Thousands gather to thank for St. Alphonsa

(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.