Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni Mother

Monday, October 3, 2005

Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni Mother

 that evening at a mini park, at Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni appear several mothers standing reading a carving on the wall. On the wall of the park that is named Taman Mini Saint Giovanni Paolo II was carved last sentence ever spoken traveler from Polish Pope John Paul II: "Magnificat Open Interest Dei."
Elsewhere on the dial, some teenagers were also seen enjoying the atmosphere. "This is cool and peaceful," said Joni (23) and Ida (20), who had first visited. Nurlela (31) more often. For him, this place is inspiring. FR James Bharataputra SJ himself dubbed this place as an oasis in the "wilderness."
Entering Graha Maria Anna Velangkanni on Jl Sakura III No. 10 Tanjung Congratulations indeed an interesting experience. Located at the corner of Medan and away from the noise. In an area of 6,000 square meters of people can enjoy the comfort and coolness. Here at least caught a decent sense of imitation, harmonsasi among the plurality. All the people came to "shelter" here, of various beliefs and cultures.
In particular, this place is reserved for Catholics who want to do the devotion to Mary. In fact, people who visited this place come from different faiths such as Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. On the other hand, the meeting between cultures and ethnic groups also occur here. "Raju" bersapa with "A Seng", "Ali" bersapa with "Togar", "Sembiring" bersapa with "Johnny" and so on and so forth.
They are united and friendly here. At least they came to enjoy the coolness of cool in a spiritual garden. And that certainly exists in harmony here. It deserves to set an example, see today our country is faced with conflicts that backed religious and ethnic as happened in Poso, which has even casualties.
North Sumatra can be proud. Events like that are far off, and hopefully not. Graha Bunda Maria Anna Velangkanni can serve as a unifying inter-religious forum in the country, especially in North Sumatra. As spoken by the originator of the idea FR James Bharataputra SJ, "man is the same as God's creation."
"This place offers a value of unity, although with different beliefs." An Indian from the U.S. Jesuits (SJ) who has worked for 34 years in the Archdiocese of Medan was commented. Indeed, as James said later, like an oasis, it comes as a relief maid thirst when "drought" is happening. Avocation in the current era of modernization may have made people bored and in need of coolness. For that this place comes to anyone, invite everyone, indiscriminately to feel calm because this place exists to unify the difference.
James said the development is started from a dream maid. "I am a dreamer beautiful things-beautiful, as well as the human heart, I want the heart of every person who comes into this place into a beautiful, beautiful heart that has a coolness and kedamain."
This is what inspired the idea that James still looks excited that despite his age has now reached 69 years. His memory was still sharp. James lived experiences in childhood Hindu cultural environment remains attached even though he lived with Catholic discipline from both parents. The harmony between the difference it gave him the inspiration to set up a maid like Velangkanni Shirine that has existed since 350 years ago. And now that dream come true.
If you look at the whole model building standing on an area of 6,000 square meters, then which caught the imagination is the Hindu-Muslim cultural nuances. Architectural style that is applied is the design of the Indo-Mughal style building that trend in the era of Ancient Mongolian Empire first.
However, Father James dismissed the notion that the spiritual shrine devoted to Christians or particular culture. "I also wanted to unify the culture of all peoples through this place," he said.
"The door Graha Bunda Maria Anna Velangkanni open to every faith and culture to experience the coolness of faith from the Creator because basically the idea to establish this graha depart from the miracles experienced by Hindus in India precisely in Vailangkanni, a small hamlet on the coast of Cape Bengal part of India south, where they experienced the events the appearance of the Virgin Mary. Well, that's what inspired the founding of this maid. "
James told me, in the mid 17th century or around 350 years ago in Velangkanni, Our Lady appeared three times herself. It was long before she appeared herself in Goa Lourdess France and Portugal. At first, Velangkanni Shrine in India now is a small chapel. Later rebuilt by the Portuguese sailors who had suffered the blows of the storm. Their ship was heading from Europe by sea Maccau Sri Lanka oscillate. But they eventually survived after a devotion to Mary and the devotion that they promised to establish a church where it will dock their boats safely. Amazingly, their ship docked in Velangkanni. They also kept his promise.
