Gianna Beretta Molla, a married woman, mother of a family and medical doctor, was canonised as saint with the spiritual title ‘ Mother of the family’ by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 2004. St Gianna is the patron saint of the catholic church for mothers, physicians and unborn children.
‘A conscious immolation’ was the phrase used by Pope Paul VI, reflecting the act of Gianna, in choosing to consciously risk her life to save her expected child. The brave mother’s importance to the Church is her witness to the gospel of Life, her faithfulness to the chosen vacation, and her dedication to her family.
Gianna was born to Alberto and Maria Beretta in Magenta Milan, Italy on October 4, 1922. Gianna qualified in medicine and surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949 and was married to Pietro Molla on September 24,1955 in the Basilica of St Martin in Magenta. She became the mother of Pierluigi, Meriolina and Laura. She suffered two miscarriages after Laura’s birth. In the second month of her fourth pregnancy, Gianna was diagnosed with a large, but benign tumour in her uterus. Despite adverse medical advice and her own understanding of the situation as a doctor, she had no hesitation to choose life for her baby, risking her own.
Gianna Beretta Molla died of septic peritonitis at the age of thirty nine on April 28,1962, following complications of the caesarian section surgery and the early surgery to remove the tumour.
St Gianna Church Maradu, blessed on 27th January 2007 by Mar Thomas Chakiath, then Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam is the first church in Asia dedicated to St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

Gianna Beretta Molla truly loved and embraced life as a marvelous gift from God; to the extent that when she had to choose between life and death for her expected child, she chose life, at the cost of her own! The story of this remarkable woman, who chose to become a ‘collaborator with God’ in creation so that her children could experience Him and serve Him, has since then been a shining example of holiness in family life and selfless sacrifice in a materialistic world.
Her husband, Pietro described Gianna’s life as “an act and a perennial action of faith and charity; it was a non-stop search for the will of God for every decision and for every work, with prayer and meditation, Holy mass and the Eucharist.” Pope John Paul II described Gianna as “a woman of exceptional love, an outstanding wife and mother, Gianna Molla gave witness in her daily life to the demanding values of the Gospel.”

Gianna was born to Alberto and Maria Beretta in Magenta near Milan, Italy on October 4, 1922 as the tenth of the couple’s 13 children. She was baptised in the Basilica of San Martino a week later and received her first Eucharist on April 14, 1928.
Gianna experienced a series of losses in her early life. In 1937, she lost her elder sister Amelia, aged 26 and lost both her parents five years later, four months apart from each other. She was 20 years old then. In Spite of personal losses, she proved to be studious and diligent in studies, even while actively involved in Catholic action and the formation of youth. Two of her brothers were ordained to priesthood and Gianna wished to go with one of them, Fr Alberto and work as a missionary in Brazil. This wish did not materialise due to some health challenges she encountered around this time
Gianna qualified in medicine and surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949 and subsequently started a medical clinic in Mesero in 1950. She specialised in paediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952. This profession she realised was a mission, a calling from God.

Gianna met Pietro Molla for the first time in 1949. After an year long courtship, Gianna and Pietro were married at the Basilica of Saint Martin in Magenta on September 24, 1955. They embraced the vocation of marriage as a divine gift, consciously aware of their call to be the ‘collaborators of God’ in creation. In 1956, their son, Pierluigi, was born. Maria Zita (Mariolina) was born in 1957. Gianna saw in her children the ‘ divine nature of new life’ and the realization that the world was destined for a ‘renewal’. In July of 1959, a third child, Laura, was born. She suffered two miscarriages after Laura’s birth. In the second month of her fourth pregnancy, Gianna was diagnosed with a large, but benign tumour in her uterus. When left with the options of terminating pregnancy and saving her life or continuing with the baby and risking her life, she held her firm response. “ If you have to decide between me and the baby, there is to be no hesitation. Choose the baby. I demand it. Save it!”. This was against standard medical advice and her own understanding of the situation as a medical practitioner.

On April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born in the Caesarian section. One week later, in spite of her medical team’s best efforts, Gianna Beretta Molla died of septic peritonitis at the age of forty, which was likely a complication of the caesarian section surgery after the early one to remove the fibroid. On the morning of April 28, 1962, amid immense pain, she repeated “ Jesus I love you” and these were her last words.
The saintliness of Gianna’s life was in her choices. And in death, she chose life for her baby over her own under uncertain circumstances, consciously aware as a doctor of the fatal consequences of this most important decision in her life.

Cardinal Giovanni Colombo, Archbishop of Milan, began promoting the cause for her beatification on November 6, 1972. On April 28, 1980, the cause for beatification of the servant of God, Gianna Beretta Molla, was officially introduced by the decree of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Archbishop of Milan.
Between June 1980 and January 1984, the investigation of Gianna Beretta Molla in Milan and Bergamo, Italy, included over 170 sessions with more than sixty witnesses, including priests, religious women, medical professionals and Gianna’s family. On July 6, 1991, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints confirmed and Pope John Paul II decreed that the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Gianna Beretta Molla, be recognised with the title of “Venerable”.
Two miracles have officially been attributed to the intercession of Gianna Beretta Molla, and both miracles took place in Brazil. The first one was that of a young Brazilian woman, who suffered fatal post cesarean section complications, after the delivery of a stillborn in 1977. However the young mother was miraculously cured after intercessory prayer by a group of nurses led by Sr. Bernardina, who was also a Capuchin religious.
The second miracle transpired in mid November 1999 when Elizabeth Comarini Arcolino, when a 35 year old Brazilian woman was pregnant with her fourth child. She had multiple complications throughout her pregnancy and the physicians had no hope for a full- term pregnancy or if she survived or to get her baby alive. But aș a practicing catholic, Elizabeth knew she had to continue pregnancy and that she must try to bring the child to term. She prayed to Gianna for intercession along with several others known to her, including her community members. Her faith sustained and against all medical apprehensions, a healthy baby weighing 1.8Kg was delivered at 32 weeks. She was named Gianna Maria after her intercessor.
On December 20, 2003, the decree “super miraculo” was promulgated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the presence of Pope John Paul II. With her spouse and three children in attendance, Gianna Beretta Molla was canonized on May 16, 2004.

