Annai Velankanni Church

Annai Velankanni Church is situated in the south of Karaikal and on the coastal line of the Bay of Bengal. The church is dedicated to the Lady of Health, also known as the Madonna of Velankanni, who is renowned for possessing miraculous powers. Constructed in the memory of Virgin Mary and the Heavenly Mother, the church is popular as a Sacred Arogya Math Church among natives.

It is believed that the site was once visited by the Heavenly Mother with Jesus in the 16th or early 17th century. Besides, it is also said that the Mother appeared in the dreams of Father Arulappa and expressed her desire of having a church in her name. For constructing the same, Arapulla along with JP Dsouza, an engineer, finally established an Annai Velankanni Church at the site.

Possessing a 97 feet Belfry, the church was established in 1971 and was opened during 1972. The offerings are made to God in different shapes of candles such as in case of jaundice, a liver shaped candle is offered. The preservation centre at the church exhibits golden or silver replica of the organs that have been presented to God after their disease has been cured.

Representing Gothic style of architecture, the buildings of the church are painted with white colour while the roofs of the church are covered with red tiles. People believe that the Goddess performed three miracles at different sites which provided a platform for construction of the Basilica. The premises of the church witnessed the appearance of Mary with the baby Christ, the rescue of the Portuguese sailors from dangerous sea and the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor.

After the safe landing of the Portuguese sailors, they constructed a chapel, whose annual feast is organised in the month of September. Besides this, the church organises Holy masses in eight languages namely, English, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.