Sts. John & Stephen Church

Periathazhai is one of the places frequented by St. Francis Xavier. He had also put up a thatched Church at Periathazhai. In 1550 Rev. Fr. Henry Henriques built an enlarged Church with red mud wall and thatched roof. St. John the Evangelist was the Patron Saint. In 1597 this Church was burnt to ashes by Asiriyapperumal of Vijayapathi. 1603 the Church was rebuilt. In 1635 Rev. Fr. John Peraira became the parish priest. He built a spacious Church and it was blessed in 1639. St. Stephen was the Patron Saint of this Church. Although on 12th November 1930 Bishop Tiburtius Roche laid the foundation stone for a new Church, only on 13th November 1963 Rev. Fr. T.K. Dhason Dalmaida started the work of building the Church. It was blessed by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu on 14th May 1978 when Rev. Fr. John Xavier was the parish priest. Rev. Fr. Jeya Jothi built the presbytery in 1992. Two of our former Vicars General Msgr. Paul Robinston and Msgr. Lorenzo hail from this parish. Sucession of Parish Priests: 1. Rev.Fr. Manuvel De Guez - First Parish Priest 2. From 1628 to 1980 (10 Parish Priests - 1628 – 1735) 3. Rev.Fr. Lawrence De Gostha- First Parish Priest (10 Parish Priests - 1736 – 1780) 4. 10 parish Priests - 1781 – 1794 Rev.Fr. Rosario - First Parish Priest Rev.Fr. Bethuru Nigolaus Carcio – Last Parish Priest 5. 55 Parish Priests - 1795 – 1895 Rev.Fr. John Vincent Lobaus – First Parish Priest Rev.Fr. Selvam – Last Parish Priest 6. 18 Parish Priests - 1896 – 1946 Rev.Fr. Masapart – First Parish Priest Rev.Fr. L.X. Fernondo 7. 9 Parish Priests - 1950 – 1978 Rev.Fr. Thomas Fdo – First Parish Priest Rev.Fr. John Xavier Fdo – Last Parish Priest 8. Rev.Fr.Benzigar - 1978 – 1980 9. Rev.Fr. Panneer Selvam - 1980 - 1984 10. Rev.Fr. Hermas Moduthagam - 1984 - 1988 11. Rev.Fr. Theoplus - 1988 - 1994 12. Rev.Fr. Xavier George - 1994 – 1999 13. Rev.Fr. Selvam - 1999 – 2001 14. Rev.Fr. Aloysius - 2001 – 2005 15. Rev.Fr. Suresh - 2005 – 2006 16. Rev.Fr. Alphonse - 2006 – 2008 17. Rev.Fr. James Peter - 2008 – 2013 18. Rev.Fr. Stan Fernando - 2013 - 2015 19. Rev.Fr. Selvan D. 2015 - 2020 20. Rev.Fr. Susilan 2020 - Grottos in the Parish: 1. Lourdu Matha - Periyathalai 2. Veilankanni Matha - Periyathalai 3. St. Teresa of C. Jesus - Periyathalai 4. St. Antony - Periyathalai Catholic Population : 7650 No. of Catholic Families : 1200 Sunday Mass – Timings : 5.00a.m.; 7.00 a.m.; & 5 p.m. Weekdays : 6.00 a.m Participatory Structures 1. Anbiyams 2. 15 Pastoral Commissions 3. Parish Pastoral Council 4. Parish Finance Committee Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations) 1. Holy Childhood 2. Eucharistic Crusaders 3. St.Theresa Sodality 4. Amalorpava Matha Sodality 5. Holy Family Sodality 6. Lourdu Matha Sodality 7. Sacred Heart Confraternity 8. Carmel Matha Confratenity 9. Legion of Mary 10. Vincent De Paul Society 11. Infant Jesus Tarasal Sodality Other Associations & Activities 1. Krithavar Vahzvurimai Iyyakkam Religious Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (Servite) (OSM) Servite Convent, Periathazhai – 628 705 Tel. 04639 – 254555

Periathalai Tuticorin Dt. 628 705