Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes (Poondi)

Poondi Madha Basilica
Poondi Madha Basilica
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor Basilica
Year consecrated	Eighteenth century beginning
Location
Location	Alamelupuram-Poondi, Tamil Nadu, India
Geographic coordinates	10°51′50.4″N 78°56′29.0″E / 10.864000°N 78.941389°E
Architecture
Style	Gothic and French architecture
Website
	https://poondimadhabasilica.org

Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, also known as Poondi Madha Basilica, is a Catholic pilgrimage centre located in Tamil Nadu, South India. It is located in Alamelupuram-Poondi, a small village located adjacent to Thirukattupalli in Thiruvaiyaru taluk of Thanjavur district. The shrine was consecrated as a Minor Basilica in 1999 by Pope John Paul II.

History

Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy declared the Shrine of our Lady of Poondi as a permanent pilgrimage centre of our Lady of Immaculate Conception. On 03.08.1999, the shrine was declared as Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II.

Shrine

Poondi Church Side View

The present structure of the shrine has a mixture of Gothic and French architectural styles. The facade above the portico has a row of statues of the Twelve Apostles, St. Francis Xavier and Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi. The church has a relic of the True Cross, believed to be the one on which Christ was crucified.^[1]