Irudaya Annai Church

The village has a long history and tradition. The earliest, village in history dates back to the 16th century AD. One Fr. Hentricus who had recorded the history and growth of Christianity in the southernmost region of Tamilnadu mentions the historical name of this village in his writings. Periasamypuram had long been known as Kataapaadu. Fr. Hentricus speaks of a village called Chetupar and situates it between Vaippar and Vembar. He also says that the inhabitants of this village mainly were Christians and that they went to Vembar Church to satiate their spiritual needs. It is a conjecture – but a believable one – that the name Chetupar should have graduated into Katapaadu. Rev.Fr.Suramar establishes it to be the fact. According to him, the name Katapadu is only the graduation of the name Chetupar as Mananapadu is just the graduation of Manapaar. (St. Francis Xavier calls Manapadu as Manapaar and his letters bear witness to this fact) Anyhow today Katapaadu is known as Periasamypuram. Periasamipuram was one of the 25 substations of Holy Ghost parish, Vembar, from 1843 onwards. The oldest Church at Periasamipuram was built around 1869. The parish of Periasamypuram was bifurcated from the parish of Vembar in the year 1900 with Kalaignanapuram as its substation. Rev. Fr. D. Saminather was made the first parish Priest. The old Church was rebuilt by Rev. Fr. D. Saminaather (1900-1940). Rev. Msg. Aloy Navamani, who was the second parish priest from 1940 to 1947, rejuvenated the parish. Up to now, the parish has hosted 29 Parish priests. The Parish and its Church are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Mother Mary. A new parish church has been built by Rev. Fr. Xavier George, the present parish Priest. The parish has another miraculous Church dedicated to our lady of Rosary. It is built by Fr. Swamvnathar in 1873. Recently it was expanded and renovated in 2007. It is located amidst the forest. The present parish priest Fr. Xavier George has started the first Saturday prayer services. The Succession Of Parish Priests: 1. Rev. Fr. Swaminather - 1900 – 1940 2. Rev. Fr. Aloy Novamani - 1940 – 1947 3. Rev. Fr. Cruzmarian - 1947 – 1948 4. Rev. Fr. Xavier Fdo - 1948 – 1951 5. Rev. Fr. Augustine Fdo - 1951 – 1953 6. Rev. Fr. Antony Arakkal - 1953 – 1954 7. Rev. Fr. M.R. Augustine - 1954 – 1955 8. Rev. Fr. Rosario Corera - 1955 – 1956 9. Rev. Fr. Xavier Ignaci - 1956 – 1957 10. Rev. Fr. Arul Swami - 1957 – 1958 11. Rev. Fr. Marianus G. - 1958 – 1960 12. Rev. Fr. T.P. Alangaram - 1960 – 1961 13. Rev. Fr. P.L. Ephrem - 1961 – 1964 14. Rev. Fr. Arsa Rathinam - 1964 – 1965 15. Rev. Fr. P.M. Manickam - 1965 – 1970 16. Rev. Fr. M. Lourdu Mani - 1970 – 1976 17. Rev. Fr. Karunakaran Gomez - 1976 – 1981 18. Rev. Fr. Julian Fdo - 1981 – 1982 19. Rev. Fr. T.K. Dasan Dalmeida- 1982 20. Rev. Fr. S. Mariadas - 1982 – 1984 21. Rev. Fr. Devasahayam Fdo - 1984 – 1985 22. Rev. Fr. S. Antonydoss - 1985 – 1986 23. Rev. Fr. S. Amaladas - 1986 – 1990 24. Rev. Fr. S. Jesu Arulappan - 1990 – 1995 25. Rev. Fr. M. Deva Navamani - 1995 – 1997 26. Rev. Fr. Bancras M. Raja - 1999 – 2002 27. Rev. Fr. Alis - 2002 - 2003 28. Rev. Fr. Peter Paul - 2003 – 2008 29. Rev. Fr. Xavier George A - 2008 – 2013 30. Rev. Fr. Selva George - 2013 - 2018 31. Rev. Fr. Martin Manuvel 2018 - Grottos in the parish: 1. Our Lady of Lourdus - Periyasamipuram 2. Our Lady of Rosary - Periyasamipuram Sub - Station Kalaignanapuram - St. Antony

Periasamypuram B.O. Tuticorin Dt. Tamil Nadu - 628 906 - India