A P P E A L
 
Luz Church

A Historical and Spiritual Landmark
 

 
The Church of Our Lady of Light, Luz, Mylapore. is a part of living history, and glorious testimony to a wonderful saga, spanning over 500 years (described in detail in this leaflet )
   
In the Service of the Community
   

this beautiful jewel of a church, built in 1516 and now restored to its original form, serves a large; growing Christian community in and around Mylapore-including  parishioners like Stella Maris College & St. Isabel's Hospital.

 
The Church now plans to help educate poor working children by offering night classes with the support of working  & retired teachers as well as professionals who have volunteered to help these children progress towards a better life.
 
Special schemes for empowering women from the poorer sections of society are underway.  Tailoring & other craft classes will be conduced on the Church premises.
 
The Church also intends to help provide career guidance, training and recreational facilities to the youth of the community to direct their energies in a responsible, constructive manner.
   

Help us help them
   

The Church intends to build a Community Hall dedicated to the parishioner and community, and to carry forwards its 500-years-old tradition of service.
 
The Church has enough land of its own to build the proposed Community Hall for these purposes, but lacks the funds to build it.
 
This Community Hall is planned as a facility that will still retain the character & tradition of this old, respected Church.
 
In this regard, the Parish Priest and Parishioners request your generous financial help in realising this Community hall project, thereby providing support to children and women deprived of a life of dignity.
 
We will gratefully acknowledge your contribution in prayer and thanksgiving.  Substantial help & contributions will be acknowledged by a special plaque placed in the Community Hall.
 

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit"

- Nelson Henderson

Luz Church -  fascinating journey
   
through history 1500 A.D. Fired by missionary zeal, eight Franciscan Friars set sail for India from Lisbon with the fleet of Pedro Alvares Cabral on the 9th of March 1500 A.D.

 
They landed in Calicut, where three of the Friars were slain on the 16th of November 1500.  the others reached Cochin, and settled down of preach the word of  God.  A few years later, they sailed down South to spread their message further-and thus began the story of "The Lady of Light"
   

The light from Bethuma
   
As they travelled , their ship was beset by angry seas, and the Fright in their fright prayed to our Mother Mary.

 
Suddenly their eyes were drawn to a bright light which led them safely to land on the shores of Mylapore, on the same spot as the ruins of ;Bethuma'' the old house of St. Thomas the Apostle.  This, they were to understand only later.
   

Chosen by the light
   

As they moved towards the mysterious guiding light,. it moved away.  leading them inland to a clearing in the forest.  Here the light disappeared as suddenly as it had come.  Moved and inspired by the experience, Friar Pedro, of the Observance of St. Francis, built this Church on the very same spot.  The Church was dedicated to "Our Lady of Light"
   

Kattu Koil or "Forest Church"
   

The Church is, even today, sometimes referred to as 'Kattu Loil" or Forest Church" by the local people.  The forest has long disappeared and the area around the Church is now a bustling and busy shopping area in the metropolis of Chennai.  But the historical importance of the Church is apparent from the fact that the area is officially called "Luz" -the Portuguese word for "Light".

   
Surviving troubled times
   

Luz Church was damaged during the occupation by Golconda forces between 1662 and 1673.  It was also damaged when Hyder Ali ransacked Luz Santhome between 1780 & 1782.  Later, the East India Company occupied the Luz Parish Residence for some years.
 
The Church has however survived these troubled times, and today stands proud-a testimony to faith & hope for generations to come.
 
 

          This old church needs lots of repairs and maintenance.  Hence your generous contribution may be sent to the following address..,

 

The Parish Priest :
 

Church of Our Lady of Light

No.156, Luz Church Road, Luz, Mylapore,Chennai - 600 004. INDIA.

Telephone No: + 91 - (044) - 24992568
 

"GOD BLESS YOU"