St. Thomas’ Church

In 1923 when the diocese of Thoothukkudi was erected, Kooduthazhai was under the diocese of Mylapore. After the concordat between Vatican and Portugal on 1st April 1925, Kooduthazhai was attached to the diocese of Thoothukkudi on 4th April 1930. Kadakulam, Thisayanvilai and Kootapanai were its substations that eventually became separate parishes. The present Church was built by Rev. Fr. M.G. Pragasam on 24th October 1980 and was blessed by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu. A new presbytery was built by Rev. Fr. M.G. Pragasam and it was blessed by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu on 7th January 1979. The Sucession of Parish Priests: 1. Rev. Fr. Antony Fdo - 1930 – 1931 2. Rev. Fr. D. Swami Nathan - 1931 – 1933 3. Rev. Fr. Dharma Nathar - 1933 – 1935 4. Rev. Fr. Aloysius Fdo - 1935 – 1938 5. Rev. Fr. T.S. Thairiam - 1938 – 1941 6. Rev. Fr. J.V. Poopala Rayer - 1942 – 1946 7. Rev. Fr. Gabriel Devoto - 1946- 1947 8. Rev. Fr. M. Fernando - 1947 – 1953 9. Rev. Fr. F.M. Packiar - 1953 – 1954 10. Rev. Fr. D. Ganapragasam - 1954 – 1956 11. Rev. Fr. Richard Rodrigo - 1959 – 1963 12. Rev. Fr. Agusthen Fdo - 1963 – 1964 13. Rev. Fr. Poopala Rayer - 1964 – 1965 14. Rev. Fr. Agusthen - 1965 – 1966 15. Rev. Fr. Paul Pastin - 1966 16. Rev. Fr. D.J.C Amertham - 1966 – 1967 17. Rev. Fr. Pancras Fdo - 1967 – 1969 18. Rev. Fr. Rajaregam - 1969 – 1970 19. Rev. Fr. P.M. Manigam - 1970 – 1974 20. Rev. Fr. Alwin Villavarayer - 1974 21. Rev. Fr. Venancious Fdo - 1974 – 1977 22. Rev. Fr. M Ganapragasam - 1977 – 1981 23. Rev. Fr. Hermas Muduthangam- 1981 – 1983 24. Rev. Fr. Gabriel - 1983 – 1985 25. Rev. Fr. Karunagaran Gomez - 1985 – 1988 26. Rev. Fr. Gruz Marian - 1988 – 1992 27. Rev. Fr. James Peter - 1992 – 1993 28. Rev. Fr. Sahaya Joseph - 1993 – 1994 29. Rev. Fr. Joseph Ladislaus - 1994 – 1998 30. Rev. Fr. Charles Fdo - 1998 - 2000 31. Rev. Fr. Panneerselvam - 2000 – 2001 32. Rev. Fr. Sahayaraj Rayan - 2001 – 2006 33. Rev. Fr. Wilson - 2006 – 2011 34. Rev. Fr. James Victor - 2011 – 2016 35. Rev. Fr. Ranjith Kumar Cardoza 2016 - 2017 36. Rev. Fr. Antony Jegathesan L. 2017 - 2019 37. Rev. Fr. William M 2019 - Grottos in the Parish: 1. Our Lady of Lourdes - Kooduthalai 2. St. Antony’s - Kooduthalai 3. St. Joseph (Side Chapel) - Kooduthalai

Kooduthalai B.O, Radhapuram Tk. Tirunelveli Dt., Tamil Nadu - 627 651 India