INDIA, Fr. Renson Panegaden ISch, Fr. Alwin Njezhunghan ISch •
SALTT (Schoenstatt Academy for Life Transformation and Transmission) organized a pilgrimage to Kanakamala in Kerala, a famous place of pilgrimage during the Holy Week, especially on Good Friday. Many pilgrims climb the hill as an act of prayer and offering. It is mostly covered by forests and has a spiritual significance attributed to St. Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus who arrived in India in 52 AD. The tradition of pilgrimage to this hill began in 1940. —
Praying on hills was characteristic of Jesus and his disciples. Pilgrimages to hilltops are very common during Lent in Kerala.
Setting out from the Shrine in Kuttur
Starting from the Schoenstatt Shrine in Kuttur
On Holy Saturday, March 30, 2024, forty-seven faithful from the Kuttur Shrine embarked on an unforgettable journey. Just last month, some of these pilgrims sealed their Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother. The pilgrimage began at 5:45 a.m. with Holy Mass at the shrine. Then, the pilgrims boarded the bus and began the journey up the mountain, which took about two hours.
Sharing experiences
Fourteen Stations of the Cross await them along the way, offering opportunities for meditation and contemplation. At each station, a prayer is recited to awaken the congregation’s spiritual connection to faith. At the top, all pilgrims gather and spend time in prayer and meditation.
This was followed by a short sharing session, where pilgrimage experiences and insights were shared between songs and stories, fostering unity and mutual understanding among the group. After spending a meaningful forty-five minutes on the hilltop, it took another half hour to descend. There, in peace, the pilgrims reunited and shared food.
The pilgrimage not only strengthens their personal spiritual journey, but also brings them closer in faith and community, creating deeper bonds of friendship and solidarity.
Climbing the hill of Kanakamala
