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Guest Talk: Marian Apparitions

The representation of the Virgin Mary across the world provides a unique lens to understand processes of intercultural and interreligious globalization. The Virgin Mary is the most important female figure in Christianity and, particularly, in the Catholic Church in India and in Europe. Christianity has ancient roots in India with the community of Syro Malabar Christians ecclesiastically, liturgically, and linguistically representing one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world.  Indian Christians trace their origins to the arrival of St. Thomas at Malankara, Kerala in 52 CE. Besides the indigenous Christianity in India, Roman Catholicism was also introduced with the arrival of Europeans, especially the first missionaries from the Society of Jesus to the sub-continent. Mary has been a unique focus for interreligious encounter in India.  The Basilica of Vailankanni in South India draws Hindu as well as Christian pilgrims in commemorating apparitions of Mary to two humble Hindu boys in the 16th century.  In this presentation we explore how this powerful feminine figure has been manifested and represented in both the indigenous Indian and European traditions, and their intercultural and interreligious intersections.

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March 13

RCIA

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March 15

Multilingual Rosary