St. Mary's Basilica Church in bangalore

Here is Some Information about St. Mary's Basilica in Bangalore India.

Location : F. Noronha Road, Shivajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560051
Contect No : 91-80-22865434 ,+91-80-22868627, +91-80-22868628

F. Noronha Road, Shivajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560051
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Built In : 1882
Built By : Ashok Ajith Kumar

Chapel of Kanikkai Madha
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Timing : 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Best Time To Visit : Dec-Jan
Visiting Timing : 1 Hour
Nearestv Railway station : Yashvantpura Junction(6 Km)
Nearest Airport : Bangalore Airport(31 Km)

St. Mary's Basilica is located  opposite the Russel Market Square in Shivajinagar, Bangalore.The only one in Karnataka to be granted the status of a minor basilica, it was build by Ashok Ajith Kumar. This spacious Gothic church is built in the form of a cross, it started out as a thatched hut in the 17th century and was called the Chapel of Kanikkai Madha (Church of Our Lady of Presentation). St. Mary's basilica is 172-foot long and 50-foot broad, with a spire which is 160-foot high. The shrine outside the church also draws in the devotees. There is a 6-foot statue of Mother Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms. Mother Mary is draped in a different saree everyday, offered by devotees.
The Basilica has an imposing tower and gothic-style pointed arches. It was only in 1973 that Saint Marys Church of Bangalore was given the status of a Basilica, making it the sixth Basilica in India. The status was awarded through a Papal order by Pope John Paul VI. One of the major attractions of this basilica is the St Mary's Feast, held every year in the month of September. Devotees from far and wide come to Bangalore in September to attend this grand feast. 

Architecture of St. Mary's Basilica

St. Mary's Basilica is constructed in Gothic-style with arches, decorative motifs as well as stained glass windows. Many columns and tall spires of this basilica could be viewed from quite a distance. St. Mary's Basilica was decorated with many stained glass windows, which was imported from Paris. But, for the period of World War II, these windows were detached and after that once more restored in the year 1947, the year of India's independence. 

History of  St. Mary's Basilica Church

This spacious Gothic church is built in the form of a cross, it started out as a thatched hut in the 17th century and was called the Chapel of Kanikkai Madha
-- Read more: https://www.ixigo.com/st-marys-basilica-church-bengaluru-india-ne-1314946#description

