On 26 January, 1959 the statue of Our Lady, Mother of the Forsaken, was enthroned at the Shrine in Vadodara.
In the early 1930’s a young Jesuit Missionary from Valencia, Fr. Vincent Tena, S.J felt that Gujarat needed a Marian Shrine.The Mother of the Forsaken Shrine at Valencia seemed to fit the requirement. Senor Cuesta, the sculptor, started working on the replica of the statue at Valencia. However, before he could complete his work, the Spanish Civil War broke out and he was put in jail. His house was raided,his collection of works destroyed, but mysteriously this statue destined for Gujarat remained undetected. The work on the statue was completed after the war ended.
On 21 November 1950, the statue was shipped to India. It reached Mumbai on 26 January, 1951. It was kept in the Chapel at St. Xaviers, High School, Mumbai,for a while. Finally the statue was sent to Baroda by a special railway car normally allotted to high ranking officials. Catholics of Vadodara jubilantly welcomes the statue to the city. In a procession, they took the statue to Rosary Church. The statue remained there for about seven years.
In 1956, Fr. T.Campos SJ took over as the Parish Priest and wanted to give the statue it's proper home. An old bungalow at Fatehgunj, owned by an English lady , Mrs. Powell, who was returning to England, seemed to answer the need. The Sale Deed was completed on 17 September, 1956. The necessary adaptations were made in the Bungalow to receive “The Mother of the Forsaken”. The parishioners of Rosary Church bade her a grand farewell on 25 January, 1959. And, on 26 January, 1959, they escorted the Statue to the present Shrine in crowds through the street of the town praying and singing. The present Shrine was planned by Fr. T. Campos SJ, and on 26 January, 1971, Rev Bishop Ignatius D’Souza DD, laid the Foundation stone. The inauguration was held on 11 May, 1975.
In the early 1930’s a young Jesuit Missionary from Valencia, Fr. Vincent Tena, S.J felt that Gujarat needed a Marian Shrine.The Mother of the Forsaken Shrine at Valencia seemed to fit the requirement. Senor Cuesta, the sculptor, started working on the replica of the statue at Valencia. However, before he could complete his work, the Spanish Civil War broke out and he was put in jail. His house was raided,his collection of works destroyed, but mysteriously this statue destined for Gujarat remained undetected. The work on the statue was completed after the war ended.
On 21 November 1950, the statue was shipped to India. It reached Mumbai on 26 January, 1951. It was kept in the Chapel at St. Xaviers, High School, Mumbai,for a while. Finally the statue was sent to Baroda by a special railway car normally allotted to high ranking officials. Catholics of Vadodara jubilantly welcomes the statue to the city. In a procession, they took the statue to Rosary Church. The statue remained there for about seven years.
In 1956, Fr. T.Campos SJ took over as the Parish Priest and wanted to give the statue it's proper home. An old bungalow at Fatehgunj, owned by an English lady , Mrs. Powell, who was returning to England, seemed to answer the need. The Sale Deed was completed on 17 September, 1956. The necessary adaptations were made in the Bungalow to receive “The Mother of the Forsaken”. The parishioners of Rosary Church bade her a grand farewell on 25 January, 1959. And, on 26 January, 1959, they escorted the Statue to the present Shrine in crowds through the street of the town praying and singing. The present Shrine was planned by Fr. T. Campos SJ, and on 26 January, 1971, Rev Bishop Ignatius D’Souza DD, laid the Foundation stone. The inauguration was held on 11 May, 1975.
