Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Bangalore, India

Address: Halasuru, 14, Cambridge Rd, Cambridge Layout, Jogupalya, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008, India

Overview
The white, Gothic-Revival building with a tall, cross-topped steeple sits at the end of a long, tree-covered driveway in the Halasuru neighborhood of Bangalore. The large compound includes the church, Lourdes Primary and High School, Lourdes Boys School, as well as a large open school/play field of red deccan soil. The church surrounded by a large courtyard which includes a replica of the Lourdes Grotto in France and several other shrines and statues. The interior is bright and airy with generally open doors; and the cruciform design houses a limited number of statues.

Special things to see in the Church
> The long driveway beneath a tree canopy provides a transition from the busy commercial street at the front of the compound.
> The side walls of the uncluttered church contain beautiful gold-framed paintings of each Station of the Cross.
> The large courtyard in the front of the church is home to a life-size replica of the Lourdes Grotto with the inscription, “I am the Immaculate Conception”.
> The courtyard also contains glass-encased shrines of Our Lady of Lourdes dressed in a sari, and a statue of St. Anthony of Padua.
> At the back of the compound is located the Divine Mercy Retreat Center. The first to two planned phases was completed in 2019.

Interesting Fact(s) About the Church
Each February, the parish holds the annual celebration of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11). Hundreds pack the courtyard for an outdoor Mass, after an image of Our Lady is paraded through the surrounding neighborhood on a hand-carried palanquin.
The outdoor grotto is covered with wreaths and garlands of fresh flowers and serves as the altar space for the Mass. The exterior of the Church is brightly lit with colorful festival lighting while the interior remains peaceful for contemplation before the tabernacle on the altar. Celebrants from the Archdiocese conduct the multi-language Mass, a Rosary, and other parts of the celebration. It is a festive event not to be missed.