Churh of Our Lady of Visitation
Perumanal

Parish Name : Church of Our Lady of Visitation
Address : Perumanal, Tirunelveli Dt. 627 106
Patron Saint : Our Lady of Visitation
Telephone No : 04637 - 257348

A Brief History :
St. Francis Xavier had visited Perumanal in September 1542, and he appointed Mr. Antonio Henrigues as the first catechist to impart religious teachings. In all the coastal parishes the Churches are all dedicated in the names of the Apostles. But at Perumanal we have a Church dedicated to Our Lady of Visitation. The reason is this: originally Parathavars were worshipping the virgin Goddess Bharvathi Amman and the married goddess Meenatchi Amman. Knowing this religious sentiment of the Parathavars, St. Francis Xavier who wanted to divert their devotion to our blessed mother dedicated the Church in 1548 to the Virgin Mary who visited the married Elizabeth. Thus the Church of Perumanal was named by people as “Thaeva Matha Amman Koil”.

Panchal is the substation to Perumanal. Here we have a Church dedicated to St. Ignatius. This is one of the ancient shrines. After 1936 when the Goa mission priests took over the administration of Perumanal Church, the French Mission Jesuit priest settled at Panchal and was serving the French mission people who were supporting him. Later on people from Panchal migrated themselves into various coastal villages such as Idinthakarai, Koothenkuzhi and Manapad.

Present Church at Perumanal was built by Rev. Fr. Rajareegam and was blessed by Rt. Rev. Arockiasamy, Bishop of Kottar on 21st November 1980.

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Periyanayagam - 1942 – 1944
2. Rev.Fr. Swaminathar - 1944 – 1945
3. Rev.Fr. Immanuvel Diaz - 1945 – 1951
4. Rev.Fr. Xavier Fdo - 1951 – 1958
5. Rev.Fr. James V. Poobalarayer - 1958 – 1961
6. Rev.Fr. Rosario Corera - 1961 – 1967
7. Rev.Fr. Paul Pandiyan - 1967 –
8. Rev.Fr. Francis Devasahayam - 1967 – 1975
9. Rev.Fr. Xavier Alwin Villavarayer - 1975
10. Rev.Fr. Antony Arulappa - 1975 – 1976
11. Rev.Fr. Rajareegam - 1976 – 1981
12. Rev.Fr. G. Francis - 1981 – 1982
13. Rev.Fr. Viagula Marian - 1982 – 1985
14. Rev.FrSegaran - 1985 - 1986
15. Rev.Fr. Charles Fdo - 1986 – 1990
16. Rev.Fr. Sahaya Joseph - 1990 – 1993
17. Rev.Fr. Karunnakaran Gomez - 1993 – 1995
18. Rev.Fr. Bruno - 1995 – 1997
19. Rev.Fr. Kirupakaran - 1997 – 2001
20. Rev.Fr. Voctor Lobo - 2001 – 2005
21. Rev.Fr. Stanislaus - 2005 – 2008
22. Rev.Fr. Jeya Jothi - 2008 - 2011
23. Rev.Fr. Kishok - 2011 - 2016
24. Rev.Fr. David Sahaya Valan 2016 - 2021
25. Rev.Fr. Julians Marlan Joshi 2021 - 2023
26. Rev.Fr. Antony Paul Prabu R. 2024 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. Our Lady Of Lourdes - Perumanal
2. St. Antony - Perumanal

Catholic Population : 3500

No. of Catholic Families : 400

Sunday Mass – Timings : 5.00 a.m; 7 a.m.
Weekdays : 5.30 a.m

Sub – Stations
1. Panchal – St. Ignatius

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Matha Sodality
4. Holy Family Sodality
5. Vincent De Paul Society

Other Associations & Activities
1. Meenavar Sangam

Institutions under the Parish
St. Xavier’s Middle School, Perumanal – 627 106

Religious
Sacred Heart Sisters (SHS)
Sacred Heart Convent, Perumanal–627 106.

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024