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| The Holy Family Church in Vadakkankulam |
Vadakkankulam, the first parish in the non-coastal territory of the Thoothukudi diocese and the last parish in the southwestern region of the Madurai Mission, holds a significant place in South Indian Christian history, particularly through the Holy Family Church. The Christian presence began with Santhayi, the first Christian woman from Thoppuvilai, who settled in Vadakkankulam in 1680. The Jesuit missionary St. John De Britto, then Parish Priest of Kamanayakanpatti, encountered four Christian families in Vadakkankulam while on horseback in 1685. He constructed a small thatched chapel dedicated to the Holy Family, marking the parish’s foundation. In 1686, he baptized over 200 people, fostering the growth of Christianity in the region, which was then under the Nemam Mission center of the Cochin Jesuits.
St. John De Britto’s Role
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St. John De Britto |
St. John De Britto, born on March 1, 1647, in Lisbon, Portugal, into a noble family, was a Jesuit missionary whose work profoundly shaped the Christian landscape of Vadakkankulam, particularly through the establishment of the Holy Family Church. Joining the Society of Jesus in 1662, De Britto arrived in India in 1673 as part of the Madurai Mission, earning the title "Apostle of Madurai" for his evangelistic zeal. Known for his cultural sensitivity, he adopted Tamil customs, wore saffron robes, and lived ascetically to connect with locals, making him a revered yet controversial figure in South India.
In 1685, while serving as Parish Priest of Kamanayakanpatti, De Britto visited Vadakkankulam, a non-coastal village in the Thoothukudi diocese and the southwestern frontier of the Madurai Mission. During a horseback journey, he encountered four Christian families, likely descendants of early converts like Santhayi, who had settled there in 1680 from Thoppuvilai. Recognizing their faith, he constructed a modest thatched chapel dedicated to the Holy Family, marking the foundation of Vadakkankulam as the first parish in the diocese’s non-coastal territory. This chapel, likely made of palm fronds and wood, was a humble yet pivotal structure, symbolizing the spread of Christianity in the region.
In 1686, De Britto baptized over 200 people in Vadakkankulam, a significant achievement that transformed the village into a burgeoning hub of Christian faith. These baptisms, conducted under the Nemam Mission center of the Cochin Jesuits, included Tamils from various backgrounds, reflecting De Britto’s inclusive approach to evangelization. His fluency in Tamil and translation of Christian texts facilitated these conversions, though his success in converting high-caste individuals sparked opposition from local rulers, particularly in the Marava region. Despite these challenges, his efforts established a lasting Christian community centered around the Holy Family Church, which later became a shrine.
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| Martyrdom of Saint John de Britto |
His legacy at the Holy Family Church endures through modern tributes. In 2019, Rev. Fr. John Britto, likely named in his honor, constructed a grotto dedicated to St. John De Britto within the “Matha Kalaiarangam” open auditorium adjacent to the church. This devotional space, featuring a statue of the saint, serves as a focal point for prayers and offerings. The church celebrates his feast day on February 4 with Masses, processions, and communal prayers, drawing devotees who honor his role in founding the parish. For deeper insights, parish records or La Mission De Madura may provide further details on his Vadakkankulam mission.
St. John De Britto, born in 1647 in Lisbon, Portugal, was a Jesuit missionary who founded the Holy Family Church in Vadakkankulam. In 1685, as Parish Priest of Kamanayakanpatti, he met four Christian families in Vadakkankulam and built a thatched chapel dedicated to the Holy Family, establishing the first non-coastal parish in the Thoothukudi diocese. In 1686, he baptized over 200 people, making it a Christian hub under the Cochin Jesuits’ Nemam Mission. Adopting Tamil customs, his evangelization efforts drew opposition, leading to his martyrdom in Oriyur in 1693. Canonized in 1947, his legacy is honored with a 2019 grotto in the “Matha Kalaiarangam” and February 4 feast day celebrations at the church.
After De Britto’s time, Rev. Fr. D’Souza resided in Vadakkankulam in 1699, extending conversions to Marunkur. In 1742–1743, a wooden box from Portugal, containing three Our Lady statues, washed ashore at Kootapuli; one was kept at the Holy Family Church, enhancing its spiritual significance. Rev. Fr. Puthery, who baptized Devasahayam and Gnanapoo, renovated the church, completing it in 1750. In 1787, Rev. Fr. Bavone noted Vadakkankulam’s affiliation with the Cochin diocese. Following the Jesuit ban, Archbishop Salvatore Thorise of Kirankanoor and priests from Pondicherry served the parish’s spiritual needs.
On October 23, 1803, at 11:20 AM, the statue of Our Lady of Assumption at the Holy Family Church reportedly extended its hands, displayed a sorrowful expression, and shed tears, witnessed by Savarimuthupillai and catechist Yagapparpillai. Crowds gathered, repenting with hymns like Parce Domine and Mea Culpa, and the statue returned to its original state. This apparition, recorded in La Mission De Madura, elevated the church’s prominence.
In 1838, Jesuit missionaries from Thulus, France, rebuilt the church into a larger structure with support from the French Hentriett Belderk family, who attributed a miraculous birth to Our Lady’s intercession. The foundation was laid on August 9, 1855, and blessed by Bishop Kanos of Madurai on June 29, 1872, with Rev. Fr. Gregory as parish priest. In 1926, Bishop Francis Tiburtius Roche S.J., the first Bishop of Thoothukudi, called Vadakkankulam “Little Rome” for the church’s grandeur. Msgr. Soosai Marianather, the first Vicar General of Thoothukudi, and his brother Yagapparpillai, a catechist for 60 years, hailed from Vadakkankulam; Yagapparpillai received the “Bene Merenti” from Pope Pius XI in 1935. In 1993, Bishop S.T. Amalanathar declared the Holy Family Church a shrine.
Recent developments include a kiosk built by Rev. Fr. Benedict in 1953, enhanced by Rev. Fr. Panneerselvam N.A. in 2004, and an Adoration chapel erected by Rev. Fr. Nelson Paulraj in 2010, with renovated flooring in 2011. Rev. Fr. John Britto renovated St. Sebastian’s side chapel in 2019, extended St. George’s side chapel in 2020, and established a side chapel for Our Lady of Offering, both blessed by Bishop Stephen of Tuticorin in 2020. A new flagpole was erected in 2021, and the Stations of the Cross were installed in 2022, blessed by Archbishop Anthony Poola of Hyderabad on July 3.
The Holy Family Church remains a spiritual cornerstone, preserving the legacies of St. John De Britto, St. Devasahayam, and Gnanapoo through relics, grottos, and annual celebrations. For further details, parish archives or La Mission De Madura may provide additional insights.
