St. Thomas Cathedral Church, Palai
St. Mary's Chapel and Adoration Chapel at Palai town
Grand Finale
of
The Birth Centenary of St. Alphonsa
The Birth Centenary Celebration of St. Alphonsa will come to a close at Bharananganam on 12th August 2010, evening. The President of India, Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Devising Patil, is expected to inaugurate the celebrations and the Governor of Kerala, His Excellency Sri. R S Gavai, will preside over the function. Many Civic and Church dignitaries are expected to be present on the occasion. People from all walks of life will throng to make it a spectacular event.
The celebrations are being conducted under the auspices of the eparchy of Palai and St. Alphonsa Shrine Church & Pilgrim Centre, Bharananganam. Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil Bishop Emeritus give leadership and guidance to make the event a success. Very Rev. Fr. George Choorakatt, the Protosyncellus, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Kuzhinjalil, the Pastoral Co-ordinator and Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Thadathil, the Rector are the general organizers of the entire programme. Various committees are formed to make all possible arrangements. These committees work day and night. Elaborate arrangements are being made to accommodate the huge crowd at Bharananganam. A big and beautiful 'pandal' is under construction having a seating capacity for over 10,000 persons. It is expected that about one lakh of people from all over Kerala will participate in the programme
A Short Profile of St. Alphonsa
Date of birth - 19-08-1910
Parents - Joseph and Mary, Muttathupadam
Baptismal Name - Anna (Annakutty)
Place of birth - Kudamaloor, a village near Kottayam
Schooling - At Arppookara near Kottayam,
Muttuchira and Vazhappally near
Changanacherry
Joined the Franciscan Clarist
Congregation at Bharananganam - 02-08-1928
Religious Vestition - 19-05-1930
Perpetual Vow - 12-08-1936
Teacher at Vakakkad - 1932-1933
Death - 28-07-1946
Declared Venerable - 09-11-1984
Declared blessed at Kottayam by
Pope John Paul II - 08-02-1986
Raised to Sainthood by
Pope Benedict the XVI in Rome - 12-10-2008
Birth Centenary - 1910-2010