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| St. Mary's Church (Gunadala), Vijayawada |
| The Mother of Good health, Mary Matha’s Shrine or Gunadala Matha Shrine known popularly as St Mary’s Church is constructed on a hilly region Gunadala in Krishna district near Vijayawada. A church and a museum of valuable articles offered by the devotees and sacred relics of the past are present. An iron cross is erected atop the hill
In 1925 Fr. Arlati PIME, the Rector of St. Joseph’s Orphanage, cut a pathway on the hill and placed a small statue of Our Lady in a niche, beginning of the local devotion to Our Lady.
A museum inside the church is another attraction, with collection of valuable gifts from devotees and holy relics of ancient period.
An annual feast is held every year to commemorate the appearance of Mother Mary at Lourdes on February 11th. Over 50,000 pilgrims of various faiths offer hair during the three-day festival. Offering of silver images of afflicted organs of one’s body, a native practice, is also practiced in Gunadala. Coconuts, incense sticks and flowers are offered to the Holy Mother. Many believers throng to this place during Sundays and important occasions. |
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