Church of Our Lady of Nativity
Anaikkarai

Parish Name : Church of Our Lady of Nativity
Address : Anaikkarai - 627 654, Tirunelveli Dt.
Patron Saint : St. Lucia
Telephone No : 04637 286608

A Brief History :

Anaikarai was an ancient mission parish the Madurai mission of the Jesuits. According to oral tradition St. Francis Xavier stayed at Sanganangulam and Rammathapuram, the sub – stations of Anaikarai, on his way to Kovalam. According to a missionary catalogue of 1713 a village called Isalapuram belonged to Nehmam Mission and this Isalapuram is a few kilometres away from Anaikarai. In 1890 Anaikarai and its substations were attached to Sathankulam. For a short period it was also the parish of Uvari. 1910 it was made a separate parish and Rev. Fr. Cuturier was made the parish priest. According to a statistics of 1914 Anaikarai had 22 substations. The Church is dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. The foundation stone of the present Church was laid on 15th September 1850. St. Lucia is the second patroness of the Church. The feast of St. Lucia is celebrated as a pilgrimage feast by people all around that area. In 1980 Rev. Fr. Cedric Peeris renovated the Church. Rev. Fr. M. Peter built the belfry in 2001-2002. The way of the cross Church was built by Rev. Fr. Wingling Ravi.

Succession in parish priests:
1. Rev. Fr. Makberd - 1920 -1922
2. Rev. Fr. Lourdu Samy - 1922 - 1923
3. Rev. Fr. Gowsanal - 1923 - 1924
4. Rev. Fr. Arul Samy - 1924- 1936
5. Rev. Fr. Stansilaus Raja - 1936 - 1938
6. Rev. Fr. Rosario Corera - 1938 - 1942
7. Rev. Fr. Lourdu Marianathar - 1942 - 1949
8. Rev. Fr. A. Augustin Fdo - 1949 - 1957
9. Rev. Fr. Richard Rodrigo - 1957 - 1959
10. Rev. Fr. D. Gnanapragasam - 1959 - 1961
11. Rev. Fr. Cruz Mariyan - 1961 - 1963
12. Rev. Fr. Gomaz - 1963 - 1970
13. Rev. Fr. Rajaregam - 1970 - 1972
14. Rev. Fr. Julian Fdo - 1972 - 1976
15. Rev. Fr. Xavier George - 1976 - 1979
16. Rev. Fr. Cedric Peeris - 1979 - 1982
17. Rev. Fr. Bancras - 1982 - 1985
18. Rev. Fr. R. Antonydos - 1985 - 1988
19. Rev. Fr. L. Jegadish - 1988 - 1993
20. Rev. Fr. Narbert A.R. - 1993- 1996
21. Rev. Fr. Joseph Leon - 1996- 2000
22. Rev. Fr. M.Peter - 2000 – 2005
23. Rev. Fr. Wingling Ravi - 2005 – 2010
24. Rev. Fr. Arul Thana Seelan - 2010 – 2015
25. Rev. Fr. Joseph Stalin - 2015 – 2020
26. Rev. Fr. Selva Rathinam - 2020 -

Grottos in the parish: Nil

Catholic Population : 5400

No. of Catholic Families : 650

Sunday Mass – Timings : 5.30 a.m.;7.00 a.m; 7.00 p.m
Weekdays : 5.30 a.m

Sub – Stations
1. Saveriarpuram – St. Francis Xavier
2. Vaazhaithottam – St. Michael
3. Mittatharkulam – St. Esthaque
4. Nathankulam – St. Peter
5. Perungulam – St. Joseph

Participatory Structures
01. Anbiyams
02. 15 Pastoral Commissions
03. Parish Pastoral Council
04. Parish Finance Committee

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood at Anaikarai & Mittatharkulam
2. Eucharistic Crusaders at Anaikarai & Mittatharkulam
3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality for Young Women in all the villages
4. Holy Family Sodality for Women in all the villages
5. Legion Of Mary at Anaikarai & Mittatharkulam

Other Associations & Activities
1. Little Way Association at Anaikarai
Institutions under the Parish
1. St. Lucia R.C. Middle School, Anaikarai – 627 654 Pettaikulam Via
2. R.C. Middle School, Mittatharkulam – 627 112
3. R.C. Primary School, Vaazhaithottam – 627 657
4. St. Xavier’s R.C. Primary School, P. Saveriarpuram – 627 118

Religious
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann, Trichy (SAT)
1. St. Ann’s Convent, Anaikarai – 627 654 Pettaikulam Via Tel. 04637 – 286636

Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Vellore) (SSHJ)
1. Sacred Heart Convent, Anaikarai – 627 654 Pettaikulam Via Tel. 04637 – 286607
2. Sacred Heart Convent, Mittatharkulam – 627 112 Tel. 04637 - 286589

Institutions under the Religious
1. Bp. Thomas Orphanage, Anaikarai – 627 654 Pettaikulam Via (SAT)
Tel. 04637 - 294952
2. Mercy Home for the Disabled, Anaikarai – 627 654 Pettaikulam Via (SSHJ)
Tel. 04637 - 286607