By Verghese V Joseph –
The history of St. Joseph’s Church Susaipalya, which is situated in Gerahalli village about 4Km from Chikkaballapura district, began 140 years ago. Chikkaballapura is 67Km from the Karnataka state capital, Bangalore.
According to the parish priest, Fr. Antony Britto Rajan, “The French missionaries came and started their mission. Those days there was a deadly disease called plague which took the life of many people. The missionaries served the people by providing medicine, food and shelter. The economic condition of the village people also was below poverty. The missionaries helped the people in many ways to improve their life style. Later the missionaries-built church and named the village as “Susai Palya” (susai means Joseph and palya means village in Tamil language).” After seeing the activities of the missionaries, the whole village showed interest in Christianity and they became a Christian community.
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The Story of the Miraculous Cross on the Hill
Every year, May 1 (International Workers’ Day) is celebrated as the patron saint St. Joseph’s feast day.
In Gerahalli, the major occupation of the people is carpentry work. As St. Joseph is patron of carpenters the church is also named on behalf of this saint as St.Joseph’s Church. This church was one of the antique church in the history of Karnataka.
This village is surrounded by hills. The believers of this village kept the holy cross on one of the hills and named it as “Shilube betta” (Cross on the hill). People showed their devotion towards this hill and many non-Catholics prayed and many miracles took place in their life.
During the Lent many pilgrims come to the village and visit the miraculous cross on top of the hill. Every year on Palm Sunday the villagers celebrate Shilube betta habba. On that day the villagers take part in the “Jeevantha Shilube Haadi”.
Nowadays, many people from different religions and from surrounding villages come and venerate the cross and take part in the stations of the cross on top of the hill.
More than 5000 pilgrims from different places take part in this way of the cross and celebrate the Holy Eucharist on top of the hill, Fr. Antony Britto Rajan added.