The long awaited Chief Minister’s Scheme for Pilgrimage to Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, began on 29 Sept, at 11 AM from Habibganj Railway Station, Bhopal. Fr. Maria Stephen, the P.R.O. of Archdiocese of Bhopal and his team together with Ms Mary P.P. the official from the govt. to accompany the pilgrims and Mr. Vishwarkarma, Fr. Arul Samy, Fr. Shaji, and Coordinator Mr. Sudhir Sharma reached Railway Station to see off the pilgrims to Vellankanni.

 

Vellankanni is a world recognised pilgrimage centre for the devotees of all religions. The story goes back saying the sailors were saved from the storm and cyclone in sea through the intercession of Blessed Virgin Mary. Later the sailors built a small Church at Vellankanni village in honour of Mother Mary. So many miracles including healing the sick are witnessed by number of people.

Fr. Maria Stephen on behalf of entire pilgrims thanked Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the CM of M.P. and Archbishop Leo Cornelio for their generosity and kindness to arrange this wonderful pilgrimage to quench the thirst for God and said “the Happiness of human beings from external things remains temporary while the joy comes from inner being, related to God remains permanent”. This is the secret of spiritual happiness. He also thanked the entire team of Railways for arranging a comfortable journey to Velankanni. 

 Most Rev. Leo Cornelio, the Archbishop of Bhopal in his message also congratulated the pilgrims and blessed them to have a satisfied pilgrimage.

700 pilgrims from Bhopal, Indore, Sagar, Jabalpur and Betul districts of M.P. have undertaken pilgrimage to Vellankanni. As per the scheduled the pilgrims will reach Vellankanni on Monday 1^st Oct. at 4.30 pm and will start the journey to Bhopal on 2^nd Oct. at 8.30 pm.