About
The Shrine of our Lady of Good Voyage is situated in a village called Charty, Velanai, in the Jaffna diocese. The origin of existence dates backs to the Portuguese regime and is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the north.
It is said that a Portuguese vessel sailing on the Indian ocean was caught in a heavy storm and lost its direction. It drifted towards Ceylon but found it difficult to reach the shore. The Captain of the vessel, a firm believer of Blessed Virgin Mary, carried a statue of Blessed Virgin Mary on board. He prayed for their safety and by the act of grace miraculously the ship safely reached the shores at Charty, Kayts.
History records that they took possession of the place and built a fortress in Charty with a chapel inside and placed this miraculous statue of Mother of Good Voyage there. They venerated her and propagated her devotion among the inhabitants.
During Portuguese regime the developments in the area created Vellanai to be a town and Charty became the center of commercial activity with a harbour and many Catholics from other parts of the island settled in Charty.
Portuguese missionaries came to Jaffna in 1544 to propagate Christianity and built a few churches in the peninsula and the church built at Charty was dedicated to Our Lady of Good Voyage. During the Dutch persecution they destroyed all the Catholic churches built by Portuguese and persecuted the Catholics.
It is believed that when the vandals burnt this church, Catholics of the area removed the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary and hid it inside a well nearby. After a long period of abandonment a devotee learnt in her dream the presence of the miraculous statue inside the well and informed the other faithful about her dream. They found the statue inside the well and with the help of the villagers they erected a cadjan shelter and placed the statue there.
A member of the Murrthaavar family named Idumban, a firm believer of Our Lady of Good Voyage, promoted her devotion. The Catholics around the neighboring villages learnt the presence of the miraculous statue and flocked to pay their homage and devotion. Rev.Fr.Antony, who was much loved and respected for his religious activities in that area, maintained the church with the help of one Manuel and often conducted holy mass along with other services to propagate Blessed Mary’s devotion.
By and by the number of devotees increased and attracted more Catholics from the peninsula. Late Rt. Rev. Dr. Gyomar, Bishop of Jaffna, during his tenure opted to rebuild Charty church in 1928 with the help of the devotees and well wishers near the well where the miraculous statue was found.
The uniqueness of this well is that its depth cannot be traced and during the drought season bourses are filled from this well daily to be distributed for drinking purposes throughout Leyland Island but the well never goes dry.
One parish priest looked after the churches at Allapiddy, Mandaithivu and Charty. The late Rt. Rev. Dr. Emilianuspillai, Bishop of Jaffna, realizing that the accommodation inside the church was inadequate for the congregation during festivals built an extension, a porch attached to the main entrance with an altar to conduct services opening on to the yard.
The late Rt.Rev.Dr.Deogupillai, Bishop of Jaffna, had a dynamic vision in proclaiming Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of Refuge and Security when the Catholics were disturbed in their faith by the demands of the situation which prevailed in the country. Prompted by his conviction the clergy preached the word of God and the manifestation in all parishes and inspired the Catholics to sustain their faith in her.
Present Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Dr. Savundranayagam, restored the damages caused by the recent conflices and built huts, water tanks, rosary shops and also provided other welfare facilities for the convenience of the vast number of pilgrims who flock to the shrine.
The church of our Lady of Good Voyage is dedicated as a shrine for the pilgrims in the Jaffna diocese with a resident parish priest and having public transport up to the shrine. The environment with soft sand, calm sea and Palmyrah palms around enable the pilgrims to spend more days at the shrine in prayer and relaxation.
Our Lady of Good Voyage is called in Tamil ‘Sinthathirai Maatha’. The statue portrays Blessed Mary having child Jesus on one hand and a ship on the other. Blessed Lady of Good voyage is popularly known as Mother of Navigators and many invoke her for safe voyage. The original statue of Mother of Good Voyage, which was treasured and venerated by our ancestors, can be seen majestically arrayed in gold, placed on a beautifully decorated altar inside the newly built church.
The feast of our Lady of Good Voyage, “Charty Sinthathirai Maatha” is celebrated annually in Charty, Vellanai on September 24 or the following Sunday in a very glamorous and jubilant atmosphere.
Devotees from all over the island flock to this shrine during the feast and invoke her blessings. After nine days of devotions and vespers the feast culminates on the tenth day with solemn festive high mass celebrations. After the mass, the statue of Mother of Good Voyage is placed on a gaily-decorated chariot and taken around the church by devotees in a colourful procession singing hymns and reciting prayers in Tamil.
On its return to the shrine the final act of prayer recited by one and all, the most touching recital with wet eyes filled with love and gratitude for all the blessings and protections received through her intercession.
The feast ends with the final blessing by the miraculous statue and makes it the biggest festival of the parish.
Sinthathirai Maatha devotees, despite having suffered much by violence, unrest and being displaced, never failed to pay their devotion and gratitude for the protection and refuge received through her intercession. They still continue to celebrate the feast annually and propagate her devotions throughout the world.