Our Lady of Snows Shrine
Kallikulam T.

Parish Name : Church of Our Lady of Snows Shrine
Address : Kallikulam – 627 113, Tirunelveli Dt.
Patron Saint : Our Lady of Snows
Telephone No : 04637 - 235252

A Brief History :
Mr.Soosai Nadar family was the first Christian family settles in Kallikulam. In 1770 AD, Soosai Nadar built a small church at Kallikulam for Our Mother Mary. The roof of the Church was made of thatched leaves. It was built at the place where the present Athisaya Panimatha Church exists. On March 23 1939, evening around 6.30 pm, Mary appeared on the hill near to the church at Kallikulam. She appeared in the middle of bright white light. Veiled in white, she stood towards the church and worshipped with folded hands. A water fall was falling down from her feet. This miracle was seen by six young boys who were playing there. They saw the apparition for few seconds and it disappeared. Even today the footmarks of Mother Mary could be seen on the hill in Kallikulam. T.Kallikulam was a substation of Anaikarai. On 1884, villagers and Jesuits decided to build a new church at Kallikulam for Our Lady. They were undecided about the size and location of the church. They prayed to Our Lady and requested her intercession to choose the location and size of church. At that time, on a hot summer morning, they found a piece of land wet with morning dew. They wondered about that unusual thing, and believed that that was a miraculous intercession of Our Lady to mark the location of proposed church.

On 5th September 1884, Rev.Father Cousanal laid foundation for new church. With donation and hard workmanship of people, church main building work was completed on 1886 and consecrated to Our Lady of Snows. The church tower work was started on 1941 and completed on 1942. Every year, the annual feast of Our Lady of Snow is celebrated from 27 July to 5 August.

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Arul Samy - 1923
2. Rev.Fr. Causanal - 1923 – 1928
3. Rev.Fr. Samynathar, Neethinathar - 1928 – 1930
4. Rev.Fr. Marianus - 1930 – 1940
5. Rev.Fr. Maria Manigam - 1940 – 1944
6. Rev.Fr. Payappalli - 1944 – 1959
7. Rev.Fr. Stanislaus - 1959 – 1962
8. Rev.Fr. Gruz Marian - 1962 – 1970
9. Rev.Fr. Ligouri Pancras - 1970 – 1971
10. Rev.Fr. Payappalli - 1971 – 1972
11. Rev.Fr. Gruz Antony - 1972 – 1977
12. Rev.Fr. Stanislaus - 1977 – 1984
13. Rev.Fr. Mariadass - 1984 – 1989
14. Rev.Fr. Devarajan - 1989 – 1994
15. Rev.Fr. Barnabas - 1994 – 1998
16. Rev.Fr. Joseph Christian - 1998 – 2000
17. Rev.Fr. Xavier Arulraj - 2000 – 2001
18. Rev.Fr. Segaran - 2001 – 2006
19. Rev.Fr. Iruthaya Raja M. - 2006 – 2009
20. Rev.Fr. Antonydoss - 2009 – 2014
21. Rev.Fr. Johnson Raj - 2014 - 2019
22. Rev.Fr. Jerald Ravi 2019 - 2024
23. Rev. Fr. Maria Antony Thathew Rajan - 2024

Grottos in the parish:
1. St. Lourdes - Kallikulam
2. St. Theresa of child Jesus - Kallikulam
3. St. Mary’s - Kallikula (Mouns)
4. St. Michael - Soundrapandiapuram
5. St. Veilankanni - Vandalampadu
6. St. Philomena - Moolakadu

Catholic Population : 6500

No. of Catholic Families : 1800

Sunday Mass – Timings : 5 a.m. & 7 a.m.; 6.30 P.m

Sub – Stations
1. Arulaananthapuram – St.Joseph
2. Rayappapuram – St. Peter
3. Soundarapandipuram – St. Aloysius
4. Soundarapandiapuram – St. Antony
5. Vandalambadu – St. Joseph

Particiatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Amalorpava Matha Sodality – T. Kallikulam, Soundarapandiapuram, Vandalambadu & Rayappapuram
3. Matha Sodality
4. Our Lady of Sorrows Sodality
5. Holy Family Sodality – T. Kallikulam, Soundarapandiapuram & Rayappapuram
6. Legion of Mary – T. Kallikulam & Arulaananthapuram
7. Vincent De Paul Society

Other Associations & Activities
1. Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam

Institutions under the Parish
St. Aloysius Hr. Sec. School, T. Kallikulam – 627 113 Tel. 04637 – 235329
St. Aloysius Middle School, T. Kallikulam – 627 113
Sacred Heart Middle School, T. Kallikulam – 627 113
St. Aloysius Middle School, Soundarapandiapuram – 627 113
St. Peter Middle School, Rayappapuram – 627 113

Religious
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Pondicherry (FIHM)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent, T. Kallikulam – 627 113 Tel. 04637 – 235131, 235178

Institutions under the Religious
St. Joseph’s Orphanage, T. Kallikulam – 627 113 (FIHM)
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Final update given by : Fr. Rev.Fr. Jerald Ravi
Previous file name : parish-kallikulam0.htm
Updated on May 24th 2023

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024