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Basilica of Our Lady of Bandel | HOOGHLY
Diocese : Kolkata (1928) 1983 - Our Lady of Happy Voyage
Activities: Parish, Primary School, High School, Night School and Sunday School.
Bandel Church, Hooghly P.O. & Dt. W. Bengal 712 103
Email: olbandel@cal.vsnl.net.in
Fax: (033) 2631 0157
Phone:(033) 2631 2206 - House
(033) 2631 6057, (033) 2631 2793 - St. John?s
Mobile:(0)98304 19010 - Prior (0) 98304 19011
Website: www.ourladyofbandel.org or www.bandelbasilica.org
History:
Bandel Basilica was founded in 1599 by the Portuguese Augustinians monks. The Church and the Monastery were destroyed by the army of Shah Jahan in 1632. They were rebuilt in 1640 with the granting of a FIRMAN by the emperor. But in 1756 Siraj-ud-daula, the Moghul Governor of Bengal, destroyed part of the church along with all the records. In 1928 the shrine was entrusted to the Salesians in exchange for their institute at Tanjore by Bishop Texeira of Mylapore. Bandel at that time was a part of the Mylapore Padroado and then came under the archdiocese of Kolkata in 1930. The first Salesian prior was Fr. Raygasse. The riverside cross was built by Fr. Wolleston. The chapel on the Balcony top came up with the architectural efforts of Fr. Piasescky in 1959.
The Fatima Garden behind the Church has a beautiful statue of Our Lady set up by Fr. Marchesi. In 1968 a Retreat House was added to the Church complex. It was blessed by Fr. Aloysius Ricceri, Rector Major, on 14 November 1968.
In 1988 Bandel Church was raised to the honours of a Minor Basilica. It has been beautifully renovated recently by Fr. Louis Gobetti, and better facilities have been provided for the pilgrims. In the place of the old Augustinian Hall the new presbytery has been built.
The Community of the Basilica takes care of the adjacent St. John's School. This School was formerly called St. John's Middle English School and was opened on 10 July 1870 by Fr. A. C. Rodrigues, Prior of Bandel Church, for the education of the poor boys in the locality. The patron of this school is St. John Chrysostom. It was supported by Bandel Church with a Government grant-in-aid. It was raised to a High School on 2 January 1920. In 1928 it came into the hands of the Salesians who have considerably extended the school building over the years. In 1964, Fr. Charles Niznansky, the then Headmaster, built the ground floor on the Southern side of the school and in 1968 Fr. Anthony Doro and Fr. Erumpoozhil Chacko completed the first floor over the same building. In 1977-78, a two-storied Western wing was added by Fr. Thomas Kanjirathunkal and Fr. Mathew Manianchira. The medium of instruction is Bengali. Besides academic success, the school caters for the all-round development of the students through a variety of co-curricular activities.
Today:
Bandel today is a vibrant parish with numerous groups and associations. The Basilica is a centre of Marian devotion and a place of pilgrimage for devotees from all over India. The Retreat House provides space and opportunities for youth retreats, camps and seminars. Though it caters primarily for the youth, the facilities are open to all sections of the society.
St. John's School provides schooling for the local youth from classes I to 12, Coaching school in the evening for the poorest of the locality (reaching out to 300 students), Boarding facilities for 75 boys and evening classes for computer and spoken English for the local youth. |  |
Care of the Shrine and organization of pilgrimages and processions, Education and developmental works, Medical care in villages, Training of Catechists are some of the major activities.
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HOUSES IN PROVINCE