By Cyprian Ekka
Ulhatu: Around 200 people, including priests and nuns, on January 14 attended the first organized but restricted pilgrimage to the only basilica in Jharkhand, eastern India.
The pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Divine Motherhood of Our Lady in Ulhatu was jointed organized by the priests of Ranchi archdiocese and the local unit of the Conference of Religious India (CRI).
“For this time, we restricted the participants’ number as this is a new activity of the CRI. But going by the participants’ enthusiasm and meaningfulness of the exercise itself, we will plan on a bigger scale next time,” Salesian Father S Charles Xavier, CRI local president, told Matters India.
The pilgrims converged at half a kilometer the basilica, some 20 km east of Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state. They then marched in prayerful procession to the shrine, which was declared a minor basilica as recently as on December 8, 2016.
Most pilgrims made confession before the Mass that Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi led. The prelate urged the gathering to draw maximum benefit from the Marian shrine.
In his homily, the 77-year-old Asia’s first tribal cardinal noted that the main reason for opening the basilica was to seek forgiveness and obtain God’s grace through Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession.
“As we know, the Catholic Church here predominantly consists of Adivasis, who were oppressed and exploited by landlords and zamindars. In addition, the Adivasi psyche has been greatly troubled by what they call the evil spirits,” the prelate explained.
The early missionaries led by Servant of God Jesuit Father Constant Lievens decided to address both these aspects consistently and emphatically. “The success they obtained in this regard forms part of what is known as the “Miracle of Chotanagpur,” Cardinal Toppo said.
The cardinal also recalled the service of late Jesuit Father Francis Mathijis who advised and collaborated with the prelate in “the lengthy and meticulous process for obtaining the Holy See’s approval” for the basilica, “an all-time means of sanctification and reconciliation.”
The cardinal commended the CRI and his priests for their initiative to launch the pilgrimage and urged the participants to encourage their respective community members to undertake similar pilgrimages. “Our people need to derive maximum benefit from the pilgrimage center. Hence the priests and religious should educated and encourage them,” the cardinal said.
Fr. Maximus Toppo, parish priest and curate of the shrine, says he expects the flow of pilgrims to increase after the event. Construction of more facilities for the pilgrims are underway, he told Matters India.
Cardinal Toppo blessed the minor basilica on the feast of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. The decree designating it as a basilica was issued on November 30, 2004.
India now has a total of 23 basilicas – 18 Latin, four Syro-Malabar and one Syro-Malankara.