The formation of the city of  Bangalore and the formation of St. Mary’s Church are found to be interlinked with the history of  Karnataka.   During the 17th Century, few Christians came from Ginjee, of Tamil Nadu, found that the land was fertile to sow white rice and began to settle down and built a small village. This village took the name ‘Bili akki palli’ because it is said that the rice they cultivated was white and also because a number of white birds were found in those rice fields. The people in order to practice their religion built a thatched hut and named it as ‘CHAPEL OF KANIKKAI MADHA’. The Italian Jesuits of the Malabar Mission, were the founders of the Mysore Mission in the 17th Century, who were succeeded by the French Jesuits from Madura and Carnatic Missions in the 18th Century. In 1799, Fr. Jean Dubois came in lay dress with the English troops at the siege of Seringapatam and only when he said the Mass in the Church, people did recognize him as a Catholic Priest. When the Cantonment was established in Bangalore, the Christians, both Europeans and Indians attended the Mass said by Fr. Jean Dubois. In 1811, he built a small chapel with a residence for priests. Later on, Rev. Fr. Andreas an Indian priest from Pondicherry succeeded him and he expanded the Church building in the shape of Cross, with a hall facing East and West and with two aisles North and South.  In 1832, due to some communal riots, the church was pulled and pillaged.  Fr. Beauchaton, the Parish Priest, narrowly escaped death by the tactful handling of the situation by the Christian people.  Troops arrived to restore peace and the government had the Church guarded first by the European soldiers and later by Indian sepoys for many months.  After some years great plague had spread through out the Blackpalli and people sought the intercession of Mother Mary to relieve them from the clutches of disastrous death.  Mother Mary interceded the victims’ prayers and the plague vanished from the vicinity.  Since she cured the people from the dreadful disease and gave them good health, she was also called as ‘Annai Arokiamarie’ (Our Lady of Good Health). In June 1875, the construction of the present Church began. It was during the time of then Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. E.L. Kleiner, who later became the Bishop of Mysore.  In view of the historic importance of St. Mary’s Church, the then British authorities from Delhi paid a grant for the maintenance of the Church, every year till 1948. The present Church of St. Mary’s built by Rev. Fr. Kleiner was solemnly consecrated on 8th September 1882 by Msgr. Joannes Maria Y. Coadou, Vicar Apostolic of Mysore, in the presence of 35 priests and about 4000 Catholics of Bangalore.  It is interesting to note that, all the other parishes of Bangalore were born out of this ancient parish of St. Mary’s Church. It was during the tenure of Most. Rev. Dr. P. Arokiaswamy, the then Archbishop of Bangalore and Rev. Fr. Paul Kinatukara, then Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Church, with the strenuous efforts of the Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. D.S. Lourdusamy, the then Secretary General for the Sacred Congregations for Evangelization of Peoples at Rome, Holy Father Pope Paul VI, elevated St. Mary’s Church to the title of  ‘ANNAI AROCKIAMARIE BASILICA’  (St. Mary’s Basilica) on 26th September 1973, which was officially announced and celebrated on 26th January 1974.  Since then, every year this day stands as a remarkable significance of God’s grace.  For several years, a grand car procession carrying the Eucharist was held and the Archbishop administered solemn blessing of the Blessed Sacrament. Due to an increase in the population, and more devotees flooding to visit the Shrine of Our Lady, the space that was available for the devotees to stand and pray was found to be very congested.  At this juncture, the then Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. T. Jabamalai, successor of Rev. Fr. Paul Kinatukara constructed a hall like structure facing east and placed the statue of Our Lady in a prominent place. This enabled thousands of devotees to see her without any hindrance and pray to her more devotedly. The statue of Infant Jesus was placed where the Our Lady’s statue remained originally. During the year 2004, a new exquisite altar with tabernacle was erected by Msgr. T. Jabamalai, Parish Priest, who was also then Vicar General of the Bangalore Archdiocese.  During the year 2005 – 2007, the church was completely renovated by him and was rededicated on 29th August 2006 by the present Archbishop of Bangalore. In the year 2007 (1882 - 2007) St. Mary’s Basilica celebrated the 125th year of its consecration. During the month of June 2007, the Church and Shrine was bifurcated and His Grace the Archbishop of Bangalore appointed Rev. Fr. A.S. Anthony Swamy as the Parish Priest and Rev. Fr. L. Arulappa as the Rector of the Shrine.  On 8th of September 2007, Annual feast day and birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary, His Grace the Archbishop officially declared and honoured this Basilica as the Diocesan Shrine

Mass Timings

Weekday Mass:  

06.00 a.m. -  English 

06.45 a.m. -  Tamil 

11.00 a.m. -  Tamil 

06.30 p.m. -  Tamil  (Monday, Tuesday & Friday) ,Kannada  (Wednesday)         

                  English    (Thursday) 

Every 1st Tuesday - 6.00 p.m. - Mass at St. Anthony’s Chapel, Noah Street. Everyday 03.00 p.m. - Divine Mercy Prayer at Shrine. 

Saturday Mass:  

06.00 a.m.  - English 

06.45 a.m.  - Tamil 

09.00 a.m.  - Kannada 

10.00 a.m.  - English 

11.00 a.m.  - Eucharistic Procession followed by Benediction 

11.30 a.m.  - Tamil 

5.45 p.m.   -  Novena and Mass in Tamil Night Vigil:    

10.00 p.m. To 5.00 a.m. in Tamil on every 1st Saturday                    

 and English every 3rd Saturday

Sunday Mass:
06.00 a.m. - English
07.00 a.m. - Tamil
08.00 a.m. - Tamil
08.30 a.m. - Tamil Mass at St. Anne’s  Convent
 09.15 a.m. - Kannada
10.30 a.m. - Baptism on 1st and 3rd Sunday
11.00 a.m. - Tamil 06.00 p.m. - English

 How To Reach St. Mary's Basilica Church  

By Road : There are many public and private vehecels available to reach St. Mary's Basilica Church Bangalore.

By Rail : The Nearest Railway station is Yashvantpura Junction 6 Km.

By Air : The Nearest Airport is  Bangalore Airport(31 Km).

Picture Gellery of  St. Mary's Basilica Church 

 

 




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