Friday, March 6, 2015

The Capuchin Missionaries work in North India.......Sardhana, UP

s you are about to leave Meerut along the road to Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee and Dehra Dun, you see a sign board on your left with Sardhana written on it in bold type. It stands there to indicate the road that turns off to a town 22 kms away. The road to Sardhana is tarred and for the most part shaded by trees on either side. After 16 kms you cross the broad Ganges canal built in 1848. Then the road turns right, and as it does, you see the church of Sardhana in the distance. On the side of the road, to the right of you, you see a small canal that was dug many years ago by the Begum of Sardhana, as an outlet for the water that used to flood the lower part of Sardhana during the monsoon.
Basilica of Our Lady of Graces, also known as Churches among the Churches, is dedicated to Virgin Mary. The Church was built by Begum Samru, a Muslim lady who married a European mercenary soldier Walter Reinhardt Sombre. Samru converted to Roman Catholicism in 1781 and adopted the name Joanna Nobilis. She is regarded as the only Catholic ruler in India, and ruled the Principality of Sardhana in 18th and 19th century.[2] The Church is the largest in North India.[3]

History[edit]

Begum Samru inherited the Jagir of Sardhana after her husband's death in 1778. Subsequently, she decided to construct a Church at Sardhana, dedicated to Virgin Mary. The construction of the Church costed Rs. 4 lakh, a huge amount in those days. Top masons were paid the equivalent of 25 p. per day, and the labourers in shells. Two huge lakes near the church are the result of the mud that was removed to supply the building material for the church. Two dates are often given for the beginning of the church - Mr. K. M. Munshi, the noted historian, gives the date as 1809. Many are inclined to follow this date because a Latin inscription over the main door of the church puts its dedication in 1822. The other date, given by Fr. Keegan in his study of the Begum, is 1820.[4] From WIKIPEDIA
 Our Capuchin friar who died in this place called Sardhana
 The Church built by the convert called Begum
 The entrance ....is decorated with stations of the Cross
 A lot of devotees come to pray here....it is a famous place for all....

 The tombstone of our Capuchin brother.....

 Capuchin Bishop who blessed the Church
 It is a beautiful church...very good place for prayer.....good architecture....
 Praying for Peace and good will among the people to Our Lady......
 Pilgrims from other states of India come here during winter....








 Br. Biru who drove me to this lovely place. We thanked God for our Capuchin brothers who came from Italy as Missionaries and evangelized in North India....even today their spirit and perfume of sanctity is felt and experienced by the Local Catholics.....

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