Hoisting of Mother Mary's Flag at Annai Vailankanni Shrine, Besant Nagar/Chennai and 50th Annual Feast

Chennai: 2022 is an historically significant year in the annals of the history of Annai Vailankanni Shrine, Besant Nagar. This year marks the fiftieth year of its foundation in 1972. Fifty years after its humble beginning the Shrine has now grown to become integral to the identity of the city of Chennai and a place of welcome, comfort and pilgrimage to Christians and non-Christians alike.

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On this Golden Jubilee year of Annai Vailankanni Shrine, Besant Nagar, Chennai, we are happy to celebrate the 50th annual Festival of the from 29th August, Tuesday to 8th September, 2023 Friday. The Eleven Day festival commences on 29th August 2023, Tuesday with the Hoisting of Mother Mary's Flag by Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy DD, Archbishop of Madras- Mylapore at 5.30 pm. The 12 feet Festival Flag of Our Lady of Good Health will be taken on a procession, blessed and then hoisted on the 75 feet Flag Post situated in the Shrine Campus.

As the Universal Church is engaged in a collective reflection process on the theme of Synodality since 2021, we shall dedicate this Jubilee year's annual feast to reflect on the theme 'Mary: A Companion in our Journey'. Each day of the feast, the liturgy shall dwell on the Marian approach to the different themes on synodality proposed by our Holy Father Pope Francis. Additionally, we shall also observe special days like Vocation Day, Youth Day, Pious Association Day, Holy Eucharist Day,Worker Day, Teacher Day, Family Day, Day of Healing, Day of Annai Vailankanni and Birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity. 

Special Prayers will be conducted on these days for all the pilgrims and the people of Chennai. Holy Masses will be celebrated throughout the day during the Feasts and Car processions will be held on special days after the 5.30 PM Holy Mass.

On the 7th September at 5.30 PM, Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, Archbishop of Madras- Mylapore will preside over the concelebrated High Mass with the Priests of the Diocese followed by a Grand Car procession. On the 8th September, we celebrate the Birthday of Our Blessed Mother of Vailankanni and the feast of the Shrine. There will be continuous Holy Masses from 3.30am till evening. After the 7.45am English Mass and before the 9.30 am Tamil Mass, there will be Crowning of Our Blessed Mother. After the 5.30 pm mass, the flag shall be lowered.

Since its foundation in 1972 through the pioneering efforts of Fr. P.T. Arulappa, Annai Vailankanni Shrine has s as a gradually become a major pilgrimage center for the thousands of devotees who visit the shrine for their various needs especially for good health. The large number of Christian and non-Christian pilgrims, who visit the Shrine, irrespective of caste or creed, is a living proof to the religious harmony of the city of Chennai, and its people's respect, love and hope in Christ Jesus and His loving Mother.

As usual, we shall welcome lakhs of pilgrims and devotees during the Feast on 29th August to 8th September. The management and the different committees of the Shrine are ensuring that we make necessary arrangements for the orderly conduct of the Festival. Officials of the Police Department have been taking a lot of initiatives and have been actively co-operating with us to draw plans for the security of the devotees participating in the Festival. Special Traffic Arrangements have been made for the convenience of the devotees. MTC authorities have also made arrangements to run special buses from all over Chennai city to Besant Nagar Church. More than 350 volunteers headed by the Rector and parish priest, Rev.Fr. Vincent Chinnadurai, ably assisted by other priests and parishioners will be coordinating the activities for the successful conduct of the Feast.

As we are all aware, the newly constructed Church, an architectural gem built in the gothic style, widely appreciated for its originality and profound spiritual symbolism, was blessed and dedicated on 08 December 2021. This year marks the Shrine's first annual feast after the realization of this ambitious construction project. The Annual Feast 2022 is certainly an opportune time of grace for the people of Chennai to discover the elegance of our newly constructed Church, to enjoy its spiritual ambience of prayer, mediation, silence, and to receive the blessings of Mother Mary assured to

all her children who come to seek her intercession and love.

Rev.Fr.Vincent Chinnaduraim

Rector & Parish Priest 

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