Pics: Stanley Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Shivamogga (EP)
Shivamogga, Oct 6: Pope Francis had declared Our Lady of Health Church in Harihar as Minor Basilica. The official announcement was released by the Pope recently.
The historical shrine has several specialties attached to it. Only two churches in Karnataka have been declared Minor Basilicas so far. Mother of Mary Church in Shivajinagar, Bengaluru and St Lawrence Shrine at Attur, Karkala were declared Minor Basilicas in 1973 and 2016 respectively. Popular Our Lady of Health Church in Harihar is the next to get the honour.
A basilica is a church with certain privileges conferred on it by the Pope. Churches with historical background having the format suitable for prayer for centuries, having original records and evidences are declared Minor Basilicas. All the documents with proof have to be submitted through the board of bishops of Karnataka to all India board of bishops. The board, after minute scrutiny, permits to send the proposal for official approval of the Pope. The Pope granted the honour of Minor Basilica to the church in Harihar on September 18 as all the procedures for it were successfully completed.
The celebrations to this effect will be held in the church premises on 15 January 2020. Cardinals, bishops from different dioceses of Karnataka, chief minister of Karnataka, ministers, MPs, MLAs, other elected representatives, priests, nuns, devotees from various places are expected to gather in thousands for the event.
Bishop of Shivamogga, Dr Francis Serrao, church parish priest Fr Antony Peter, priests from Shivamogga diocese, nuns and congregation of Harihar will jointly host the programme.
The way Harihar grew as a shrine
Harihar, which is situated at the centre of Karnataka known as Kashi of the south, is a centre for pilgrimage. In about the year 1800, a non-catholic devotee was living in great difficulty. One day he got down to Tungabhadra River for daily prayers and while having bath he slipped and was drawn by water current. He cried hard for help, but nobody came to his rescue as it was early morning. But a statue of Mother Mary floating there rescued him. He brought the statue home and started praying to it. That brought happiness all around his house. His wife who was suffering due to tuberculosis and his paralyzed child got cured soon after touching the statue. Out of gratitude, he devoted himself, his family and his house for the service of Mother of Health. He called Mother Mary as Satyamma and dedicated his entire life as her devotee.
Prayers were held in his house since then till 1962. A French priest was holding prayers and Masses in his small hut. The place is still called old church. The grave of the devotee and small church are still there. The devotion to Mother Mary that began then has continued till now. The number of devotees increases day by day. Mother listens to their prayers and grants favours. The church has become famous as Our Lady of Health Church.