St. Andrew's Church
Uvari

Parish Name : St. Andrew’s Church
Address : Uvari, Tirunelveli Dt. 627 658
Patron Saint : St. Andrew the Apostle
Telephone No : 04637 – 277140 (Parish), 277115 (Shrine).

A Brief History :
1535 When the Parathavar were converted to Chritianity, people of Uvari also embraced Christianity. On the 13th of January 1558, Jesuit Missionary Fr. Henri Henriques wrote a letter from Manakudi to St. Ignatius of Loyola wherin he mentions about Uvari as one of the Christian villages taken care of by Jesuits of Pearl Fishery Coast.

According to the Mission diary of 1644, 12 villages were functioining as separate parishes and Uvari was one of the Sub stations of Periathazhai. The confusion that was created by the clash between the Goa Mission and the French Mission during the time of Pope Gregory XVI in 1838 had its influence also at Uvari. Protestants tried to enter into Uvari. Bishop Caldwell who was staying at Idayankudi wanted to build a church at Uvari. But the people threw all the building materials into the sea.

In 1907, Uvari was taken from Periathazhai and was attached to Anaikarai Mission. In 1910, Uvari became a separate parish with (Kootapanai) Chinnathazhai as its Sub station.

The documents of 1600 speak of an already existing church of St. Andrew. This was small in size. On the eastern side of the village, there was a small church dedicated to St.Anne, belonging to Goa Mission. Later on it was converted into a girls' school.

In and around the area where St. Anne's church stood, the people have put up the Selva Matha church in the shape of a ship as well as an Aeroplane. The present famous Major Shrine of St.Antony must be of later origin because the document of 18 century does not mention about that. It is said that it was built around 1846. Rev.Fr.Antony Soosainather, who later joined the Rosarian Congregation, put up a church which was larger in size. The work started around 1928 and was completed in 1929. In 1960 Rev.Fr. Charles Fernando enlarged and extended the church. Later a pilgrim centre and a hall for liturgical purpose were put up. From 2000 till now, a lot of development works had been done by many priests with the co-operation of the Shrine Finance Committee. The presbytery was blessed and opened on 31st of January, 1947. In 2009, Rev.Fr. Susilan laid foundation stone for a new wing of rooms to the presbytery and with the financial assistance from St.Antony's Shrine, the construction was completed at the time of Rev.Fr. Barnabas in the year 2010.

Succession of Parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Rayappanathar SJ (1910 - 1919)
2. Rev.Fr. M.Mass SJ (1919-1921)
3. Rev.Fr. Antony Fernando (1921 - 1930)
4. Rev.Fr. Mariadasan Fernando (1930 - 1932)
5. Rev.Fr. Joseph Roche (1932-1935)
6. Rev.Fr. Periyanayagam (1935 - 1937)
7. Rev.Fr. Mathew Fernando (1937-1940)
8. Rev.Fr. Rosario Coreara (1940 - 1945)
9. Rev.Fr. Alphonse Maria Gagoo (1945-1950)
10. Rev.Fr. Gabriel Devoto (1950 - 1954)
11. Rev.Fr. J.X.Poobalarayer (1954-1958)
12. Rev.Fr. Charles Fernando (1958 – 1970)
13. Rev.Fr. Irudayaraj (1970 - 1972)
14. Rev.Fr. Peter Rayan (1972 - 1974)
15. Rev.Fr. Theophilus (1974 - 1979)
16. Rev.Fr. Xavier George (1979 - 1982)
17. Rev.Fr. Amaladass Ignatius (1982-1986)
18. Rev.Fr. D.S. Alphonse (1986-1987)
19. Rev.Fr. Antonysamy (1987 - 1991)
20. Rev.Fr. Antony Pitchai (1991 - 1992)
21. Rev.Fr. Jerosin A.Kattar (1992 - 1994)
22. Rev.Fr. Leo Jeyaseelan (1994 - 1996)
23. Rev.Fr. Charles Fernando (1996 - 1998)
24. Rev.Fr. Irudayaraj Fernando (1998 - 2003)
25. Rev.Fr. John Paul Lobo (2003-2005)
26. Rev.Fr. Franklin (2005-2008)
27. Rev.Fr. Susilan (2008 - 2010)
28. Rev.Fr. Barnabas (2010-2012)
29. Rev.Fr. A.S.Kirupakaran (2012-2013)
30. Rev.Fr. Theophilus (2013-2014)
31. Rev.Fr. G. Joseph (2014 - 2018)
32. Rev.Fr. Dominic Arul Valan (2018 - 2023)
33. Rev.Fr. Rajan S. (2023 - )

Grottos in the Parish:
1. St.Antony - Uvari
2. St. Selva Matha - Uvari
3. St. Arockia Matha – Uvari
4. Infant Jesus - Uvari
5. Our Lady of Lourdes - Karaichuthupudur
6. St. Joseph - Rochmanagar

Catholic Population: 10445
No. of Catholic Families: 1500
Sunday Mass – Timings & Language: 5.00 am; 6.30 am; 11.30 am; 5.30 pm (Tamil)
Week Days: 6.00 am; 5.30 pm (Tamil)

Sub-Stations:
1. Karaisuthiputhur - Our Lady of Lourdes
2. Rochmanagar - St. Joseph

Participatory Structures:
1. Anbiyams
2. St.Antony's Shrine Finance Committee

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders (Boys)
3. Eucharistic Crusaders (Girls)
4. Amalorpava Matha Sodality (Young Girls)
5. Holy Family Sodality
6. Komperia Sodality of Sacred Heart of Jesus
7. Amalorpava Matha Anti Liquor Sodality
8. St.Antony's Sodality
9. Legion of Mary (5 Prasidiums)
10.St. Vincent De Paul's Society

Other Association & Activities
1. Charismatic Prayer Group
2. Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam

Institutions under the Parish
St. Mary's Hr.Sec. School, Uvari - 627 651. Tel: 04637 - 277201.
St.Joseph's Middle School, Uvari - 627 651. St. Mary's Primary School, Uvari - 627 151.
R.C.Primary School, Karaisuthiputhur - 627 659, Thisayanvilai Via.
St.Joseph's Primary School, Rochmanagar - 627 651, Anaikudi P.O.

Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows,
Servants of Mary Servite) OSM Servite Convent, Uvari - 627 651. Tel: 04637-277217.

Institutions under the Religious
St.Joseph's Hospital, Uvari - 627 651 [Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (Servite) OSM].

=================
New Info provided by : Rev.Fr. Dominic Arul Valan
Scanned pages 21 - 24, Previous file name : parish-uvari-st.andrew0.htm
Updated on 13th Oct. 2022. Final correction over the phone on May 11th 2023

Updated July 12th, 2024.