18th Aug 2025: The annual pilgrimage of the Crusaders to Vailankanni is organised mostly in the month of August. Besides the spiritual content of the pilgrimage, there is also the fun and relaxation part included in the pilgrimage tour itenary.
This year, on 18th August 2025, around 120 pilgrims set out from Goa by train on the annual pilgrimage of the Crusaders to Vailankanni. Fr. Walter D’Sa, former Parish Priest of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji and also the Ex-Principal of St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, accompanied the pilgrims. Upon arriving in Vailankanni on 19th August 2025, everyone was logged at the Shrine Retreat House in Vailankanni. After having rested sufficiently, the pilgrims gathered together in the retreat hall for Mass, which Fr. Walter celebrated. Next, there was an introductory session and was followed by a rosary procession up to Our Lady’s Tank.
On the following day, 20th August 2025, the pilgrims set out early morning to do the Way of the Cross. This was followed by a 1-hour prayer session before the Blessed Sacrament at the retreat centre. Then, after breakfast, the pilgrims headed to the Shrine Basilica to attend the Holy Mass in English. The rest of the time was spent on private devotions, offering Masses, confession, etc. In the evening, there was praise and worship, and special talks given by Br on the topic of death – how one needs to be always prepared spiritually and what really happens after one dies. the departed souls depend much on our prayers to receive God’s mercy. After the talks, a penance and reconciliation session was conducted by Br. Edmund Antao.
On 21st August 2025, the pilgrims set out of the retreat house early morning in various directions to spend time alone in personal prayer. After returning to the retreat house, there was a session of adoration conducted by Br. Edmund Antao. Once again, the pilgrims attended the English Mass at 10 am at the Shrine Basilica and after that, they were given free time for their private devotions. After having the evening tea, the pilgrims were taken to a nearby charity home where they had the opportunity to interact with the inmates. Later in the evening, orphans from the charity home run by Br. Jairaj were invited to the retreat centre. Time was given to interact with the orphans. After that, everyone settled down to listen to the talk given by Br. Edmund on the whole aspect of spiritual growth – how we need to progress from faith to love. The day finally ended on a very joyful note, where everyone danced to the tune of music.
On 22nd August 2025, the day began with personal prayers and morning adoration. It was also the feast day of the Queenship of Mary, the crowning moment of the entire Vailankanni pilfrimage. After the celebration of the Holy Mass, all the pilgrims gather outside the Shrine Basiclica and go in a procession up to the place where the statue of Our Lady of Vailankanni is venerated. Having spent enough time in Vailankanni in a very meaningful way, the pilgrims finally departed from there in the evening and arrived early morning in Welllingon on 23rd August 2025. They were housed at the Don Bosco retreat Centre.
From 23rd August 2025, the pilgrims were taken to the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in Coonoor. There they spent time interacting with the inmates, conducting praise and worship sessions for them, etc. Mother Mary Ignatius from Turkey, who had come down to India for a short time came especially all the way to the Coonoor Home to meet Br. Edmund and all the pilgrims. Later, everyone was taken to Sagaya Mata church in Coonoor. After spending some time in prayer, they were then taken to the Shrine of St. Anthony. This was a unique experience for everyone for two reasons: One is that a majority of them have a deep devotion to the saint. The second reason is that the shrine is where the first class relic (directly taken from the dead body) is kept. After that, everyone returned back to the retreat house in Wellington.
24th August 2025, being a Sunday, the pigrims were previleged to celebrate the Holy Mass at Kandal Cross Shrine in Ooty. The most unique feature of this church is the bronze crucifix that is housed here. Another unique feature to be seen here is a relic that is kept in a tiny glass case. This relic, according to local beliefs, is a part of the original cross that Our Lord Jesus carried on the day of his crucifixion. After the Holy Mass, there was a stop-over at a popular chocolate factory in Ooty and at the Karnataka Gardens. The pilgrims then returned back to Wellington by the toy train that journeys through sceninc hills, tunnels, tea estates, and misty valleys.
Finally on 25th morning after celbrating Mass at the Don Bosco Shrine, the pilgrims set out from Wellington to go to Coimbatore where they were to board the train taking them back to Goa. During all the three days of sightseeing and stay in Ooty, they were blessed with pleasant weather.Thanks be to the LSP sisters who had lit a lamp before the statue of St. Joseph and were praying fervently. The weather otherwise had been a very bad one before they landed there. Finally, the 120 pilgrims returned back to Goa safely and enrinched greatly in their faith.