Mokama Shrine in Bihar Declared Minor Basilica

Mokama, Patna, January 24, 2025: The Our Lady of Divine Grace Shrine in Mokama, in the Archdiocese of Patna, has been officially declared a Minor Basilica in a grand ceremony attended by thousands of pilgrims, clergy, and 40 bishops. The event took place on January 24, 2025, in Mokama, a city located 90 kilometers from Patna on the southern banks of the Ganges.

The papal bull of declaration, issued by Pope Francis on April 5, 2024, was read in Latin by Archbishop Anil Couto, Secretary General of the CCBI, and its Hindi translation was delivered by Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura of Patna.

Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad presided over the Holy Mass in Hindi, which followed the ceremonial hoisting of the flag marking the start of the Basilica feast, to be celebrated annually on the first Sunday of February. Before the Mass, a rosary procession wound around the Basilica, with the faithful invoking the intercession of "Mokama Matha."

In his homily, Archbishop Couto emphasized the significance of seeking the Virgin Mary’s guidance in daily life and thanked the faithful of Bihar for their devotion to the Mokama Matha.

The ceremony continued with a novena prayer led by Archbishop Emeritus William D’Souza, S.J., who prayed for the intentions of the needy, entrusting them to the care of Our Lady. 

Bishops and dignitaries were welcomed with a liturgical stole and a statue of Mokama Matha, presented by Archbishops Sebastian Kallupura and William D’Souza, respectively. Monsignor James George, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Patna, delivered the vote of thanks.  

The Mokama Shrine, dedicated on November 4, 1947, by Archbishop Ferdinand Perrier of Calcutta, is a well-known pilgrimage site, attracting over 200,000 devotees during its annual feast and visitors throughout the year. It becomes the second Minor Basilica in northern India, following the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces in Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh, which was elevated in 1961.

This Basilica holds a special place in history as the "land of martyrs." Jesuit Father Francis Martinsek, an American missionary, was shot dead in 1979, and in 2005, parish priest Father Mathew Uzhuthal was tragically murdered.

Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura, who spearheaded the effort to elevate the shrine, remarked, “Our Lady of Divine Grace Shrine, with its rich history and profound spiritual heritage, continues to be a source of hope and inspiration. Its new status as a Minor Basilica will enhance its visibility and strengthen its mission of spreading peace, love, and grace.”  

The shrine’s elevation to a Basilica was approved during the 35th CCBI Plenary Assembly in January 2024, held in Bangalore, and later confirmed by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments.

The site continues to serve as a beacon of faith, drawing pilgrims from across India, including devotees from other religious communities, solidifying its role as a centre of spiritual unity and devotion.

By Dr. Stephen Alathara