Later in this place, about 90 kilometers from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, the people who are sick come to pray and be healed. The name "Maria Annai" was given that in Tamil means "mother". This place is attractive to people from various nations and creeds anywhere for pilgrimage. Since then also the place was called "East Lourdess" and raised its status as a basilica by Pope John the 23rd.
"I wish such events in Velangkanni also occurred in Indonesia, if we can start from the city of Medan," he said. Graha Development that was started in September 2001. "I started with a firm belief that my dream will come true," said Father James smiled.
In 2000 Bishop Mgr AG Pius Datubara OFMCap asked James to set up a special hall for those Indian Tamils who are spread in the city of Medan. James then agreed and suggested that in places it also established a place of devotion to Mary. "Thus we can forge a person with faith," he said.
Starting from the belief construction began. After taking care of the licensing process was the establishment of the foundation done. Problem fund, James said he never hesitated. Development also continues. James likens the Lord as a committee, Mary became providers of funds and he himself as a man who dihunjuk as implementation.
In the development process, James said he was assisted by John Tarin Ir a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering at USU and Unika St Thomas Medan as a consultant who offers his services for free. Over the past four years, finally completed building. "I always believe my dream will come true," he said
Problem development fund assisted James admitted many many parties, including from parties with different beliefs. 60 percent came from within the country and the rest from abroad.
***FEBRUARY 2002 in a house on Jl Kediri No. 27 (Kampong Keling) Medan, a fateful event occurred. The house was the home of a friend where Pastor James lived for a while. Friend gave him a room on the second floor for James while resting. However unfortunate, the second floor of the house was devoured the red rooster caused a short circuit. Includes room James. The only remaining debris.
Three days before the event, James put money worth USD 10 million on the table room. The money was donated from Aceh. For information, Father James had previously worked in Aceh for 8 years and in Papua for 3 years.
Three days later, while waiting for a flight that will return to Medan, he received a phone call saying that a fire has occurred and sear the second floor of the house, including the room itself. "I believe that money would have caught fire because it really was in my room.
Strangely, according to Father money is not involved and found charred with intact among the rubble of buildings that have been scorched. "This is strange and for me and this is a miracle," he recalls. Previously he left the money in a hurry and did not get to keep it in the bank because the need to follow an important event in Jakarta.
This miracle quickly spread through the mass media and by word of mouth. Until finally came to another area even to the ears of the neighboring countries, Malaysia and Singapore. After reading the events from newspapers, a mother of Aceh moved, came and suggested that "magic money" was not used and should be kept alone and replacing some money. "Save your money and this instead," said the mother was at that time, as quoted by James.
So this story continues, the two pieces of magic the bills were then taken by a friend from Singapore. Through the story of a friend earlier, strange events that had spread and makes a troubled family. Without mentioning the identity, the family later provided assistance amounting to USD 250 million.
For the second time, after James explains the idea of development was to the family and several other families in Singapore through a friend who is also priest, in the not so long afterward, the same amount of aid came flowing back to the account of James in the bank.
James was thrilled. "I was more surprised and shocked," he said. James then invited the family to see the maid that is being built. At the same time the family returned to provide assistance for the third time.
When the family returned to Singapore, Grandma Teresa Yap Lian Hoe old mother who has decades of working for the family as domestic servants participate touched. In the moments before his last breath, mothers who were married throughout his life not willingly give disisihkannya savings along hidupya to be donated to the construction of the graha. "Before she breathed her last breath Grandma Teresa Yap Lian Hoe asked his employer to deliver a lifetime offering is for the construction of this maid," recalled James touched.
So forth, "James said. Help also came from various parties which is almost entirely flows through a bank account without his knowledge. "I never imagined previously that the funds that flowed into accounts at the bank donation is being added every week. I wonder too ..., "he said.
"And every week I always take a little and it did not fund I use for the purchase of building materials and labor costs and the account was always never diminished, even vice versa."
