St. Alphonsa's Tomb

About History

The mortal remains of St. Alphonsa are preserved in a chapel near the St. Mary’s church in Bharananganam. The pilgrims from all over India visit it to get her blessings. Every year on July 28, which is the death anniversary of the saint, thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine to pray and to seek her blessings. The Alphonsa Museum, which houses hundreds of exhibits associated with the life of blessed Alphonsa, is situated in the Chapel compound. There is a two storey structure in front of the chapelfrom where steps leads to the stadium below and on either side of these steps is a beautifully laid out terraced garden. The Holy See appointed Very Rev. Fr. Fortunato as the first Postulator in 1951. Rev. Msgr. J.C. Kappen was the Vice Postulator. The first Diocesan Court vested with the responsibility to carry out a critical study of Alphonsa’s life was constituted on 2 December 1953. The second Diocesan Court set up on 12 November 1955 was charged with the examination of her close associates and the evaluation of the miracles attributed to her. The court accomplished the mission betimes. The saint’s mortal remains were exhumed, examined by a team of medical experts and inhumed in a sealed steel casket on 13 April 1957. The third court started functioning in 1960. At a joint session of the three courts the relevant official documents were signed in 1962. The Apostolic Court inaugurated in 1980 met in 146 sessions. Eventually, the Court concluded that Alphonsa had devoted her entire life to the practice of heroic Christian virtues and she was proclaimed ‘Venerable’ on 9 November 1984. Pope John Paul II declared her ‘Blessed’ at the concelebrated mass at Kottayam on 8 February 1986. Following her canonization by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on 12 October 2008, the tomb of the Saint became an international pilgrim centre. Very Rev. Dr. Joseph Thadathil took charge of the St Alphonsa Shrine Church and Pilgrim Centre as the first Rector on December 8, 2008. Rev. Fr. Augustine Perumattam and Rev. Fr. Abraham Erimattam were the spiritual directors. Rev. Fr. Thomas Chillackal, Rev. Fr. Mathew Arackaparampil and Rev. Fr. George Pullukalayil were appointed assistant rectors. Rev. Fr. Mathew Kurisummoottil served as spiritual director and Rev. Fr. George Kavumpurath as assistant director at the Centre for quite some time.