The Madras-Mylapore diocese of the Catholic Church is processing for the Vatican, a presentation seeking sainthood status on late Thattipatri Gnanamma of Kilachery parish limits in Thiruvallur district.
Currently. Gnanamma is treated as ‘Servant of God’ by the Church. The diocese has completed the next process which if approved by the Vatican will elevate her status to ‘Blessed’ .
On July 22, 5.30 pm onwards, archbishop Rev. George Antonysamy will celebrate Holy Mass at St Thomas Cathedral, San Thome and mark the close of the diocesan process on the application to elevate Gnanamma’s status.
The special event will be webcast on Madha TV.
Gnanamma, lived some 150 years ago; a wealthy widow, wife of the local church catechist ( who assists at church), she sent all her five sons to train for priesthood; four were ordained priests. She also founded two congregation of nuns, one being St. Anne’s of Madras, now commonly called St Anne’s of Madhavaram, where the headquarters exist. The other congregation was based in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
She was deeply involved in social and religious work and founded a local school.
Today, the Kilachery parish which covers the area where Gnanamma lived and died celebrates her every month – Mass at her tomb and services at this church, says Fr. Praveen, till recently the parish priest.
“We get a steady stream of people here….people who know of this pious woman,” adds the priest.
If the process of ‘Blessed’ is acknowledged, then starts the process for sainthood.
- Photo shows children at a church meet at Kilachery where a portrait of Gnanamma adorns the wall; photo courtesy; Kilachery parish