Now the building at a cost of USD 4 billion was standing like the first time James dreamed. His dream to provide an oasis for human life that is hungry for all things come true already. James considers that humans are currently being hit by a sense of thirst in a variety of things, the name and honor, wealth and money. This is what modern humans are plagued today and this oasis comes to releasing their thirst. "Please come, O the weary and heavy load and experience the shade here," he said.
On October 1, 2005 by officially opened by the Governor of North Sumatra Drs Rudolf Pardede and Medan Archbishop Pius Datubara OFMCap AG Mgr. And since then this maid attracts many people from Indonesia and overseas.
James had lamented a lack of facilities in this place that is not the availability of lodging facilities to support the visit of pilgrims from outside the city of Medan and the neighboring countries. But then in 2006 the dream was realized. Although the available capacity is only a few rooms only because of limited space but at least with a small inn is able to overcome obstacles that often occur in visitors who want to linger without the hassle of looking for lodging elsewhere. Lodging is able to accommodate about 20 people visitors, said James, in addition equipped with a small canteen.
***
AFTERNOON silence was still awake. Joni and Ida continued perkelanaannya in graha it. Apparently they're looking at looking down from the second floor of the building graha. Occasionally, they observe the paintings on the walls of two flyovers climbed to the second floor that graha. Others also with Nurlela, indoor area on the second floor, he looked like he was enjoying the silence of the place. He was reading a book and apparently did not want to be disturbed. Then I call it. "I'm happy to enjoy the serene atmosphere in this place, I seem to feel the peace," he said.
While in the courtyard outside, several other teens were seen alternately engrossed with his cell phone camera. They want to perpetuate their arrival at that place. And the mothers had, the mothers who seriously read the writing on the Taman Mini Saint Giovanni Paolo II, which was built to commemorate the late father of the nation, has been moved to another place. They were praying in a small chapel.
In a small chapel called the Chapel of Mary is James started his dream. Small chapel devoted to Mary where it is beginning construction of all buildings in the maid's. According to James, here's where prayers were often heard by God so that development maid materialized until now.
So, although new Velangkanni Graha Maria Anna was inaugurated in 2005, this chapel was inaugurated earlier on 8 September 2001. Before graha completely built, this small chapel for daily prayer was dipergunaan at any time and Novena Prayer every Saturday afternoon throughout the year.
From this small chapel, James symbolic idea to unite heaven and earth were born. James wants Graha Maria Anna Velangkanni become a meeting place between heaven and earth. "This is where heaven and earth meet. This is where God the Creator met with the man, his creatures, "said James.
James explained that the church is on the top floor with three seven-story domed tower is a symbol of the seventh heaven of heaven. The second running kite that looks like embrace, along with ground floor represents the earth. Then the walls painted blue highways the events of creation day by day.
Other paintings represent implicit exploration of religious themes in every corner of the dial, both interior and exterior. Starting from the events of creation, the Lord's Supper, the crucifixion, and resurrection. These are paintings of simple yet gives meaning. The paintings are dedicated GR Andeas (28), an Indian man by James dubbed as "Little Micheleangelo", which is identified with the figure of the famous Italian painter Micheleangelo.
Andrew had never tasted a formal art school, but he has amazing talent as a painter. "For me he is like Micheleangelo," said James.
Painting is like a narrator (story teller). Prompter meaning. As the meaning of building designs that are also full of meaning. Ground floor of such a symbol of the earth, a place where we live. Hall auditorium named St. Anna, as he says God's people is a community hall which came as relatives regardless of their ethnicity, religion, language and culture and other differences.
So in this place is used for events other than spiritual smell, also used by people from various circles to hold events such as weddings, traditional clan events, student meetings and various other activities at no charge standard. If cost is pegged charcoal then people will be reluctant to come here because of economic problems, said James. "We just provide a donation box which will donation will be used for the cost of maintenance and cleanliness."
That Graha Maria Anna Velangkanni, a place that probably will become "an oasis in the desert" in the corner of Medan. Offer invites us to appreciate the plurality. Offering a composition among a plurality of harmonization. This is the meaning of love. Harmony. Love that originated from the difference. A place that offers beauty, peace and coolness of spiritual and physical. Welcome and enjoy this spiritual aesthetic charm.
READ MORE - Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni Mother