Madras-Mylapore Clergy ‘Reset’ Velankanni

The Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore held its Clergy Retreat and Jubilee Pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni last week at Velankanni

The five-day retreat at the Velankanni Retreat Centre was preached by Fr. Xavier Raj, CSsR, and attended by Archbishop of Madras Mylapore Dr. George Antonysamy together with the diocesan clergy.

The sessions invited priests to a “Reset” in their spiritual and pastoral life, with talks on humility, obedience, forgiveness, overcoming addictions, cultivating holiness, living in the Spirit, and drawing strength from the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Archbishop George Antonysamy also presided over a solemn Concelebrated Holy Eucharist at the Basilica of Our Lady of Velankanni, joined by the entire clergy of the Archdiocese. The Mass was also telecast live, enabling the faithful to unite spiritually with their shepherds.

In his address, the Archbishop underlined the importance of priestly fraternity. “We fall in love, but friends have to be made,” he told the clergy, emphasizing that friendship does not happen by chance but through deliberate effort.

Quoting C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, he added: “Lovers look at each other, but friends look in the same direction

The Archbishop urged priests to foster genuine bonds of friendship, rooted in shared mission and service, as a source of strength for their ministry and the life of the Archdiocese.

The retreat and pilgrimage were marked by renewed commitment, as the clergy entrusted themselves to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni.