St. Joseph Church
Koottapuly

Parish Name : St. Joseph’s Church
Address : Kootapuly – 627 127, Tirunelveli Dt.
Patron Saint : St. Joseph
Telephone No : 04637-257150

A Brief History :
Before the ban of the Jesuits (1773) the name of Kootapuly is not found in the Mission catalogue of the Jesuits. When the Jesuits came back again for their Mission, Kootapuly is mentioned as one of the substations of Idinthakarai parish. In 1906 Kootapuly became a separate parish. Rev. Fr. Louise Lasus was its first parish priest. But again in 1907 Kootapuly was attached to Vadakkankulam. Again in 1909 Kootapuly became independent and Rev. Fr. Tharmanather, a diocesan priest, was the parish priest. In 1857 the Church of St. Joseph was built and in 1957 and 1978 the Church was extended and renovated.

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. J.S. Lourdu - 1923 – 1931
2. Rev.Fr. G. Devotto - 1931 – 1937
3. Rev.Fr. T. Michael - 1937 – 1940
4. Rev.Fr. G. Michael - 1940 – 1942
5. Rev.Fr. Venantius - 1942 - 1943
6. Rev.Fr. Packier - 1943 – 1950
7. Rev.Fr. R. RemigiusMissier - 1950 – 1962
8. Rev.Fr. J.X. Poobal - 1962 – 1969
9. Rev.Fr. J.V. Poobalarayer - 1969 –
10. Rev.Fr. Pancras - 1969 – 1972
11. Rev.Fr. V. Irudayaraj - 1972 – 1978
12. Rev.Fr. Charles - 1978 – 1983
13. Rev.Fr. M. Victor Devaraj - 1983 – 1984
14. Rev.Fr. Rathinaraj - 1984 – 1985
15. Rev.Fr. Theophilus - 1985 – 1986
16. Rev.Fr. Hermas - 1986 – 1987
17. Rev.Fr. Jeya Jothi - 1987
18. Rev.Fr. Soosai Marian - 1987 - 1988
19. Rev.Fr. M.J. Irudayaraj - 1988 - 1990
20. Rev.Fr. Siluvai Ignaci - 1990 – 1995
21. Rev.Fr. Rathinaraj - 1995 – 1997
22. Rev.Fr. Udaya Kumar - 1997 – 1999
23. Rev.Fr. Dominic Arul Valan- 2000 – 2004
24. Rev.Fr. Maria Valan - 2004 - 2005
25. Rev.Fr. Kumar Raja - 2005 – 2006
26. Rev.Fr. Panneer Selvam - 2006 – 2010
27. Rev.Fr. Suseelan - 2010 – 2015
28. Rev.Fr. Stan K. Fdo - 2015 – 2016
29. Rev.Fr. Maria Valan 2016 - 2017
30. Rev.Fr. Ranjith Kumar Cardoza 2017 - 2022
31. Rev.Fr. Albin Leon  - 2022 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. St. Fatima - Kootapuli - 1952
2. St. Lourdus - Kootapuli - 1971
3. St. George - Kootapuli
4. St. Xavier - Kootapuli
5. St. Micheal - Kootapuli
6. St. Viyakula Matha - Kootapuli
7. St. Arockia Matha - Kootapuli
8. Holy Cross - Kootapuli
9. St. Antony - Kootapuli

Catholic Population : 5540

No. of Catholic Families : 1199

Sunday Mass – Timings : 5 .00a.m. & 7.00 a.m.
Weekdays : 5.30 a.m

Sub – Stations
1. Jeyamathapuram – Child Jesus
2. Kannangulam – Ubahara Matha

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Holy Family Sodality
4. Legion of Mary
5. Vincent De Paul Society
6. Amalorpava Matha Sodality for young women
7. Our Lady of Sorrows Sodality
8. Resting Souls Sodality

Institutions under the Parish
St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Kootapuly – 627 127
St. Joseph’s Primary School, Kootapuly – 627 127
St. Mary’s Primary School, Kootapuly – 627 127

Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, Kootapuly – 627 127. Tel. 04637 – 257437

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Corrections added to the existing content by : Rev.Fr. Albin Leon
Scanned pages: None. Previous file name : parish-koottappuli0.htm
Updated on 17th Oct. 2022S