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The Church of Our Lady of Bandel or simply Bandel Church, is the oldest and most famous Catholic Marian shrine in eastern India.  Some 50 kms from Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state, the historic monastery on the river Hooghly was built by Portuguese traders in 1599 and entrusted to small group of Augustinian Friars.  Later a church was built with the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, which now is on the balcony of Bandel Church, revered as Our Lady of Happy Voyage.  Bandel Church came under the charge of the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1928.  Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta has designated Bandel Church as a special Jubilee of Mercy Church during the current Jubilee of Mercy, which Pope Francis officially inaugurated for the worldwide Catholic Church by opening the Holy Door of Mercy of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Dec. 8.  Since June 2015, Indian Salesian Fr. T.L. Francis has been the prior as well as parish priest of Bandel Church.  Visitors and pilgrims at the shrine now have a few pleasant surprises that Fr. Francis has introduced.   We called Fr. on his mobile phone to know about them.

Last week, in the first of a 2-part interview Fr. Francis spoke about the opening of the Holy Door of Mercy of Bandel shrine on Dec. 13, the same day Archbishop D’Souza opened the Holy Door in Kolkata.  Fr. Francis said that that main Jubilee of Mercy event being organized in the parish substations is the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and adoration.  He said that end of February the shrine is hosting a Bible convention to help the faithful experience the forgiveness and mercy of the Father through the Word of God.  With regard to reconciliation or confession, which is an integral part of the Jubilee of Mercy, Fr. TL Francis said the Salesians are ever ready to serve pilgrims who request for confession and Mass.  He said he is organizing visits to persons and families who have strayed away from the Catholic Church, to help them taste the forgiveness and mercy of God.

Those who are visiting Bandel after more than a year have some surprises.  The prior of Bandel shrine said that due to the huge crowds, the church was close to the public on Christmas Day following the morning Mass.  But entering the shrine grounds, pilgrims could see a huge nativity scene of the birth of Jesus.  Another outstanding feature that no can miss is the open-air Way of the Cross – the 14 life-size Stations of the Cross, piously depicting Christ’s suffering and death.  The Way of the Cross is a recent addition to the shrine by Fr. Francis who took over as prior in June.  He said the Way of the Cross is something that evokes awe, piety and devotion in both Christians as well as non-Christians, and many  watch, meditate and pray in front of the figures.  In the monastery, one can also see pictures of Mary  and  near the entrance there is a large statue of Jesus on the Mount inviting all to come to Him.    Local  media reported that at Christmas over 100,000 people had visited Bandel. 

Fr. Francis admitted that his faith is growing witnessing the faith and devotion of the pilgrims, many of them non-Christians.   Recently, he said, a man, probably a non-Christian, handed him a packet of rice that he begged for Jesus.  Deeply moved by the gesture, Fr. Francis placed it at the feet of Baby Jesus in the Crib.   Another  new feature at Bandel Shrine now is the exposition of the historic mast of a ship.   Today, Fr. Francis begins the final part of this interview by telling us about this centuries old mast.

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