Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica Chemperi is one of the most prominent and vibrant parish, under the Archdiocese of Tellicherry. Most of the parishioners were descendants of very ancient traditional Catholic families of south Kerala, who migrated mainly from the provinces of Changanssery and Eranakulam. In the history there are many reasons for the migration of Catholic families to another place and this is recorded as Malabar Migration (Malabar means hilly area). In spite of their difficulties and hardship they kept their faith, professed it publically and practiced their ancient traditions which were handed over through their ancestors.
The brave and bold forefathers took refuge in the protection of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Blessed Mother, through their trying time of extreme wants and woes. The first Holy Mass in Chemperi was celebrated on 9 October 1947 at the house of Mr.Joseph Pulickal with 18 families and their family members. Emboldened with the newly charged spiritual fervour theses pious men started thinking about the construction of a new church and Mr. Alexander Kadookunnel donated 5 acres of land for the realization of their spiritual intention. Rev. Fr. Dr. Kuriakose Kudakkachira became the first vicar of Chemperi parish under the Latin Diocese of Calicut. After the erection of the Tellicherry diocese, Chemperi parish was established under the diocese of Tellicherry and Fr. Kudakkachira was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Jacob Varikatt who constructed the new church on 1958 in the land donated by Mr.Joseph Pulickal and Mr. Varkey Mukkuzhy.
The Parish Church which has been the solace for the migrants and their progeny for decades has won the sobriquet of the Lourdes of Malabar (North Kerala). Devotees from all castes and creeds come here every day to seek the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes (Chemperi Mathavu in local Language), the Blessed Mother. The place abounds with the tales of the interventions of the Blessed Mother. The multitude of pilgrims who pour into the Church during the Feast days in the month of February and other occasions bears the testimony to its significance. In 2006, due to the increase in the number of families and faithful the old church was rebuilt under the stewardship of Rev. Fr. George Narippara and was consecrated in 2006 by Mar George Valiamattam the second bishop of Tellicherry.
Our Lady of Lourdes Forane Parish is located at the centre of the Archdiocese of Tellicherry a thickly Catholic populated parish with 1400 families and 7850 members. This Forane parish has 11 filial parishes within it and up to now it has contributed 60 priests and 215 nus to the Catholic Church. This sacred Marian pilgrim parish stands atop a serene mound in all its majesty amidst the ecstatic view of the surrounding hills rising to meet the sky. The façade of the Church overlooks a spacious parking lot and a cute township where it has all amenities needed to sustain a thriving rural life. This parish abounds with the accounts of the interventions of blessed mother and thus the church is centered with 5 church sanctuaries of shrines. The smooth flowing hill Highway that passes through Chemperi links it with villages and towns far and near. Besides, many long distance buses to southern Kerala and Karnataka State pass through Chemperi. It is just an hour away from Kannur International Airport and Kannur Railway Station.
Chemperi parish has excellent Educational Institutions like Senior Secondary Schools and Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, the pride of the Archdiocese. Swanthanam, the Palliative Care Centre, Vimala Hospital and Karunalayam, the home for the aged, speak volumes of its role in humanitarian services. Many Religious Congregations have their houses here serving the people of God in this region. Besides, several offices of the Local Self Government, Public Utility Institutions, Banks, Commercial Establishments, etc. substantiate the pivotal role of Chemperi. The parish our Lady of Lourdes Basilica has been consistently playing a constructive role in the social, cultural, economic and demographic growth of the region.
On the occasion of the platinum jubilee of the Chemperi parish, it was renovated under the guardianship of Rev Rector Dr. George Kanjirakkattu and it was consecrated on 11 August 2024 by Mar Joseph Pamplani, the Archbishop of Tellicherry. It was upgraded to the status of Minor Basilica on 14 August 2024 by His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, the Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church. The Basilica stand on its Majesty and grace to pour her miraculous benevolences to her devotees.
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