THRISSUR: The Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours will celebrate its 90th annual feast with a special focus on social welfare programmes. As part of the three-day feast which will begin on November 28, the church authorities will undertake various social welfare programmes of `90 lakh in its 90th year of celebration, Basilica director Fr Davis Pulikkottil said at a press meet here.
Besides, various religious and cultural programmes have also been organised apart from charity services. The charity and social welfare programmes include financial aid to children who require heart operation, dialysis to 90 renal patients, financial aid for constructing houses and conducting marriages, medical treatment assistance to poor and destitute and accident claim insurance coverage for all people under the parish, among other things.On Friday morning, Msgr. Joseph Chittilappilly will perform the customary solemn Mass which will be followed by a spiritual discourse by Fr Pauly Kannookadan.
In the evening, Ramanathapuram Bishop Mar Paul Alappattu will lead the Holy Mass. Later, City Police Commissioner Jacob Job will switch on the illumination arranged as part of the feast.On Saturday, a Holy Mass will be held led by Archdiocese vicar Msgr. George Edakalathur at the church, which will be followed by ‘Kooduthurakka' ceremony and procession. Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur Mar Raphael Thattil will lead the rites in the evening.On November 30, Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath will perform the customary solemn Mass in the morning. A procession from Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral Church to the Basilica will be held in the evening, accompanied by various sets of bands, melam, 'panchavadyam' and illuminated chariot.
Built in Indo-Gothic style of architecture, the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours is popularly called Puthen Pally.