November 2014). "Gunadala Mary Matha church". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
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