Name : St. Mary's Gunadala Matha Shrine
Location :
Gundala Matha Shrine, or Mary Matha Shrine, known popularly as St Mary’s Church, is constructed on a hilly region Gunadala in Krishna district near Vijayawada. An iron cross, erected atop the hill, stands as a rare distinction of the shrine.
Shrine History :
Mother Mary is said to have appeared on this hill as on 11th Feb.1858.
Description :
One of the most popular churches and pilgrim places for Christians in Andhra Pradesh, A shrine for the Christians situated in Gunadala, a hilly region of district Krishna at Vijayawada is the Mary Matha Shrine or Gunadala Matha Shrine and its more popular name, St Mary's Church. It has the rare distinction of having an iron cross set up on the hill top.
It houses a museum having a collection of ancient holy relics and precious gifts of the followers. The shrine is filled on Sundays and other important festivals and occasions. The annual feast for Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated with devotion and gaiety.its a famous pilgrimage place where people take the help of Mother Mary's prayers and lakhs of people come from all over places to worship, every February 9,10&11 more than 5 lakh people come to visit at the hill top.there are only steps way to go up the hill,and on the top there is a huge Jesus crucified statue
Annual Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes attracts many devotees and is celebrated with much enthusiasm and devotion. After getting their heads tonsured and breaking coconuts at the shrine, the devotees lined up to the grotto on the hillock to light candles.
The other side of extended gunadala hills haves historically important mogalrajapuram caves and a large statue of lord Shiva a top.
Gunadala Matha Festival
Gunadala Matha Festival was successful , more than 10 Lakh devotees attend this festival every year. Of those 10 Lakhs only 60% were Catholics means 4 lakh remaining people are mixed people from different religions ( Hindus, Muslims) and of course Protestants.
Ever year the Festival startes with Holy mass on 9th Feb at 6.30 AM and around 8.30 AM Adoration Started and will end on 11th Feb late night.
Many Religious ( Sisters , Priests, Deacons, Brothers, Seminary & Convent students) , General devotees from Vijayawada and other parts of AP also took part in this Adoration along with Jesus Youth of Vijayawada Diocese.
Contact : +91 9948695979, 0866-2450244
Websites : http://www.gunadalamathashrine.com/
