Sacred Heart Church

Kavalkinaru was a village, situated at the boundary between Chera and Pandiya Kingdoms. It seems that there was a well and Rest house of the border security force. That is how Kavalkinaru village got its name. Catholic faith entered here in 1700. Kavalkinaru was the substation of Vadakkankulam. In 1843 Rev. Fr. Kasthanier, a Jesuit Priest built a small chapel here and dedicated it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From 1911 onwards Kavalkinaru started functioning as a separate parish. Our Lady of Ransom became the patroness. Panagudi, Vallioor, Eruvadi, Thirukarungudi and Nanguneri were its substations. Rev. Fr. G. Siluvai laid the foundation for a spacious Church in 1933. All the succeeding parish priests took efforts in constructing the Church and in 1961 on the feast of Sacred Heart, the Church was blessed when Rev.Fr. Maria Kagoo was a parish priest. The Church construction was completed in 1970 by Rev. Fr. T.M. Ambrose. Already there was a presbytery when Kavalkinaru was a substation to Vadakkankulam and Rev. Fr. Jerald S. Ravi built the new presbytery. Centenary Jubilee of the parish (1911-2011) was celebrated in 2011. In remembrance of the occasion, a Marriage Hall was constructed by Rev. Fr. Stalin, the present parish Priest. There is a grotto of Our Lady of Fatima at Kavalkinaru junction. Behind the grotto stands the Mahendragiri hill where on 13.05.1957 Rev.Fr. Aloy Navamony placed a cross. Annai Vailankanni shrine at Punniyavalanpuram by the national highways attracts a lot of pilgrims. Msgr. Joseph Xavier who was serving as the Episcopal Vicar of Vallioor Mandalam hails from this parish. Grottos in the parish: 1. St. Antony - Kavalkinaru 2. Our Lady of Fatima - Kavalkinaru Junction 3. Our Lady of Vailankanni - Punniavalanpuram The Succession of parish priests: 1. Rev. Fr. Siluvai Nathar - 1923 – 1925 2. Rev. Fr. Gabriel Devotto - 1925 – 1931 3. Rev. Fr. T. Michaelnather - 1931 – 1937 4. Rev. Fr. Gnanapragasam - 1937 – 1938 5. Rev. Fr. Dasan T. Dalmaitha - 1939 – 1940 6. Rev. Fr. G. Mariyanus - 1940 – 1947 7. Rev. Fr. Venzntius - 1947 – 1948 8. Rev. Fr. Gruz Marian - 1948 – 1954 9. Rev. Fr. Amaladass Victoria - 1954 – 1956 10. Rev. Fr. Shingarayar - 1956 11. Rev. Fr. Augustine - 1956 – 1957 12. Rev. Fr. Antony Arakkal - 1957 – 1958 13. Rev. Fr. Alphonse Mariakagoo- 1958 – 1962 14. Rev. Fr. Remigius Missier - 1962 – 1968 15. Rev. Fr. Rajareegam - 1968 16. Rev. Fr. T.M. Ambrose - 1968 – 1975 17. Rev. Fr. Devasahayam - 1975 – 1977 18. Rev. Fr. P.L. Ephrem - 1977 – 1981 19. Rev. Fr. Soosai Marian - 1981 – 1987 20. Rev. Fr. Arthur James - 1987 – 1988 21. Rev. Fr. Arulraj - 1988 22. Rev. Fr. R. Antonydass - 1988 – 1993 23. Rev. Fr. Jebanathan - 1993 – 1994 24. Rev. Fr. Loyola De Rose - 1994 – 1995 25. Rev. Fr. Venzntius - 1995 26. Rev. Fr. Wingling Ravi - 1995 – 1997 27. Rev. Fr. Peter Raja - 1997 – 2002 28. Rev. Fr. Jerald S. Ravi - 2002 – 2004 29. Rev. Fr. Fabian Joseph - 2004 – 2009 30. Rev. Fr. Joseph D. Stalin - 2009 - 2014 31. Rev. Fr. Mahizhan - 2014 2019 32. Rev. Fr. Arockiyaraj 2019 - Grottos in the parish: 1. St. Antony - Kavalkinaru 2. Our Lady of Fatima - Kavalkinaru Junction 3. Our Lady of Vailankanni - Punniavalanpuram

Kavalkinaru S.O Radhapuram Tk. - Tirunelveli Dt. Tamil Nadu - 627 105 - India