Catholic Shrines & Places of Interest in India
India is the second-most populous country in the world, with a total of 1.22 billion people. The vast majority of Indians are of the Hindu faith, some 827 million.
Although the percentage of Christians in India is small (a bit over 2%), it is actually quite large in terms of numbers (about 24 million). This comprised primarily of Roman Catholics but also the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches, which are in communion with Rome. There are a few Protestant sects included in the number of Christians as well.
The Syrian Christians of Kerala are a very conservative community are an aristocratic and trading ethnic group who are considered to be an upper caste in India in accordance with their Brahmin, Jewish and Assyrian ancestry.
Note: the name “Syrian Christians” refers to the Syriac language origins of the community’s religious liturgy and their ritual origins; they are ethnically Indian, not Syrian.
Saint Thomas the Apostle introduced Christianity here in the year 53 A.D. In fact, Thomas is a common surname among Syrian Christians in Kerala, South India.
Other western Europeans followed in later years and then, when the age of exploration opened up in the 15th Century, Portugal became the first of the Western powers to colonize the area. Among the most well-known was the Franciscan missionary Saint Francis Xavier. India finally gained it Independence in 1947.
Chennai: Basilica of Saint Thomas the Apostle and tomb of Saint Thomas
Ernakulam: Several churches of interest
Goa: Basilica of Bom Jesus & tomb of St. Francis Xavier
Ernakulam India
Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta): Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity and tomb of Saint Mother Teresa
Vailankanni: Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
Sources:
2011 Census Data, Government of India