Prophet Jonah spent three days in the bowels of the fish. Christ was entombed in the sepulchre three days. Meenakshiamma and the child were submerged in the waters near Vallarpadam for three days. Our Lady of Ransom enshrined at the pilgrim centre at Vallarpadam guided the then parish priest, Fr. Miguel Correa to rescue Meenakshiamma and the child from the waters. Meenakshiamma and the child were subsequently baptized and Christened Mary and Jesudas. In gratitude for the miraculous rescue, both of them spent the rest of their lives at the holy shrine. They vowed themselves to be the devoted servants of Our Lady of Ransom, affectionately called Our Lady of Vallarpadam.

People from all walks of life, different castes and creed, throng to the shrine, seeking the protection of Our Lady of Vallarpadam. The benign Mother pours blessings to the childless, sick and poor and throws Her protective mantle on children in particular.
 

Blessings of Boats

After   the   miraculous  incident of  the  rescue  of  Meenakshiyamma   and  child ,    all   those who  travel  through  the   rivers    and   back  waters of  Kerala, come to the church and gets the blessings of  Our Lady of Vallarpadam.  Fishermen , especially  those  who live  in  the  coastal areas  come  at least  once in  a year for the  blessings.

People  from different castes  and creed comes  to  Vallarpadam with their families to  get the blessings   from     Our Lady of Vallarpadam.    This  includes people from the state and out of the state.

Lots of  childless   couples  got  blessed   with children by the grace of   Vallarpadathamma. A multitude of photos and proofs for the above   is   kept   at  the    church.  Hence    numerous childless couples from different parts of India comes to Vallarpadam.

Blessings

Feast

Every year we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Vallarpadam  from the september 16 to 24. People from different  religions and  castes  throng to Vallarpadam  for  the   annual Feast . They  also  bring  their  children to keep them  as Adima   to Vallarpadathamma. These  children  grow up both mentally and physically  well with the  grace  of Vallarpadathamma.

Usually pilgrims come and pray to Vallarpadom for their various needs such as cure of sickness, for birth of a child etc.  People  from different parts  comes to the Vallarpadam church with their families to  attend the holy mass and Novena to Vallarpadathamma regularly.

Holy Mass

After it being declared a national shrine, the number of pilgrims is steadily increasing.  The newly constructed Goshree bridges have made the access to the shrine a lot more easier.  Thus the prayers and a great dream of the elderly people are being fulfilled.  It has been the dream of a lot of people to  make a pilgrimage to  Vallarpadam and make themselves the Adima of Our Lady.

 OTHER RITUALS AND BLESSINGS- >>