Our Lady of Visitation Church

St. Francis Xavier had visited Perumanal in September 1542, and he appointed Mr. Antonio Henrigues as the first catechist to impart religious teachings. In all the coastal parishes the Churches are all dedicated in the names of the Apostles. But at Perumanal we have a Church dedicated to Our Lady of Visitation. The reason is this: originally Parathavars were worshipping the virgin Goddess Bharvathi Amman and the married goddess Meenatchi Amman. Knowing this religious sentiment of the Parathavars, St. Francis Xavier who wanted to divert their devotion to our blessed mother dedicated the Church in 1548 to the Virgin Mary who visited the married Elizabeth. Thus the Church of Perumanal was named by people as “Thaeva Matha Amman Koil”. Panchal is the substation to Perumanal. Here we have a Church dedicated to St. Ignatius. This is one of the ancient shrines. After 1936 when the Goa mission priests took over the administration of Perumanal Church, the French Mission Jesuit priest settled at Panchal and was serving the French mission people who were supporting him. Later on people from Panchal migrated themselves into various coastal villages such as Idinthakarai, Koothenkuzhi and Manapad. Present Church at Perumanal was built by Rev. Fr. Rajareegam and was blessed by Rt. Rev. Arockiasamy, Bishop of Kottar on 21st November 1980. Succession of parish priests: 1. Rev.Fr. Periyanayagam - 1942 – 1944 2. Rev.Fr. Swaminathar - 1944 – 1945 3. Rev.Fr. Immanuvel Diaz - 1945 – 1951 4. Rev.Fr. Xavier Fdo - 1951 – 1958 5. Rev.Fr. James V. Poobalarayer - 1958 – 1961 6. Rev.Fr. Rosario Corera - 1961 – 1967 7. Rev.Fr. Paul Pandiyan - 1967 – 8. Rev.Fr. Francis Devasahayam - 1967 – 1975 9. Rev.Fr. Xavier Alwin Villavarayer - 1975 10. Rev.Fr. Antony Arulappa - 1975 – 1976 11. Rev.Fr. Rajareegam - 1976 – 1981 12. Rev.Fr. G. Francis - 1981 – 1982 13. Rev.Fr. Viagula Marian - 1982 – 1985 14. Rev.FrSegaran - 1985 - 1986 15. Rev.Fr. Charles Fdo - 1986 – 1990 16. Rev.Fr. Sahaya Joseph - 1990 – 1993 17. Rev.Fr. Karunnakaran Gomez - 1993 – 1995 18. Rev.Fr. Bruno - 1995 – 1997 19. Rev.Fr. Kirupakaran - 1997 – 2001 20. Rev.Fr. Voctor Lobo - 2001 – 2005 21. Rev.Fr. Stanislaus - 2005 – 2008 22. Rev.Fr. Jeya Jothi - 2008 - 2011 23. Rev.Fr. Kishok - 2011 - 2016 24. Rev.Fr. David Sahaya Valan 2016 - 2021 25. Rev.Fr. Julians Marlan Joshi 2021 - Grottos in the parish: 1. Our Lady Of Lourdes - Perumanal 2. St. Antony - Perumanal Catholic Population : 3500 No. of Catholic Families : 400 Sunday Mass – Timings : 5.00 a.m; 7 a.m. Weekdays : 5.30 a.m Sub – Stations 1. Panchal – St. Ignatius Participatory Structures 1. Anbiyams Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations) 1. Holy Childhood 2. Eucharistic Crusaders 3. Matha Sodality 4. Holy Family Sodality 5. Vincent De Paul Society Other Associations & Activities 1. Meenavar Sangam Religious Sacred Heart Sisters (SHS) Sacred Heart Convent, Perumanal–627 106.

Perumanal, Tirunelveli Dt. 627 106