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Mother of Victory Shrine Tikujiniwadi, Thane (To Jesus Through Mother Mary)

The statue of Mother of Victory at Tikujiniwadi was brought from the well known pilgrim centre at Wigratzbad in Germany, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared several times between 1919 and 1938. Today the Shrine at Wigratzbad, which is dedicated to “Our Beloved Lady, Mother of Victory”, attracts pilgrims from various parts of Europe. On February 2, 2003, Mar Thomas Elavanal, Bishop of Kalyan Diocese, unveiled the statue of Mother of Victory at Tikujiniwadi, in the presence of Rev. Fr. Thomas Maria Rimmel, Director of the Pilgrim Centre at Wigratzbad and declared the Shrine as the first Marian Pilgrim Centre of Kalyan Diocese.

On Wednesdays, Novenas are offered to the Mother, both in Malayalam and in English, followed by Eucharistic adoration and healing service. Thousands of pilgrims visit the Shrine throughout the year, praying to the Mother of Victory for various needs and thanking her for the favours received through her intercession. The Feast of the Mother of Victory, celebrated in the month of November, is famous all over Maharashtra when devotees in large numbers visit the Shrine, regardless of religion and language.

Evolution of Mother of Victory Shrine - History

The Syro-Malabar Catholics who migrated from Kerala and settled in and around Thane initially depended on the local Latin churches viz. St. John The Baptist Church, Thane and Our Lady of Mercy Church, Vartak Nagar for their spiritual needs. In the sixties Kerala Catholic Association brought Malayalee Catholics belonging to all the three rites together and to preserve the cultural and spiritual traditions of Kerala, they started organizing annual retreats, confessions, Good Friday services and Holy Mass in Malayalam at regular intervals, under the pastoral care of Capuchin fathers.

Diocese of Kalyan was erected on April 30, 1988 by Pope John Paul II, with Msgr. Paul Chittilapilly as its first Bishop. Even before the erection of Kalyan Diocese, priests belonging to Syro Malabar Church had started efforts to unify all Syro Malabar Catholics.

Fr. George Edakkalathur started various activities and prayers based at Majiwada and Manpada and co-ordinated the faithful in the area and started Holy Mass in these two family centres.

To further nurture and nourish these parishes of Majiwada and Manpada and lead them forward on the path of faith, various priests were given the charge for specific tenures, viz., Fr. Thomas Kalapura, Fr. Vincent Parayil, Fr. Jacob Edakalathur, Fr. Johnson Olakkengil, Fr. Thomas Choondal and Fr. Paul Pulikottil. All of them had put in their best efforts for the development of these two parishes. By the year 2001, under the leadership of Parish Priest Fr.George Porathur and with support of Asst Vicar, Fr. Justin Kallely of Thane, Varthak Nagar, Majiwada & Manpada, the parishioners of Majiwada and Manpada decided to come together to have a common parish.

To make community spiritually unified and more prayerful it was necessary to combine different activities of Majiwada and Manpada and establish a common parish. Seeing the increasing population and other related difficulties in carrying out the church activities, Bishop Mar Thomas Elavanal gave his consent for combining these two parishes. Accordingly a committee was formed from 120 families, who worked relentlessly for the fulfilment of the dream of establishing an independent parish by the name of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara Parish and started the search for suitable place. The untiring efforts put in by Fr. George Porathur and Fr. Justin Kallely to boost people’s morale and lead them to success and the timely directions given to the committee, would always remain etched in the minds of the parishioners. In the year 2002, Fr. Justin Kallely was transferred and Fr.Rajesh Mathew was given the charge as Asst Parish Priest.

On 22nd December of 2002 the historical event of the blessing of Bl.Kuriakose Chavara Community Centre took place in the auspicious presence of Vicar General Msgr. Thomas Thalachira. This achievement was made possible mainly because of the strong prayers of the community and tireless efforts of Fr. Rajesh Mathew along with trustees, Mr. K.T. Varghese and Mr. E.P. Francis and committee members, which will always be remembered gratefully.

On 2nd February 2003 the Parish received the best and highest recognition in the diocese of Kalyan. The holy statue of Mother of Victory was brought to this Church from the well known pilgrim centre of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Wigratzbad in the Diocese of Augsburg, Germany. This centre attracts the pilgrims from various parts of Germany, Switzerland, Austria France and Italy. On February 2, 2003, the replica of Mother of Victory statue was unveiled by Mar Thomas Elavanal, Bishop of Kalyan Diocese in the presence of Fr.Thomas Maria Rimmel, Director of Pilgrim Centre, Wigratzbad and declared it as the first Marian Pilgrim Centre of Kalyan Diocese. Accordingly, the Mother of Victory Shrine came into being.

On 8th February, 2003, Fr. Rajesh Mathew was appointed the first Parish Priest and subsequently the parish was elevated as Mother of Victory Shrine. Fr. Rajesh Mathew was appointed as the first Rector of the Shrine. Ever since the arrival of Mother of Victory in India at Tikujiniwadi, she has shown her presence felt in the hearts of the distressed and needy. There are amazing miracles that have made this Shrine of Mother of Victory renowned not only in Thane but all over Maharashtra and the other parts of the country. People keep pouring in with their petitions to offer novenas and Vijayamatha, just like a mother, answers all their prayers.

http://www.motherofvictory.org/index.php?page=history.html