St. Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam, church building in Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia
Basilique Sainte-Anne is a church building in Central Seberang Perai constructed of brick with distinctive tall stained glass windows and a traditional Minangkabau-style roof featuring curved lines resembling animal horns. The interior accommodates hundreds of visitors in an open, welcoming space, while outside a large plaza called Dataran St. Anne displays a tall statue of Saint Anne.
The basilica was founded in 1846 by French priest Adolphe Couellan with a small chapel on a hill that underwent several expansions over time. The current large building was constructed in 2002 with capacity for over 2200 people to serve the growing community and received papal recognition as a Minor Basilica in 2019.
The basilica is named after Saint Anne, venerated in Christian tradition as the grandmother of Jesus and protector of families. Visitors can witness daily devotion through candle lighting, prayers, and attendance at services that bring together people from different backgrounds.
The complex offers accommodation at Domus St. Anne for pilgrims traveling from afar, with a second dormitory added in 2010, plus parking and multiple buildings for various purposes. Visitors should know that day visits to services are welcome and quiet areas like the Virgin Mary grotto and Stations of the Cross provide spaces for prayer and reflection.
Every year starting July 26, ten-day celebrations honoring Saint Anne bring hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia together. The events feature candlelit processions, prayers, and incense smoke that fills the entire basilica during these festive gatherings.
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