Immaculate Heart of Mary Church

Sathankulam Mission as such developed into a larger Mission combining two areas of Catholic settlement: Ancient Christians who got settled at Somanathaperi and Peikulam as well as newly converted Christians who were in an around Sathankulam. The pioneer of Sathankulam Mission is the Jesuit priest called Denis Kushion. He came to Sathankulam around 1861. The quarral between Merchant Chettiyars and Nadars was the cause for the conversion of Nadars into Catholic Religion. Already in 1863 there were about 7000 Catholics in the Mission of Sathankulam. In 1882 and 1887 Sokkankudiyiruppu and Puthur Pragasapuram (Nazareth) were bifurcated from Sathankulam and made into separate parishes respectively. Sathankulam Mission was left with 3574 Catholics, 11 Churches, 7 chapels, 80 substations and 12 catechists. When in 1909 Puthur Pragasapuram (Nazareth) was re-organized a few substations were taken from Sathankulam Mission and were attached to Pragasapuram. The well known and tireless Jesuit Missionary Priests of Sathankulam Mission were Rev. Frs. Kasthanier, Louis Verdier, Gregory and especially Kushion. Presbytery at Sathankulam is 150 years old and it is in a very dilapidated condition. Grottos in the parish: 1. Our Lady of Lourdes - Sattankulam Catholic Population : 3960 Sub – Stations 1. Therku Amuthunnakudi – St. Francis Xavier 2. Vadakku Amuthunnakudi – St. Antony 3. Vijayaramapuram Participatory Structures 1. Anbiyams 2. 15 Pastoral Commissions 3. Parish Pastoral Council 4. Parish Finance Committee Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations) 1. Eucharistic Crusaders 2. Amalorpava Matha (Young Girls) 3. Holy Family Sodality – Puthukulam (Chidambarapuram 4. Amalorpava Matha Sodality - Puthukulam (Chidambarapuram Holy Family Sodality exist in all the substations except Vijayaramapuram Other Associations & Activities 1. Social Action Groups Religious Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary (Servite) (OSM) Servite Convent, Sathankulam – 628 704. Tel. 04639 – 267092 Sacred Heart Sisters (SHS) Sacred Heart Convent, Sangarankudiyiruppu – 628 704. Sathankulam Via. (Chidambarapuram) Tel. 04639 – 278614 Succession of parish priests: 1. Rev.Fr. F.X. Singarayar - 1923 – 1929 2. Rev.Fr. Payapalli - 1929 – 1936 3. Rev.Fr. Arulsamy - 1936 – 1947 4. Rev.Fr. Gnanam - 1947 – 1959 5. Rev.Fr. Stephendoss - 1959 – 1964 6. Rev.Fr. P.L. Ephrem - 1964 – 1973 7. Rev.Fr. Augustin - 1973 – 1982 8. Rev.Fr. Ambroise - 1982 – 1988 9. Rev.Fr. Devasagayam - 1988 – 1993 10. Rev.Fr. Mariadoss - 1993 – 1995 11. Rev.Fr. Arthur James - 1995 – 2000 12. Rev.Fr. Joseph Leon - 2000 – 2005 13. Rev.Fr. Barnabas - 2005 – 2010 14. Rev.Fr. Edward J. - 2010 – 2015 15. Rev. Fr. Remigius S. Leon - 2015 – 2019 16. Rev.Fr. Ravibalan 2019 -