(November 10, 2008) Some 100,000 people attended a thanksgiving Mass and public meeting
that ended a nine-day program to thank God for the life of newly canonized St. Alphonsa.
Prefect of Vatican Congregation for Oriental Churches Cardinal Leonardo Cardinal Sandri
and former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam were among the luminaries attended
the Sunday evening programs. The Saint’s native Palai diocese organized the program
along with all the dioceses in the state. Most bishops in the state concelebrated
the Mass, making it a solemn and pious celebration. The grand function was at St.
Mary's Church, Bharananganam, where Saint Alphonsa is buried. The clarist nun lived
in a convent near the church until her death in 1946, at the age of 36. Addressing
the gathering Kalam recited certain poems he had written in his "pilgrimage to the
tomb of St. Alphonsa" and made the youth to pledge to work the nation. He said St.
Alphonsa had dreamed of greater heights and so she achieved the greatest." He said
that he used to wonder how one can possibly attain sainthood through suffering and
had a talk with his teacher, a catholic priest who told him all about St. Alponsa.
Cardinal Sandri, who chaired the function called for religious freedom in this “land
of non violence,” He said non-violence is the only viable means through which we can
fight violence. His speech also reminded the thousands of Christians who suffer in
Orissa following an anti-Christian violence there and asked for prayers from the faithful.
Syro Malabar Church’s spokesperson Fr Paul Thelekatt told media over one 100,000 people
function. More than 90 bishops from all denominations attended the function.