St. Joseph’s Church

Before the ban of the Jesuits (1773), the name of Kootapuly is not found in the Mission catalogue of the Jesuits. When the Jesuits came back again for their Mission, Kootapuly is mentioned as one of the substations of Idinthakarai parish. In 1906 Kootapuly became a separate parish. Rev. Fr. Louise Lasus was its first parish priest. But again in 1907 Kootapuly was attached to Vadakkankulam. Again in 1909, Kootapuly became independent and Rev. Fr. Tharmanather, a diocesan priest, was the parish priest. In 1857 the Church of St. Joseph was built and in 1957 and 1978 the Church was extended and renovated. The Succession of Parish Priests: 1. Rev. Fr. J.S. Lourdu - 1923 – 1931 2. Rev. Fr. G. Devotto - 1931 – 1937 3. Rev. Fr. T. Michael - 1937 – 1940 4. Rev. Fr. G. Michael - 1940 – 1942 5. Rev. Fr. Venantius - 1942 - 1943 6. Rev. Fr. Packier - 1943 – 1950 7. Rev. Fr. R. RemigiusMissier - 1950 – 1962 8. Rev. Fr. J.X. Poobal - 1962 – 1969 9. Rev. Fr. J.V. Poobalarayer - 1969 – 10. Rev. Fr. Pancras - 1969 – 1972 11. Rev. Fr. V. Irudayaraj - 1972 – 1978 12. Rev. Fr. Charles - 1978 – 1983 13. Rev. Fr. M. Victor Devaraj - 1983 – 1984 14. Rev. Fr. Rathinaraj - 1984 – 1985 15. Rev. Fr. Theophilus - 1985 – 1986 16. Rev. Fr. Hermas - 1986 – 1987 17. Rev. Fr. Jeya Jothi - 1987 18. Rev. Fr. Soosai Marian - 1987 - 1988 19. Rev. Fr. M.J. Irudayaraj - 1988 - 1990 20. Rev. Fr. Siluvai Ignaci - 1990 – 1995 21. Rev. Fr. Rathinaraj - 1995 – 1997 22. Rev. Fr. Udaya Kumar - 1997 – 1999 23. Rev. Fr. Dominic Arul Valan- 2000 – 2004 24. Rev. Fr. Maria Valan - 2004 - 2005 25. Rev. Fr. Kumar Raja - 2005 – 2006 26. Rev. Fr. Panneer Selvam - 2006 – 2010 27. Rev. Fr. Suseelan - 2010 – 2015 28. Rev. Fr. Stan K. Fdo - 2015 – 2016 29. Rev. Fr. Maria Valan 2016 - 2017 30. Rev. Fr. Ranjith Kumar Cardoza 2017 - Sub-Stations: 1. Jeyamathapuram - Child Jesus 2. Kannangulam - Ubahara Matha Grottos in the parish: 1. St. Fatima - Kootapuli 2. St. Lourdus - Kootapuli 3. St. George - Kootapuli 4. St. Xavier - Kootapuli 5. St. Micheal - Kootapuli 6. St. Viyakula Matha - Kootapuli

Kuttapuli S.O Radhapuram Tk. Tirunelveli Dt., Tamil Nadu - 627 651 India