Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Even before the arrival of St. Francis Xavier, there were Catholics in the coastal villages. Idinthakarai was one among them. History tells that already in 1571 there was a beautiful Church dedicated to Apostoles Peter and Paul. In 1644 Idinthakarai was attached to Perumanal. It is said that in 1730 Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Moraid served at Idinthakarai as parish priest. Later on, when Uvari, Koothenkuzhi, Panchal, Perumanal, Kootapuli and Idinthakarai were looked after by Rev. Fr. Remi Fernanadis, Idinthakarai was the prominent village. Afterwards only Koothenkuzhi and Koodangulam were Idinthakarai as substations. In 1854 protestant Bishop Caldwell tried to spread his message at Idinthakarai but failed in his efforts. The presbytery of Idinthakarai was built by Rev. Fr. Fernandes and was blessed by Rev. Fr. Barbier on 21st August 1876. On 2nd February 1906, the present Parish Church was blessed and was dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. When the centenary of the Church was celebrated Rev. Fr. John Britto removed the tiles and paved the floor with Marble Stones in 2006. Two of the former bishops of the diocese of Thoothukkudi Late Rt. Rev. Thomas Fernando & Archbishop Peter Fernando and one of the former Vicar General Msgr. Rosario Fernando all are from Idinthakarai. Mr. Anthony Michael kanakkupillai served 60 years as a catechist of the village. He was honoured with “Bene Merenti” conferred by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Grottos in the parish: 1. Our Lady of Lourdes - Idinthakarai Sub - Stations 1. Tsunami Colony - Our Lady of Good Health The Succession of parish priests: 1. Rev. Fr. Gnanapragasam - 1922 – 1923 2. Rev. Fr. Gasper Roche - 1923 – 1928 3. Rev. Fr. Periyanayagam - 1928 – 1932 4. Rev. Fr. Benedict Fdo - 1932 – 1939 5. Rev. Fr. Jokim Fdo - 1939 – 1943 6. Rev. Fr. Augustine Fdo - 1943 – 1951 7. Rev. Fr. S. Mariadas - 1951 – 1953 8. Rev. Fr. Jermious Arasarathinam - 1953 – 1954 9. Rev. Fr. Xavier Mel - 1954 – 1955 10. Rev. Fr. T.P. Alangaram - 1955 – 1957 11. Rev. Fr. Augustine Fdo - 1957 – 1961 12. Rev. Fr. Jermious Arasarathinam - 1961 – 1964 13. Rev. Fr. J.S. Lobo - 1964 – 1968 14. Rev. Fr. M.S. Siluvai Antony - 1968 – 1971 15. Rev. Fr. Rabinstion Raj - 1971 – 1974 16. Rev. Fr. Lambert Miranda - 1974 – 1979 17. Rev. Fr. Theophilus - 1979 – 1983 18. Rev. Fr. Oswald V.P - 1983 – 1987 19. Rev. Fr. Cedric Peeris - 1987 – 1988 20. Rev. Fr. Irudayaraj V. - 1988 – 1990 21. Rev. Fr. Viagula Marian - 1990 – 1992 22. Rev. Fr. Rajareegam - 1992 - 1993 23. Rev. Fr. Job De Rose - 1993 – 1997 24. Rev. Fr. G. Joseph - 1997 – 2002 25. Rev. Fr. John Britto - 2002 – 2007 26. Rev. Fr. Domnic - 2007 – 2010 27. Rev. Fr. Jeyakumar - 2010 – 2015 28. Rev. Fr. Jesudas - 2015 – 2018 29. Rev. Fr. Pradeep 2018 - 2020 30. Rev. Fr. Sathish Kumar 2021 -

Idindakarai S.O. Radhapuram Tk. - Tirunelveli Dt. Tamil Nadu - 627 104 - India.