Church of Our Lady of Expectation - பரிபூரண அன்னை ஆலயம்

The historical seaport 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 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 the 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, 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 developed 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. Grottos in the Parish: Jesukoil - Palayakayal 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 The 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 -

Barathar Street, Pazhaiyalkayal S.O Tiruchendur Tk. - Tuticorin Dt. Tamil Nadu - 628 152 - India