Infant Jesus Shrine - Bangalore
Infant Jesus Church is a Roman Catholic church in Bangalore. Established in 1971, in Vivek Nagar area of Bangalore, the church is dedicated to Infant Jesus. It is most known the Infant Jesus Shrine which was built to commemorate the historic Infant Jesus of Prague, and since then numerous miracles have been attributed to the shrine leading to its increasing popularity. A new church building adjacent to the old building was added in 2005.
The foundation of the Infant Jesus Church was laid on April 18, 1969, by Rev Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy, the then Archbishop of Bangalore. Thereafter, in May 1971, Rev. Fr. L. Peter after being appointed the first parish priest, brought the statue of Infant Jesus from Sacred Heart Church, Bangalore and started a tent church at the site. The congregation continued thus for the next eight years, and finally the church building was inaugurated on June 29, 1979, by Rev. Dr. D. S. Lourduswamy, who had then become Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome.
The present church building was inaugurated on June 9, 2005, by Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, and dedicated by Rev. Dr. Pedro López Quintana, Apostolic Nuncio to India. It has a fan shaped hall, which seats 2500 people, and was designed by K. Thomas and Associates, Bangalore. The central mural of the church replicates the nativity scene at Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The popularity of the church grew sharply after the miracles of the shrine inspired a Tamil film, Kuzhanthai Yesu (1984), starring Saritha, Rajesh and comedian Senthil. Over the years, the Thursday mass at the church has grown in audience and today it is frequented by 10,000 people from various religions, and on the day, the church holds seven masses in different languages.
Each year on January 14, the annual feast day at the Church, being celebrated since 1971 saw thousands of people visit the church, while hundreds more gathers around it, to watch the ceremonies. The devotion to Infant Jesus has become widespread and the Infant Jesus Shrine is now known as the place of pilgrimage, miracles and Divine solace not only in this state, but across the country. Thousand of devotees from all faiths throng the shrine on Thursday, to honour our Infant Jesus.
Honour the Divine Child in your homes and in your hearts and the joy of His bountiful aid will be yours.
Read MoreThe foundation of the Infant Jesus Church was laid on April 18, 1969, by Rev Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy, the then Archbishop of Bangalore. Thereafter, in May 1971, Rev. Fr. L. Peter after being appointed the first parish priest, brought the statue of Infant Jesus from Sacred Heart Church, Bangalore and started a tent church at the site. The congregation continued thus for the next eight years, and finally the church building was inaugurated on June 29, 1979, by Rev. Dr. D. S. Lourduswamy, who had then become Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome.
The present church building was inaugurated on June 9, 2005, by Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, and dedicated by Rev. Dr. Pedro López Quintana, Apostolic Nuncio to India. It has a fan shaped hall, which seats 2500 people, and was designed by K. Thomas and Associates, Bangalore. The central mural of the church replicates the nativity scene at Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The popularity of the church grew sharply after the miracles of the shrine inspired a Tamil film, Kuzhanthai Yesu (1984), starring Saritha, Rajesh and comedian Senthil. Over the years, the Thursday mass at the church has grown in audience and today it is frequented by 10,000 people from various religions, and on the day, the church holds seven masses in different languages.
Each year on January 14, the annual feast day at the Church, being celebrated since 1971 saw thousands of people visit the church, while hundreds more gathers around it, to watch the ceremonies. The devotion to Infant Jesus has become widespread and the Infant Jesus Shrine is now known as the place of pilgrimage, miracles and Divine solace not only in this state, but across the country. Thousand of devotees from all faiths throng the shrine on Thursday, to honour our Infant Jesus.
Honour the Divine Child in your homes and in your hearts and the joy of His bountiful aid will be yours.