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St. Thomas Church
Kooduthalai
Our Lady of Rosary Church (old church built in 1907)
Parish Name : St. Thomas Church
Address : Kooduthalai, Tirunelveli Dt. 627 651
Patron Saint : St. Thomas
Telephone No : 04637 – 279145
A Brief History :
In 1923 when the diocese of Thoothukkudi was erected, Kooduthazhai was under the diocese of Mylapore. After the concordate between Vatican and Portugal on 1st April 1925, Kooduthazhai was attached to the diocese of Thoothukkudi on 4th April 1930. Kadakulam, Thisayanvilai and Kootapanai were its substations which eventually became separate parishes.
The present Church was built by Rev. Fr. M.G. Pragasam on 24th October 1980 and was blessed by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu. A new presbytery was built by Rev. Fr. M.G. Pragasam and it was blessed by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu on 7th January 1979. Rev. Fr. Willaiam Fernando has been constructing a tower at St. Thomas Church from November 2022 onwards.
In 1535 there was a hut (Church) and St. Joseph Statue was installed inside.
Sucession of Parish Priests Under Madras-Mylapore Diocese :
1748 Our Lady of Rosary Church (Parish Priest name unknown).
Rev. Fr. Lorenso De Costa S.J. 1763 - 1779
Rev. Fr. Jose Derose
S.J. 1779 - 1882
Rev. Fr. Bernatho Polycorpo Esthonla Fertoda 1882 - 1892
Rev. Fr. Lufeno Adalfo R. Fernades 1892 - 1894
Rev. Fr. C.R.A. Noreno 1994 -1897
Rev. Fr. Sebestiano Xavier De Noreno 1897 - 1898
Rev. Fr. F.X. Mothneiro 1898 - 1899
Rev. Fr. Antony M. Herman Jildo De Costa 1899 -
1899
Rev. Fr. F.X. Noreno 1899 - 1900
Rev. Fr. A.M. Miranda 1900 - 1901
Rev. Fr. Francisco Xavier De Silva 1901 - 1906
Rev. Fr. Lukdo Vicko Ferrave 1906 - 1910
Rev. Fr. Santhana Beckavo Rodricks 1910 -1915
Rev. Fr. Joevavo Bapthitha Xavier De Susa 1916 -1920
Rev. Fr. Dennis 1920 - 1922
Rev. Fr. Maria Joseph 1922
Rev. Fr. De Rock 1922 - 1925
Rev. Fr. A.M. Cardosa 1926 - 1930
Sucession of Parish Priests Under Tuticorin Diocese:
1. Rev.Fr. Antony Fdo - 1930 – 1931
2. Rev.Fr. D. Swami Nathan - 1931 – 1933
3. Rev.Fr. Dharma Nathar - 1933 – 1935
4. Rev.Fr. Aloysius Fdo - 1935 – 1938
5. Rev.Fr. T.S. Thairiam - 1938 – 1941
6. Rev.Fr. J.V. Poopala Rayer - 1942 – 1946
7. Rev.Fr. Gabiriel Devoto - 1946- 1947
8. Rev.Fr. M. Fernando - 1947 – 1953
9. Rev.Fr. F.M. Packiar - 1953 – 1954
10. Rev.Fr. D. Ganapragasam - 1954 – 1956
11. Rev.Fr. Rechard Rodrigo - 1959 – 1963
12. Rev.Fr. Agusthen Fdo - 1963 – 1964
13. Rev.Fr. Poopala Rayer - 1964 – 1965
14. Rev.Fr. Agusthen - 1965 – 1966
15. Rev.Fr. Paul Pastin - 1966
16. Rev.Fr. D.J.C Amertham - 1966 – 1967
17. Rev.Fr. Pancras Fdo - 1967 – 1969
18. Rev.Fr. Rajaregam - 1969 – 1970
19. Rev.Fr. P.M. Manigam - 1970 – 1974
20. Rev.Fr. Alwin Villavarayer - 1974
21. Rev.Fr. Venancious Fdo - 1974 – 1977
22. Rev.Fr. M Ganapragasam - 1977 – 1981
23. Rev.Fr. Hermas Muduthangam- 1981 – 1983
24. Rev.Fr. Gabriel - 1983 – 1985
25. Rev. Fr. Karunagaran Gomez - 1985 – 1988
26. Rev.Fr. Gruz Marian - 1988 – 1992
27. Rev.Fr. James Peter - 1992 – 1993
28. Rev.Fr. Sahaya Joseph - 1993 – 1994
29. Rev.Fr. Joseph Ladislaus - 1994 – 1998
30. Rev.Fr. Charles Fdo - 1998 - 2000
31. Rev.Fr. Panneerselvam - 2000 – 2001
32. Rev.Fr. Sahayaraj Rayan - 2001 – 2006
33. Rev.Fr. Wilson - 2006 – 2011
34. Rev.Fr. James Victor - 2011 – 2016
35. Rev.Fr. Ranjith Kumar Cardoza 2016 - 2017
36. Rev.Fr. Antony Jegathesan L. 2017 - 2019
37. Rev.Fr. William Fernando M 2019 - 2024
38. Rev.Fr. Bensigar Amal 2024 -
Priests and Nuns from Kooduthalai Parish:
Priests : 4
Nuns : 24
Grottos in the Parish:
1. Our Lady of Lourdes - Kooduthalai
2. St. Antony’s - Kooduthalai
3. St. Joseph(Side Chapel) - Kooduthalai
4. St. Thus Nevis Matha -Kooduthalai (2022)
Catholic Population : 1070
No. of Catholic Families : 160
Sunday Mass – Timings : 7:00 a.m.
Weekdays : 6.00 a.m
Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality
4. Holy Family Sodality
5. Rosary Matha Confraternity Sodality
6. Legion of Mary
7. Vincent De Paul Society
8. Kolping Movement
9. Holy Family
10. Region of Mary
Other Associations & Activities
Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam
Institutions under the Parish
St. Thomas Primary School, Kooduthazhai – 627 651
Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, Kooduthazhai – 627 651 Tel. 04637 – 279223
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New Info provided by : Rev.Fr. William M.
Scanned page 20, Previous file name : parish-kooduthalai0.htm
Original in Tamil before English translation:
parish-kooduthalai1.htm
Updated on : 13th Oct. 2022, May 7th, 2023. Final correction done on May 17th 2023.
Updated on 12 Jully, 2024
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