One of the most popular churches and pilgrim places for Christians in Andhra Pradesh, a shrine for the Christians established in Gunadala, in the capital region of Andhra Pradesh state in Vijayawada city, is the Mary Matha Shrine or Gunadala Matha Shrine and its more popular name, St Mary’s Church.
At a distance of 6 Kms from Vijayawada Railway Station, Gundala Church also known as St. Mary’s Church or Gundala Meri Matha Church is located on top of Gundala Hill. As per records, Reverend Arlati who was the then rector of St Mary’s Church established a beautiful sculpture of Our Lady at this place in 1825 and the church was later constructed. Irrespective of caste, creed and religion, people visit this shrine and receive the blessing.
An annual event of Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is held in the month of February that attracts thousands of devotees. A colorful fair takes place during this festival. Among the many notable religious sites of Vijayawada, Gunadala Mary Matha church always holds a special place. One of the most frequented churches in Vijayawada, this one is an illustrious religious destination that attracts thousands of ardent devotees.
History
The ambience of Gunadala is unique with several wide spaces occupied by a few institutions with large spaces. The Gunadala hill is the tallest hillock in the clump of hillocks that punctuate the rather plain terrain of the city. Only a third of the slopes of the hill are occupied by dwellings, which is relatively small compared to other smaller hills (Gandhi Hill and Indrakeeladri).
Gunadala is also the home of a very powerful political personality and former Minister Devineni Rajasekhar. Much of the credit for the development of Gunadala, particularly the Mary Matha Shrine, goes to Catholic priest Huges Pezzoni. Starting with an orphanage founded by Fr. Pezzoni Gunadala has become the location for several Catholic Institutions.
According to the Fr.John Leoncini who chronicled the history of the Vijayawada Catholic Diocese the Gundala institutions were developed on an area of 23 acres partly donated and partly purchased by Fr. Pezonni in 1923. Fr. Leoncini says that Fr. P Arlati, the first manager of Gunadala Catholic Institutions had a real tough time getting the land cleared.
The orphanage was officially open on June 24, 1924. Fr Arlati also installed a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes (Mother Mary) in a natural grotto on the Gunadala Hill slope the same year.
Important Ritual
It houses a museum having a collection of ancient holy relics and precious gifts of the followers. The shrine is filled on Sundays and other important festivals and occasions. The annual feast for Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated with devotion and gaiety. its a famous pilgrimage place where people take the help of Mother Mary’s prayers and lakhs of people come from all over places to worship, every February 9,10&11 more than 5 lakh people come to visit at the hill top.
The sacred hill is considered to have the powers of granting child to childless couple. The unique practice of offering the tiny icons of ailed human organs fixed in silver is widely followed in Gunadala Mary Matha church. Flowers and coconuts are the most popular offerings to this Goddess.
Museum
The Church has a interesting story it was believed that Mother Mary for the first time appeared in this hill on February 11, 1858 so after seeing this an idol of Mother Mary was made by Rf. Arlati on that hill, and later they made the church there. The church is well known for its museum that was built to preserve the holy and rare gifts donated by the people. The museum also consists of holy paintings and sculptures of Jesus and Mary and some ancient things. Many Priests, Sisters , Brothers Deacons, Seminary & Convent students come here every day to seek the blessings of Jesus and mother Mary.
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