The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

The French Missionary Zeal resulted in the construction of a number of Churches in Pondicherry and The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was a product of that same Missionary endeavor. With distinct marks of French influences, the The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes also indicates at an attempt to assimilate the customs of the local people.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is situated at Villianur which is a village located at about 6 miles West of the city of Pondicherry. The work for the construction of the Church was begun in the year 1867 and the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was finally erected in the year 1876. The structure of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes resembles the Basilica in the France and the Church has close association with Our Lady of Lourdes Church in France.

An interesting feature of The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Tank, which is common in the Hindu Temples, within the Church campus. This feature indicates at the fusion of the local Hindu customs with the Christian Culture. The devotees bathe in the Tank during the ritual of honoring the Madonna. The Church is also a home to a statue of our Lady of Lourdes which had been brought down from Lourdes. On the first Saturday after Easter Sunday is celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes facilities of accommodation for the pilgrims visiting the Church.