Our Lady of Health Basilica, Harihar to hold Annual Feast

Harihar: Annual feast of Our Lady of Health Basilica, Harihar, Davanagere District, Diocese of Shimoga Christianity has a long history in the state of Karnataka. The history of Our Lady of Health Church dates back to the 18th century. A new Church dedicated to Our Lady of Health was built on 31 August 1992. On 27 May 2012, the shrine was officially declared a Diocesan Shrine of the Diocese of Shimoga.

The Vatican raised the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar to the status of a Minor Basilica on 18 September 2019. This is the third shrine in Karnataka to have received the status of Minor Basilica after St Mary’s Minor Basilica in the Archdiocese of Bangalore and St Lawrence Minor Basilica in the Diocese of Udupi. The official celebration of this milestone was held on 15 January 2020.

Festival of Our Lady of Good Health: The feast of Our Lady of Good Health is celebrated every year on September 8 – on the day of Nativity. There is a chariot procession carrying the statue of Our Lady of Good Health. The Chariot would be decked with (Sevanthige) Chrysanthemum flowers sourced from Arsikere.

This year’s festival begins on August 30. Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga will hoist the flag of the Blessed Virgin Mary. S. S. Mallikarjun, Hon’ble Minister of Mine & Geology and Horticulture, Government of Karnataka will be the chief guest.

From August 30 to September 7, every day at 5:30 pm there will be a procession, Novena, Floral Homage, Holy Eucharist, adoration healing prayer for the Sick will be led by different priests.

On September 7 evening 5:30 pm Mass will be offered by Most Rev. Dr Robert Miranda, Bishop of the Diocese of Gulbarga. Then there will be an Adoration and healing service led by Fr Franklin D’Souza, Fr Roman Pinto and Bro. T. K. George.

On September 8 festal day, there will be Masses in various languages. 5:15 am in Kannada, 6:15 am in Telugu, 7:15 am in Malayalam (Syro Malabar Rite) by Most Rev. Dr Joseph Arumachadath, Bishop of Diocese of Bhadravati, 8:45 am in Tamil, 10 am in English, 11 am festal Mass by Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Diocese of Shimoga. At 1:15 pm Mass in Konkani, 2:30 pm healing adoration by Yesusparsha Team. 4 pm Mass in Kannada, 5 pm Solemn procession, 7 pm Mass in Kannada.

Rev. Fr George K A, Rector of Our Lady of Health Basilica has made all preparations together with the faithful of Harihar.