National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam

The Roman Catholic Church has raised the historic Marian pilgrimage destination on the Vallarpadam Island to the status of a National Pilgrim Centre. The documents related to the raising of the status of the Our Lady of Ransom Church on the island were handed over recently to the Archbishop of Varappuzha Daniel Acharuparampil by the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo.

Vallarpadam is situated next to Bolgatty Island on the west, and linked to the Ernakulam mainland via the new Goshree bridges. It is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 mi) in length in the north-south direction and hosts a population of 10,000 people. Vallarpadam is about one kilometer (½ mile) away from the Ernakulam mainland.

A panoramic view of Vallarpadam Basilica

The picture of Mary and Infant Jesus, installed at the top of the main altar of the Vallarpadam Church, was brought by Portuguese merchants under the leadership of Vasco Da Gama in 1524. In 1676 the old Church, which was known as the Church of the Holy Spirit, founded by the Portuguese missionaries, was destroyed by a heavy flood, and the picture was found floating in the backwaters. Nobody except Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the Prime Minister of Maharaja of Cochin, could recover it. The present church at Vallarpadamis built on land donated by Paliyath Raman Valiyachan. A sanctuary lamp which he donated has been burning day and night from 1676 onwards in his honour.

In May 1752 a miracle is believed to have taken place which made Vallarpadam a centre of pilgrimage. In Vallarpadam there was a young Nair Lady named Meenakshi Amma, who was a member of a noble family called Palliyil Veedu. Together with her son she was sailing to Mattancherry. There arose a storm and the boat capsized. Meenakshi Amma and her son went deep down into the backwater.She promised to devote the rest of her life to Mary’s service if she and her child were saved.It was a promise she kept.On the third day, as per instructions in a dream, the parish priest asked the fishermen to cast net in the river, and Meenakshi Amma and her son were rescued.After her death, the church put up the picture of Meenakshiamma and her child alongside the painting of Mary.[1]

The Feast of Vallarpadathamma is celebrated from 16 to 24 September every year. Thousands of pilgrims come to Vallarpadam to participate in the Feast, especially on 24 September.

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  Old view of Vallarpadam Church, Kochi, Kerala, India
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  Vallarpadam Church lighted up for the Feast

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Joseph's Minor Basilica,Varapuzha
• St. Philomena's Forane Church & St. Chavara Pilgrim Centre

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam.

• Official Website
• Vallarpadam Church