Nestled amidst the calm and tranquil surroundings of nature, but only an arm’s stretch from the hustle and bustle of the busy NH 47 in Maradu is St Gianna’s Church, Asia’s first church dedicated to St Gianna Beretta Molla. The church started with bare minimum facilities and only about 175 families constituted into 6 family units, who were till then part of St James Church Poonithura and St Mary’s Church Thrippunithura. Most of the parishioners were from the various parts of the state settled here in view of employment and livelihood. The church was blessed on 27th January 2007 by Mar Thomas Chakiath, then Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam.
Fr Justin Kaiprampadan was appointed pro-vicar of the church on 16th February 2008. He started regular liturgical services, with a novena of St Gianna on Wednesdays followed by ‘Kanjinercha’, a blessed community offering. Since then, spiritual and religious groups such as Legion of Mary, Vincent de Paul Society were constituted and Sunday catechism classes started. The Parish gradually became the epicentre of Christian living in Maradu and the parishioners, generous as they were, took active participation in conducting church festivals, especially the feast of St. Gianna. It’s worthy to note that the then parishioners aspired for a more elaborate church and purchased a plot of land adjacent to the property foreseeing this future requirement.
Fr Martin Edayanthrath replaced Fr Justin Kaiprampadan upon his transfer in March 2011. He started ‘Karunyanidhi’ to extend financial assistance to the needy, irrespective of religious denominations in Maradu region. St Gianna Voice, a quarterly magazine, was first published in his period. ‘Gianna Sannidhi’ was blessed and he introduced ‘Thottill Nercha’ , an act conducted as a spiritual offering to St Gianna, seeking her intercession for the well being of pregnant women and young babies.
Fr Jimmichen Karthanam was appointed on March 16, 2014 as Fr Martin proceeded to Rome to pursue his higher studies. He continued all good initiatives of his predecessors in zest. Most notable, among all his contributions was the way the parish celebrated Good Friday, an elaborate ‘ way of the cross’ followed by ‘nagari kanikkal’, covering a cross section of Maradu roads. It was during Fr Jimmichen’s tenure in 2018 that the Parish council resolved to construct a new church. Following this decision and on his initiative and leadership, the church acquired a plot nearby, anticipating a future need for a parking ground. It was also in this period that a relic of St Gianna and a handwritten letter from Dr Gianna Immanuella ( the daughter the saint saved with her life) was brought to the church and formally placed for veneration at the Gianna Sannidhi by Mar Jose Puthenveettil.
Fr Cherian Nereveettil was appointed Pro- vicar on March 9, 2019. The planning for the construction of the new presbytery and church intensified as all necessary approvals from the Arch- diocese and local body were received early in his tenure. Subsequently, on May 26, 2019 Rev Fr. Jose Paul Nellissery ( the first Vicar of St Gianna Church) laid the foundation stone for the presbytery. This was followed by the blessing of the new presbytery and laying the foundation stone for the new church by Bishop Thomas Chakiath on 2nd February 2020. A Church construction committee ( Nirmana Samadhi) was constituted to drive the progress on all fronts and to ensure timely completion of the church construction.
The untimely demise of Fr Cherian Nereveettil on May 27 2021, following an accident on May 13, 2021 was a profound shock for the entire parish. The emotional hurt from the tragic incident has not healed the community ever since .
But his memories and messages continue to inspire the good deeds of the parishioners. The last message that Cheriachen ( as he was fondly addressed) penned for the church and the Parish truly reminds us of the direction he wanted us to follow in our spiritual and community life. “ St Gianna’s life is a glowing example of flawless commitment to one’s calling as a wife and mother and the uncompromising attitude to ultimate sacrifice.. Our parish named after her has earnestly undertaken the challenging mission to nurture and sustain a family culture founded on Christian values - one that values life, loving concern for others, family and community bonding and an all encompassing love for all”.
Fr Shanu Moonjeli was appointed as Vicar for an interim period of ten months after Fr Cherian Nereveetill’s demise. Despite a short term at the parish, it was in his initiative that the piling work for the new church got completed and the structural work started.
After a period, following COVID restrictions and the setback following Fr Cherian’s demise, church construction of the church started with a definitive purpose and increased vigour following the appointment of Fr Savi Padickaparambil as provicar of St Gianna Church in 2022. Fr Savi Padickaparambil brought a new sense of purpose for the different teams associated with church construction and brought in specific timelines for the progress of each work, even while encouraging new means of fundraising and better utilisation of the existing community resources.
As the parishioners pray after every Holy Mass, St Gianna’s Church shall endeavour to become a beacon of life and hope for millions of believers seeking St Gianna’s intercession in their lives, especially for expecting mothers and unborn children.