Blessed Alphonsa's Tomb, Bharananganam 

Bharananganam known as Lisieux of India after the birthplace of St. Theresa of Lisieux in France, is located on the banks of Meenachil river, 5 km east of Pala in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala. The thousand year old St. Mary's Church here is one of the famous pilgrim centers of the Christians in Kerala. Also known as Anakkallu Palli, it is the place holding the mortal remains of St.Alphonsa (1910-1946) who has been pronounced blessed by the Vatican.  

The death anniversary of Blessed Sister Alphonsa, which falls on the 28th July is an important day for the devotees. Every year on this day, thousands of devotees visit this holy shrine and the Mortuary Chapel, next to the church where the mortal remains of the saint is preserved, to pray and seek her blessings.

Blessed Alphonsa was born on 19th August 1910 at Kudamaloor, a rural village near Kottayam in Kerala state. Sister Alphonsa, was the fourth child of Joseph and Mary Muttathupadathu. Nicknamed as Annakutty, Alphonsa's mother died when she was very young and she was raised by her maternal aunt and her great-uncle Rev. Fr. Joseph Muttathupadathu. As a child, little Alphonsa was inspired by St Theresa of Lisieux and she wanted to dedicate her life to Christ. At 13 of years of age, she burned herself to escape from a marriage proposal. Against such determined resistance, her aunt allowed her to join a convent. She then joined Franciscan Clarist convent at Bharananganam in 1927 taking the name Alphonsa, and received her postulant's veil on 2nd August 1928. Sr. Alphonsa spent 20 years of her life there. She also taught one year at a School in Vakakkad. All through her life, Alphonsa suffered from health problems, and after years of illness and great suffering she died on 28th July 1946. She was buried at Bharananganam in Palai diocese.

Blessed Alphonsa lived a saintly life and was recognized as a saintly person during her lifetime. It is said that in spite of her painful diseases, she was cheerful to the last.

It was her students who established the cult of Blessed Alphonsa. After her death, they began visiting her tomb and offering prayers. As they continued, they started receiving favours. Ever since, her tomb has been a centre of pilgrimage and innumerable miracles. The first officially confirmed miracle was that of Jinil, a disabled child who was miraculously cured of his ailment and his limbs restored, due to prayers at the altar of Sister Alphonsa's shrine. The miracle was approved in 1985. 

The diocesan process of her beatification started on December 2, 1953 under the leadership of Cardinal Tisserant. Her beatification( recognition by the Church of a dead person's accession to heaven) was blessed by Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Kerala in 1986. On June 1, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI authorised her canonization, the proceedings of which will be completed in 2008 and she will become Saint Alphonsa on October 12, 2008. Blessed Alphonsa is the first person to be conferred sainthood from the Kerala Church, which traces its origins to the visit of St Thomas around 2,000 years ago to preach the gospel in India, and the second Indian to get that status after St Gonsalo Garcia.

The Clarist convent where Sr. Alphonsa lived is located near St. Mary's Forane Church in Bharanganam and to the north of the convent is the Mortuary Chapel inside which the Tomb of  Blessed Alphonsa is placed. There is a museum adjacent to the chapel where her personal belongings such as books, umbrella, cot etc. is well preserved. It has a copy of  the sermon of Alphonsa’s funeral which reads: "Alphonsa is among the few great souls who lived in India; who have achieved greatness in God’s sight". Adjacent to this, is her room where she spent many years. The cot which she used during her illness is considered most sacred. There is a two floored structure in front of the chapel which was originally the Papal podium for the beatification ceremony on 8th Feb.1986.

Now there are churches and shrines carrying the name of Blessed Alphonsa across Kerala and in other states, and in the United States, of the parishes of 1,00,000  immigrant Syro-Malabar Catholics, two parishes have already been named after Blessed Alphonsa. 

For more details Contact

Blessed Alphonsa's Chapel

Bharananganam P.O.

Kottayam- 686578

Ph : 0482-2236244, 2238144

or

Vicar, St. Mary's Forane Church, Anakkallu

Bharananganam, diocese of Palai, Kerala
Phone 0482-2237144, 2238145
Contact now - E-mail

How to reach Bharananganam: 

Bharananganam town is located 5 kms east of Palai in Kottayam district on the Kottayam - Erattupett Road. Palai lies 30 k.m southwest of Kottayam.

Air : The nearest airport is at Kochi International Airport, Nedumbassery about 76 km km from Kottayam.  The routes are Nedumbassery - Aluva - Kalamassery - Thripunithra - Ettumanoor - Pala -Bharanganam or Nedumbassery - Kalady - Perumbavoor - Muvattupuzha - Thodupuzha - Palai -Bharanganam 

Rail  : The nearest railhead is Ettumanoor which is 12 kms from Palai and the nearest railway station is at Kottayam (33 km) and is connected with major cities of South India. 

Road : There are frequent buses from Kottayam and Palai to Bharanganam, and Kottayam is well connected by road to all important South Indian cities and towns. 

Accommodation 

Being a rural area, Bharanganam does not have much staying options.  It is better to seek other alternatives and stay in Palai or Kottayam city where one can easily find home stays, guest house, resorts of various range. Click here to find hotels in Kottayam.