This article needs additional citations for verification .(December 2010) |
| 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″N78°56′29.0″E / 10.864000°N 78.941389°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic and French architecture |
| Website | |
| https://poondimadhabasilica.org | |
Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, 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.
Cardinal Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy declared the Shrine of Our Lady of Poondi as a permanent pilgrimage centre of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. On 3 August 1999, the shrine was declared as Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II.
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]