Koonammavu rejoices over Chavara sainthood

KOCHI: Braving the afternoon showers, thousands of people on Sunday flocked to the burial site of St Chavara Kuriakose Elias at Koonammavu, to take part in the special services and the Pontifical Mass held in connection with the canonization ceremony.

The mood was festive and the atmosphere looked solemn with chanting of prayers. The specially-erected pandal in front of St Philomina’s Church was overflowing with people.

Leading the services were three bishops of the Latin Catholic Church _  Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kariyil of Kochi, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Karikkassery of Kottapuram and Rt. Rev. Alex Vadakkumthala of Kannur.

The canonization ceremony that was going on in Vatican was beamed on two giant screens. The services in the Church began with the convergence of three processions from Kongarpally, Kochal and Thevarkad, carrying the pictures of St Chavara.

The life-size statue of St Chavara was unveiled by Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Karikkassery and this was followed by floral tributes by the three bishops and other dignitaries at the burial site inside the church.

Rt Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala said that Koonammavu was blessed with not one but two saints on Sunday, the other one being St Euphrasia who resided at the convent in the village for 12 years.

St Chavara spent his last seven years in Koonammavun and Bishop Vadakkumthala noted that it was his wish that he be buried in the village.

The programmes at Koonammavu were attended among others by MLAs Hibi Eden and S. Sarma, Mayor Tony Chammany and former MP K.P. Dhanapalan.