Our Lady of Expectation Church
Pazhayakayal

Parish Name : Church of Our Lady of Expectation
Address : Pazhayakayal, Tuticorin Dt. 628 152
Patron Saint : Our Lady of Expectation
Telephone No : 04630 – 275 232

A Brief History :
The historical sea port of Pandiya Kings (Port of Kayal) was Pazhayakayal. It was a prominent substation of all the 16 substations of Punnaikayal. On 21.09.1920 it was bifurcated from Punnaikayal and elevated into a parish. Rev. Fr. Gaspar Roche was the first parish priest.

St. Francis Xavier put up a thatched Church at Pazhayakayal and preached there. A pregnant woman was struggling with the birth pain for 3 days. St. Francis Xavier prayed for her. And she gave birth to a male child. It seems that in memory of this miracle and as a mark of gratitude the Church at Pazhayakayal was dedicated to Our Lady of Expectation. To recall this incident a grotto was built with name ‘Saveri Navasthan’ which was blessed by Bishop Tiburtius Roche on 03.12.1938.

Pazhayakayal which was with the Goa Mission was in 1893 attached to the diocese of Tiruchirappalli. Rev. Fr. Ambrose who was the parish priest at Pazhayakayal was murdered by a man of Pazhayakayal. In the place where the priest was killed, Rev. Fr. Pouget built a chapel and dedicated to St. Sebastian.

Jesuit priests put up a Jesus grotto in the midst of the jungle, 3 kilometers away from the village. Now it is developped into a spacious Church and a pilgrim centre and it is named by people as ‘Jesu Koil’. On first Fridays people flock to this Church.

Pazhayakayal was the mother parish of Eral-Othasai Matha, Eral-St. Joseph, Gnanapragasiarpatnam, Pudukottai and Saveriarpuram M.

Pazhayakayal Church was renovated and remodelled into a beautiful Church when Rev. Fr. Mahizhan was the parish priest (2001 – 2006). Rev. Fr. John Bosco built the presbytery at Pazhayakayal which was blessed by Bishop Amalnather in November 1997.

Succession of parish priest:
1. Rev.Fr. Gasper Roche - 1920 –
2. Rev.Fr. Gnanapragasam - 1920 – 1921
3. Rev.Fr. Siluvai - 1921
4. Rev.Fr. Banjamin Soosainathar - 1921 – 1925
5. Rev.Fr. Benedict Fdo - 1925 – 1932
6. Rev.Fr. J.X. Poobalarayer - 1932 – 1944
7. Rev.Fr. Maria Joseph - 1944 – 1950
8. Rev.Fr. F.M. Packianather - 1950
9. Rev.Fr. A. Michael - 1950 – 1952
10. Rev.Fr. G. Soosainather - 1952 – 1960
11. Rev.Fr. J. Villavarayer - 1960 –
12. Rev.Fr. Devasahayam - 1960 – 1962
13. Rev.Fr. Venantius Fdo - 1962 – 1965
14. Rev.Fr. Amaladas Victoria - 1965 – 1969
15. Rev.Fr. Gabriel - 1969 – 1970
16. Rev.Fr. Gnanapragasam - 1970 – 1974
17. Rev.Fr. Pancras Raja - 1974 – 1975
18. Rev.Fr. Joseph Benzigar - 1975 – 1979
19. Rev.Fr. Job De Rose - 1979 – 1981
20. Rev.Fr. Stanislaus - 1981 – 1984
21. Rev.Fr. Gabriel - 1984 – 1987
22. Rev.Fr. Jeya Jothi - 1987 – 1988
23. Rev.Fr. Loyola De Rose - 1988 – 1990
24. Rev.Fr. J. Vijayan - 1990 – 1996
25. Rev.Fr. John Bosco - 1996 – 1998
26. Rev.Fr. Xavier Soosai Marian - 1998 – 2001
27. Rev.Fr. Mahizhan - 2001 – 2006
28. Rev.Fr. Jose Bruno - 2006 – 2009
29. Rev.Fr. Paul Robinston - 2009 - 2013
30. Rev.Fr. Maria John Costa - 2013 – 2014
31. Rev.Fr. John Paul Lobo - 2014 - 2016
32. Rev.Fr. Sahayaraj Rayan 2016 - 2020
33. Rev.Fr. Amalan T. 2020 - 2022
34. Rev.Fr. Viniston V.  - 2022 - 2024
35. Rev.Fr. Rajesh 2024 -

Grottos in the parish:
Jesukoil - Palayakayal

Catholic Population : 5000

No. of Catholic Families : 613

Sunday Mass – Timings : 6.0 a.m; 7.30a.m; 9.00 a.m
Weekdays : 5.30 a.m

Sub – Stations
1. Kuruvithurai – Our Lady of Bon Secours
2. Maaramangalam – St. Michael
3. Mukkani – St. Antony
4. Ambrose Nagar – St. Michael
5. Kamaraj Nagar – St Antony of the Desert
6. Paripooranagar - Annai Velankanni

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality
4. St. Dominic Savio Sodality
5. Our Lady of Expectation Sodality
6. Legion of Mary
7. Vincent de Paul Society

Other Associations & Activities
1. Mahalir mantram

Institutions under the Parish
St. Antony’s Hr. Sec. School, Pazhayakayal – 628 152 Tel : 04630 – 275232
St. Mary’s Middle School, Pazhayakayal – 628 152
St. Antony’s Middle School, Mukkani – 628 151
St. Antony’s Primary School, Pazhayakayal – 628 152
Inigo Creche

Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, Pazhayakayal – 628 152 Tel: 04630 – 275433

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024