Our Lady of Vallarpadam

National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam (also known as Our Lady of Ransom).

The recently built Rosary Park infront of the church.

The church website gives the history and detials on the observances at the church.

Our Lady of Rosary, Murikkumpadam

The chapel and the statue of The Queen of the Holy Rosary, popularly called Murikkumpadathamma, was established by the Portuguese missionaries. The chapel was destroyed by floods twice and after both instances, it was reconstructed by devotees on a grander scale.
In 1996, a new, more spacious church was constructed behind the chapel, thanks to the perseverance and support of the devotees. But the chapel itself, where the statue of Holy Mary is placed, still attracts a large number of the faithful.
Every year, on April 30th, Holy Mass is celebrated with asthappadu, and throughout the month of May, special prayers (vanakkamaasam) are recited every evening at 7:30. The feast is concluded with the celebration of the Holy Mass and a procession carrying the statue of Murikkumpadathamma.

The scanned image and the translated text given above are taken from the booklet published by the church for the feast of May 2007.

Cruz Milagres Church, Vypin

Here is a video created from the images of my parish, Cruz Milagres (Kurisingal) Church, Vypin.
Hymn courtesy of CAC, Cochin.

St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi

Built in 1516, this is one of the oldest European Churches in India. Vasco da Gama's body was originally burried here. . Now this is run by the Church of South India. This church was a stone's throw away from my school, St. John De Britto's.

There is a Wikipedia entry for the church.


Location: Near Parade ground, Fort Kochi.

Infant Jesus Church, Ernakulam

This church is very close to my heart as I got married here! A small, but beautiful, portugese church right opposite to the Ernakulam highcourt. I am grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for inculcating in me a fondness for this church even much before I got married.
The altar here, though simple, is very spectacular:

Location: Opposite Highcourt, Ernakulam

The Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypin

I did my primary education at the Lady of Hope Anglo Indian School, Vypin, which was attached to this church and the Cannosian Convent. The church overlooks the navigation channel and Fort Kochi beyond that, lined with Chinese fishing nets.

Location: Fort Vypin, Kerala

Built in 1605