Lady Of Lourdes Shrine, Villianur - Pondicherry

In the year 1867, the MEP (Missions Étrangères de Paris) missionaries serving in Puducherry envisioned the establishment of a chapel in Villianur, a small town located about 13 kilometers from Puducherry, en route to Villupuram. To realize this vision, a parcel of land was acquired in Kanuvapet, on the outskirts of Villianur. However, constructing a Christian chapel in proximity to a major Hindu temple, the Thirukameswarer Gogilambigai Temple, required delicate negotiations and understanding. Thanks to the efforts of Rev. Fr. Gou, then procurator of the Puducherry Mission, these negotiations succeeded, and the foundation of the future sanctuary was laid.

The construction of the chapel spanned a decade, symbolizing both perseverance and devotion. A generous thanksgiving offering by the family of Dr. Lephine, who believed his daughter had been miraculously cured, financed much of the effort. This act of faith and gratitude laid the spiritual cornerstone of the church.

When the chapel was finally completed, Rev. Fr. Tarbes, a cousin of St. Bernadette Soubirous—the visionary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France—was appointed as the first Parish Priest. Owing to his close familial connection and firsthand knowledge of the Lourdes apparitions, the chapel was consecrated under the name of Our Lady of Lourdes. This made it the first church in the world outside Lourdes, France, to be dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, giving it immense historical and spiritual significance.

The Miraculous Statue

In 1877, a devout parishioner of the church commissioned a six-foot-tall statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. The statue arrived at the Puducherry port on April 4, 1877. Remarkably, the crate carrying the statue fell three times en route to the Cathedral—but not even a single scratch was found on the statue. This incident was perceived as a sign of divine protection. The statue was soon transported to Villianur and installed at the chapel, quickly becoming a focus of intense devotion.

In the years that followed, numerous miracles were attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes through this statue. In 1885, Archbishop Laouënan documented these miraculous events and presented them to Pope Leo XIII in Rome. After careful consideration, the Pope granted official recognition to the shrine. On 21 February 1886, the site was declared an official Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the statue received canonical coronation, elevating its sacred status in the Catholic world.

The Sacred Pond

One of the most unique features of the Villianur shrine is its Sacred Pond, situated directly in front of the church. Originally, this was a natural irrigation reservoir, connected to Ousteri Lake—a major water body located about 10 km away. In time, the pond was transformed into a sacred space by Fr. Lesbond, the then Parish Priest, with the support of benefactors from Zigon, led by Mr. Lesage. A statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was brought from France by Mr. Larocgue, and in 1924, a ceremonial installation was held to consecrate both the statue and the pond.

Today, the Sacred Pond is believed by devotees to possess miraculous healing properties. Pilgrims visit the site, many seeking blessings, cures, and spiritual solace. The belief in the healing power of the water adds to the shrine's popularity and uniqueness, making it the only Catholic church in Asia known to have a consecrated pond within its premises.