Beschi did not only write and preach — he raised and developed houses of God across the Tamil country, and the Marian shrines he founded still draw thousands of pilgrims today. With the goodwill of Moghul commanders and local Palayakaarars he secured land, protection and freedom for the Christians.
From a first church at Eyyalur to the great Marian shrines of Elakkurichi and Konaankuppam, Beschi’s buildings were also acts of pastoral love — places of refuge, pilgrimage and healing for the whole people of God.
As a young pastor in the Coromandel region, Beschi built a church at Eyyalur with the help of the Moghul rulers. With his amicable approach he later won the goodwill of the Muslim Superintendent of the Nawab of Aarcot, who generously donated the land and building of a church here.
Beschi built the shrine at Konaankuppam to venerate Mother Mary as Our Lady the Great, portraying her in the simple, elegant saree, bangles and earrings of a Tamil woman, lovingly carrying her child.
As Vicar Forane of Thanjavur and pastor of Elakkurichi for nearly eighteen years, Beschi established and developed this shrine, beginning the penitential pilgrimage with car procession. In 1732 it received Pontifical and Episcopal approval and the blessing of the Superior General. Ariyalur Mazhavaraayan donated a vast stretch of land for the multi-religious pilgrims who throng here.
Beside the shrine, Beschi founded a school to train catechists in Catholic doctrine, Tamil literature and rhetoric — forming the native collaborators who carried the mission forward.
Through his cordial relationship with Chanda Sahib, the Moghul commander, Beschi procured the land for the Pazhaiya Kovil (Old Church) at Tiruchirappalli, and kept the churches at Uraiyur and Avur safe from the attacks of enemies.
