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Sacred Heart Church
Kavalkinaru

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Parish Name : Sacred Heart Church
Address : Kavalkinaru, Tirunelveli Dt. 627 105
Patron Saint : Sacred Heart
Telephone No : 04637 230333

A Brief History:
Kavalkinaru was a village, situated at the boundary between Chera and Pandiya Kingdoms. It seems that there was a well and Rest house of the border security force. That is how Kavalkinaru village got its name. Catholic faith entered here in 1700. Kavalkinaru was the substation of Vadakkankulam. In 1843 Rev. Fr. Kasthanier, a Jesuit Priest, built a small chapel here and dedicated it to Sacred Heart of Jesus. From 1911 onwards Kavalkinaru started functioning as a separate parish. Our Lady of Ransom became the patroness. Panagudi, Vallioor, Eruvadi, Thirukarungudi and Nanguneri were its substations. Rev. Fr. G. Siluvai laid the foundation for a spacious Church in 1933. All the succeeding parish priests took efforts in constructing the Church and in 1961 on the feast of Sacred Heart the Church was blessed when Rev.Fr. Maria Kagoo was parish priest. The Church construction was completed in 1970 by Rev. Fr. T.M. Ambrose. Already there was a presbytery when Kavalkinaru was a substation to Vadakkankulam and Rev. Fr. Jerald S. Ravi built the new presbytery. Centinary Jubilee of the parish (1911-2011) was celebrated in 2011. In remembrance of the occasion, a Marriage Hall was constructed by Rev. Fr. Stalin, the present parish Priest.

There is a grotto of Our Lady of Fatima at Kavalkinaru junction. Behind the grotto stands the Mahendragiri hill where on 13.05.1957 Rev.Fr. Aloy Navamony placed a cross. Annai Vailankanni shrine at Punniyavalanpuram by the national highways attracts a lot of pilgrims.

Msgr. Joseph Xavier who was serving as the Episcopal Vicar of Vallioor Mandalam hails from this parish.

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Siluvai Nathar - 1923 – 1925
2. Rev.Fr. Gabriel Devotto - 1925 – 1931
3. Rev.Fr. T. Michaelnather - 1931 – 1937
4. Rev.Fr. Gnanapragasam - 1937 – 1938
5. Rev.Fr. Dasan T. Dalmaitha - 1939 – 1940
6. Rev.Fr. G. Mariyanus - 1940 – 1947
7. Rev.Fr. Venzntius - 1947 – 1948
8. Rev.Fr. Gruz Marian - 1948 – 1954
9. Rev.Fr. Amaladass Victoria - 1954 – 1956
10. Rev.Fr. Shingarayar - 1956
11. Rev.Fr. Augustine - 1956 – 1957
12. Rev.Fr. Antony Arakkal - 1957 – 1958
13. Rev.Fr. Alphonse Mariakagoo- 1958 – 1962
14. Rev.Fr. Remigius Missier - 1962 – 1968
15. Rev.Fr. Rajareegam - 1968
16. Rev.Fr. T.M. Ambrose - 1968 – 1975
17. Rev.Fr. Devasahayam - 1975 – 1977
18. Rev.Fr. P.L. Ephrem - 1977 – 1981
19. Rev.Fr. Soosai Marian - 1981 – 1987
20. Rev.Fr. Arthur James - 1987 – 1988
21. Rev.Fr. Arulraj - 1988
22. Rev.Fr. R. Antonydass - 1988 – 1993
23. Rev.Fr. Jebanathan - 1993 – 1994
24. Rev.Fr. Loyola De Rose - 1994 – 1995
25. Rev.Fr. Venzntius - 1995
26. Rev.Fr. Wingling Ravi - 1995 – 1997
27. Rev.Fr. Peter Raja - 1997 – 2002
28. Rev.Fr. Jerald S. Ravi - 2002 – 2004
29. Rev.Fr. Fabian Joseph - 2004 – 2009
30. Rev.Fr. Joseph D. Stalin - 2009 - 2014
31. Rev.Fr. Mahizhan - 2014 2019
32. Rev.Fr. Arockiyaraj D. 2019 - 2024
33. Rev.Fr. George Aliban 2024 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. St. Antony - Kavalkinaru
2. Our Lady of Fatima - Kavalkinaru Junction
3. Our Lady of Vailankanni - Punniavalanpuram

Catholic Population : 7550

No. of Catholic Families : 1538

Sunday Mass – Timings : 4.30 a.m. & 7.00 a.m., 5.30 p.m
Weekdays : 5.30 a.m

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
3. Parish Pastoral Council
4. Parish Finance Committee

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality
4. Maria Goretti Sodality
5. Cristo Youngmen Sodality
6. St. Antony’s Sodality
7. Holy Family Sodality
8. Sacred Heart Sodality
9. Legion of Mary
10. Vincent De Paul Society

Institutions under the Parish
Sacred Heart Hr. Sec. School, Kavalkinaru – 627 105, Tel. 04637 – 230333
St. Paul Middle School, Kavalkinaru – 627 105
Sacred Heart Primary School, Kavalkinaru – 627 105

Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, Kavalkinaru – 627 105, Tel. 04637 – 230 417
A monthly by name ‘Kavaikkural’ is published from the parish.

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024

 

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