The Vailankanni Sanctuary
We go right away to the Catholic sanctuary of Vailankanni, about 350 miles to the south, along the sea; here, the coast still shows visible signs of the tsunami. This is the most famous Catholic sanctuary in India, visited every year by thousands of pilgrims from all over the country, especially in September, when the Church commemorates the nativity of the Virgin Mary. Here, Our Lady appeared to a child in the XVI century and, from that time, the devotion has continuously grown. The sanctuary is impressive, beautified by various buildings that host a chapel for confession, one for perpetual adoration, the chapels of the Way of the Cross, and the large hostel for pilgrims. We concelebrate Mass in the Tamil language. The assembly is numerous and participates with devotion, with no stinting on songs.
During the journey, there is time to stop to visit an ancient Hindu temple. The grandeur of the architecture is a reminder once again of the titanic exertion the religious genius of man has made to attempt to depict the face of the Mystery. We have dinner at the missionary’s seminary, with about 30 students and 5 priests. As we spend time together, our friendship with Fr. Lawrence deepens, and we take advantage of the opportunity to get to know each other better in the originality of our respective stories.
On Monday, we are once again on the road. We encounter Catholic churches founded by the Portuguese and crowded Hindu temples. The challenge to the presence of the Church is laid out before our eyes in all its awesomeness: we are dealing with a religion that is as ancient as it is present in its relevance.
Tuesday morning, we meet with the teachers of the school that hosts 2,300 students, from nursery school to junior college. Almost all 50 teachers are Catholic. The Rector invites me to speak of the Movement, and the thirty minutes fly by. We promise to send them copies of The Risk of Education so they may continue the work. In the courtyard, all the students are waiting for us, and on the dais, in the welcoming ceremony, the Rector introduces me and hands me the microphone. Only 300 of the students are Catholics; the others are Hindus and Muslims. I express my joy at being in their country for the first time, in a school that is the place of knowledge of the truth, necessary for becoming adults and serving one’s country and the world. I speak of the need to know and love one’s living tradition in the family, and thus of loving one’s parents. The Rector and Fr. Lawrence thank me. That night, my flight takes me to Singapore and Jakarta, to other colors and flavors, but the same enjoyable adventure of encounter.