Overview

History of Our Lady of Health Church & “Shanthitheeram” Shrine, ChellanamOn the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kochi, approximately one kilometer north of St. Sebastian’s Parish Church, Chellanam, stands the Church of Our Lady of Health (Arogyamatha Church) and its adjoining Marian chapel, known as "Shanthitheeram" (Shore of Peace).Every day, scores of faithful devotees visit this maternal haven to offer prayers, finding peace, solace, and comfort amidst their life struggles, pain, and afflictions. Pilgrims and devotees testify with profound gratitude to the miracles, divine signs, and tangible blessings experienced through the special presence and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even pilgrims traveling from distant lands depart from this tranquil shore with hearts renewed by consolation and spiritual peace.The Origin (1980 – 1983)The miraculous statue of Our Lady of Good Health was enshrined here on January 19, 1983. This sacred statue resembles the miraculous idol venerated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, and was offered as a votive thanksgiving by Azhinakkal Yohannan Joseph.In 1980, Azhinakkal Joseph decided to embark on a pilgrimage with his family to Velankanni to pray for his wife, Rosakkutty, who suffered from severe heart disease. Despite medical advice warning against travel, they set out carrying her medicines. While praying at the shrine, Rosakkutty became critically ill and exhausted. During fervent prayer before Mother Mary, she experienced a divine presence touching and calling her. Instantly filled with new vigor in body and spirit, she shared her healing experience with her family and praised the Blessed Mother.Discarding her medications and medical prescriptions, she made a solemn vow on her return journey to donate a statue of Our Lady of Good Health to her home parish, St. Sebastian’s Church. Following this miraculous event, she never suffered from cardiac ailments again.Establishment on the Sea Coast (1981 – 1983)In 1981, over 90 families—including former members of the Maruvakkad Sacred Heart Chapel Votive Guild alongside newly joined members—formed the St. Sebastian’s Votive Guild at Maruvakkad. Every year on January 18, in conjunction with the parish feast, it was customary to bring the statue of St. Sebastian to the current seaside location for an all-night prayer vigil before returning it to the church on January 19.Yohannan Joseph believed that this serene seashore—where St. Sebastian’s statue was ceremonially placed each year—was the most fitting location to install the statue of Mother Mary, so that the blessings of the Star of the Sea (Stella Maris) would always protect local fishermen and coastal residents. After consulting with the guild, the statue was blessed at his residence on January 19, 1983, by the parish vicar, Rev. Fr. George Malatt, and solemnly installed at the present site.At the time, this location was a clear, stone-free sandy beach where local fishermen launched and docked their country boats. The fishermen contributed generously to construct the pedestal for the statue, while Ambalathunkal Chandy Jacob generously donated the land for the installation.The Early Years, The Novena, and Sea-bed MiraclesOn Saturday, January 22, 1983, the Novena to Our Lady of Good Health commenced. Although only local neighbors attended initially, pilgrim numbers grew rapidly.Because devotees knelt on bare sand inside an open thatched-roof shed, the community considered purchasing coir mats. Remarkably, two rolls of coir matting washed ashore on the beach—a moment widely recognized as a sign of Mother Mary's providence. Many devotees who tied strands of fiber from these washed-ashore mats around afflicted limbs testified to complete physical healings.During this era, small bivalve sea shells (ithil) gathered along the shore bore distinct visual outlines resembling the Blessed Mother, which pilgrims took home as sacred keepsakes. Blessed oil and puffed rice (malar) distributed from the shrine brought healing to many afflicted individuals.To accommodate the growing crowds of pilgrims wishing to spend time in prayer, 6.5 cents of land was purchased from Chandy Jacob using votive donations, and a permanent chapel was constructed. On September 28, 1985, the Bishop of Cochin, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kureethara, blessed and consecrated the new chapel.The Miracle of the Lost Fishermen (1985)On a Friday in 1985, a five-member fishing crew from Kanyakumari (including a 12-year-old boy) operating in Kochi was caught in a severe storm, causing their boat to capsize in deep waters. Facing certain death, they saw a radiant light in the far distance and swam tirelessly toward it.Early on Saturday morning, as local fishermen arrived to launch their boats, they discovered the exhausted crew lying on the beach in front of the chapel. The villagers were astonished by their account of following a bright beacon on the shoreline—because the entire Chellanam area had suffered a total electrical blackout throughout that day and night.After receiving parish assistance to return home, the grateful fishermen returned to the shrine a few days later to offer prayers of thanksgiving.Declaration as a Marian Shrine & Parish GrowthTo serve the continuous stream of pilgrims, the chapel was renovated on March 21, 1987, adding an office building and an elevated altar. During this period, Rev. Fr. Paul Punnakkattussery served faithfully as chaplain.In 1987, designated as the Marian Year, the chapel was officially declared a Marian Pilgrimage Centre. From September 4 to 8, 1987, the annual patronal feast was celebrated under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Joseph Kariyil (then Director of POC). Ever since, the annual feast is celebrated grandly from September 4 to 8.Pilgrim footfall continued to multiply, particularly for Saturday Holy Mass and Novena devotions. Priests from the Carmelite Monastery, Maruvakkad, have provided dedicated pastoral and spiritual ministry here. The original Novena hymns composed and tuned by lyricist and artist V. X. Tom Chellanam continue to be sung during devotions.Donations and Expansion MilestonesSeptember 8, 1998: Raphael Mattammel of Kumbalanghi erected a commemorative flagpole (kodimaram) by the roadside in memory of his late wife, Celine Raphael.September 8, 2005: K. J. Antony Koottungal erected an ornamental roadside arch in memory of his parents.2009: Nediyaparambil Thomas Francis donated approximately 12 cents of land and access pathway on the southern boundary as an offering for the recovery and health of his daughter, Sylvia.Land Acquisition: To accommodate rising pilgrim numbers, the parish purchased 20 cents of adjacent land to the north from Shri Kadaviparambil Pathrose Antony.Renovation & Foundation (2012)The foundation stone for the renovated church structure was blessed and laid on September 8, 2012. The stone was solemnized and blessed by the Bishop of Cochin, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kariyil, and the foundation stone was formally laid by former Union Minister Prof. K. V. Thomas.A dedicated chapel named "Shanthitheeram" was built and donated by Rani Joseph in loving memory of her late husband, Sir Joseph Puliyanath (Thoppumpady), to house the miraculous statue of the Blessed Mother. Devotee Shri Jose Alappatt (Ernakulam) also provided major inspiration and financial assistance toward the church renovation.