Our Lady of Lourdes' Church
Idinthakarai

Parish Name : Our Lady of Lourdes’ Church
Address : Idinthakarai, Tirunelveli Dt. 627 104
Patron Saint : Our Lady of Lourdes
Telephone No : 04637 - 250144

A Brief History :
Even before the arrival of St. Francis Xavier there were Catholics in the coastal villages. Idinthakarai was one among them. History tells that already in 1571 there was a beautiful Church dedicated to Apostoles Peter and Paul. In 1644 Idinthakarai was attached to Perumanal. It is said that in 1730 Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Moraid served at Idinthakarai as parish priest. Later on when Uvari, Koothenkuzhi, Panchal, Perumanal, Kootapuli and Idinthakarai were looked after by Rev. Fr. Remi Fernanadis, Idinthakarai was the prominent village. Afterwards only Koothenkuzhi and Koodangulam were Idinthakarai as substations. In 1854 protestant Bishop Caldwell tried to spread his message at Idinthakarai but failed in his efforts. The presbytery of Idinthakarai was built by Rev. Fr. Fernandis and was blessed by Rev. Fr. Barbier on 21st August 1876. On 2nd February 1906 the present parish Church was blessed and was dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. When the centenary of the Church was celebrated Rev. Fr. John Britto removed the tiles and paved the floor with Marble Stones in 2006. Two of the former bishops of the diocese of Thoothukkudi Late Rt. Rev. Thomas Fernando & Archbishop Peter Fernando and one of the former Vicar General Msgr. Rosario Fernando all are from Idinthakarai. Mr. Antony Michael kannakkapilai served 60 years as catechist of the village. He was honoured with “Bene Merenti” conferred by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Gnanapragasam - 1922 – 1923
2. Rev.Fr. Gasper Roche - 1923 – 1928
3. Rev.Fr. Periyanayagam - 1928 – 1932
4. Rev.Fr. Benedict Fdo - 1932 – 1939
5. Rev.Fr. Jokim Fdo - 1939 – 1943
6. Rev.Fr. Augustine Fdo - 1943 – 1951
7. Rev.Fr. S. Mariadas - 1951 – 1953
8. Rev.Fr. Jermious Arasarathinam - 1953 – 1954
9. Rev.Fr. Xavier Mel - 1954 – 1955
10. Rev.Fr. T.P. Alangaram - 1955 – 1957
11. Rev.Fr. Augustine Fdo - 1957 – 1961
12. Rev.Fr. Jermious Arasarathinam - 1961 – 1964
13. Rev.Fr. J.S. Lobo - 1964 – 1968
14. Rev.Fr. M.S. Siluvai Antony - 1968 – 1971
15. Rev.Fr. Paul Robinston - 1971 – 1974
16. Rev.Fr. Lambert Miranda - 1974 – 1979
17. Rev.Fr. Theophilus - 1979 – 1983
18. Rev.Fr. Oswald V.P - 1983 – 1987
19. Rev.Fr. Cedric Peeris - 1987 – 1988
20. Rev.Fr. Irudayaraj V. - 1988 – 1990
21. Rev.Fr. Viagula Marian - 1990 – 1992
22. Rev.Fr. Rajareegam - 1992 - 1993
23. Rev.Fr. Job De Rose - 1993 – 1997
24. Rev.Fr. G. Joseph - 1997 – 2002
25. Rev.Fr. Venantius Fernando - 2002 - 2003
26. Rev.Fr. John Britto - 2003 – 2008
27. Rev.Fr. Domnic - 2008 – 2010
28. Rev.Fr. Jeyakumar - 2010 – 2015
29. Rev.Fr. Jesudas - 2015 – 2018
30. Rev.Fr. Pradheep 2018 - 2021
31. Rev.Fr. Sathish Kumar 2021 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. Our Lady of Lourdes - Idinthakarai

Catholic Population : 11,000

No. of Catholic Families : 2015

Sunday Mass – Timings : 4:45, 6.00 a.m. ; 6.30a.m;
Weekdays : 5.15 a.m; 6.15a.m

Sub – Stations : Nil

Side Chapels:
Tsunami Colony - Our Lady of Good Health
North - St. Antony's Chapel
East - St. Antony's Chapel
West - St. Francis Xavier Chapel
Holy Cross Chapel

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams 48
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Franciscan 3rd Order (Assisiar)
4. Holy Family Sodality
5. Oueen of Heaven Sodality
6. St. Carmel Confraternity Sodality (Delete)
7. Legion of Mary
8. Vincent De Paul Society
9. Lourdu Annai "Mathu Vilakku Sabai"
10. "Mangala Matha" Yourg Girls Sodality
11. St. Don Bosco Youth Movement

Other Associations & Activities
1. Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam

Institutions under the Parish
Bishop Roche Hr. Sec. School, Idinthakarai – 627 104 Tel. 04637 – 250489
St. Joseph’s Primary School, Idinthakarai – 627 104
St. Mary’s Primary School, Idinthakarai – 627 104

Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, Idinthakarai – 627 104 Tel. 04637 – 250409
Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany (BS)
Bethany Convent, Idinthakarai – 627 104 Tel. 04637 – 250125

Institutions under the Religious
Lourdu Annai Hospital, Idinthakarai – 627 104 Tel. 04637 – 250 125 (BS)

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Corrections added to the existing content by : Rev.Fr. Sathish Kumar
Scanned pages: None. Previous file name : parish-idindakarai0.htm
Updated on 14th Oct. 2022. Final Correction done on 26th May 2023