Swiss Tamil Catholics Celebrate Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and 20th Anniversary of AARGAU Mission

Thousands of Tamil Catholics gathered in prayer and celebration as the annual feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was held in Leuk, southwestern Switzerland, on May 17, alongside the 20th anniversary celebrations of the AARGAU Tamil Catholic Mission.

The celebration, organized each year by the Tamil Catholic community in Switzerland, took place with deep devotion and large participation from faithful traveling from different Swiss cantons and neighboring missions.

The event was coordinated under the leadership of Fr. A. Judes Muralitharan, director of the Swiss Tamil Catholic Spiritual Mission. Festivities began at 10 a.m. with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by a ceremonial welcome for priests and invited guests by members of the Aargau Tamil Catholic community.

The main feast Mass was presided over by Fr. Baladas Brian. Concelebrants included Fr. Yudes Muralitharan, and Fr. I. Antony Sosai, who is currently pursuing higher studies in Rome.

In his homily, Fr. Baladas Brian opened with a reference to Mark Antony’s famous speech from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, humorously telling the congregation, “Lend me your ears for 10 minutes, and I will return them to you.”

Reflecting on life in Switzerland, he praised the country’s natural beauty and encouraged the faithful to appreciate both their homeland and the country where they now live.

“Our homeland is beautiful, but the country in which we live today is also beautiful,” he said, drawing parallels between family life, faith, and gratitude.

He described motherhood as “a blessing, a treasure, and a great wealth,” while reflecting on the exemplary life of the Virgin Mary through biblical teachings. He also emphasized the importance of strong relationships between parents and children in modern family life.

Following the Mass, devotees participated in a Marian procession through the streets. A statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, decorated with flowers and placed on a ceremonial carriage, was carried in procession as worshippers lined both sides of the route in prayer and song.

The celebration continued with special intercessory prayers, Marian hymns, and devotional chants before Fr. Skanraj imparted a final blessing with the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Organizers also expressed gratitude to volunteers, choir members, liturgical teams, altar servers, sacristans, audiovisual teams, and the many faithful who traveled from different regions of Switzerland to participate in the celebration.

The feast, which also marked the 20th anniversary of the AARGAU Tamil Catholic Mission, highlighted both the spiritual vitality and unity of the Tamil Catholic diaspora community in Switzerland.