Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola- Ramanathichanputhur 1914- 2014
Seeds of Faith sown in Ramanathichanputhur:
The
first ever Roman Catholic Church (the old church) in this area was established
between 1699 and 1705 by Fr. Borghese, a Jesuit priest of Madurai
Province. It was towards the end of 17th
Century the Sacred Congregation of Propagation of Faith entrusted the mission
to Society of Jesus. During this time Fr. Bernard D’Sa, a Jesuit priest,
deputed by the Jesuit Provincial from Madurai Mission began to concentrate and
evangelize interior parts of Nanchanad, eventually to
bring the Nair and Vellala( Pillamars , Pillamar- literally meant Accountants
in Travancore kingdom) communities to faith. Many from these communities embraced
the Christian faith. The outstanding witness is Blessed Devasahayam Pillai.
The
Catholics of Ramanathichanputhur trace back their roots from a village called
Vandikaranputhur existed between Ramapuram and Theroor ( 5 Kms. From Kottar,
presently in Kanya Kumari District)
formerly known as Nanjanad in the Trivancore Kingdom. Narsinga Murthy Pillai
and his wife Bargaviamma from this village received baptism in the church at
Kottar in the year 1690 with the names Nallathampi Pillai and Swamiadial
respectively. The people of Ramanthichenputhur are believed to be the
descendents of Nallathambi Pillai. In due course they settled in
Ramanthichenputhur in order to avoid persecution and also to associate
with their other counter parts in Vadakankulam which was also a flourishing
catholic mission at that time.
Fr.
Bernard D’Sa started a mission in
Marungoor ( 2 Km. from Ramanthichen puthur and 8 Km. from Kottar - Nagercoil) in order to bring the Vellalas into
Catholicism. Marungoor area is predominately of Vellala- Saivits community. Marungoor
was a substation of Kottar at that time. Later after due consideration
Vadakankulam was chosen as the head quarters for this mission. Vadakankulam is
situated on the border of the two kingdoms of Madurai and Travancore. He had
chosen this in order to avoid persecution from either side. Fr. Bernard D Sa with the permission of the
local petty chief, Chiruvali Pillai, built a church and presbytery at Marungoor
which then was a populous village. It was in the year 1699, he brought some
Christians to this centre to form the nucleus of the new Malabar Mission.
Test of Faith:
The old church in Ramanathichenpudur must have been built between 1699 and 1705. In 1705 Fr. Borghese was replaced by Fr. Peter Martin at Marungoor. In 1705 Nemom was erected as an independent Mission. Marungoor and Vadakankulam which were under Mudurai Mission were then included in Nemom Mission.
Test of Faith:
The old church in Ramanathichenpudur must have been built between 1699 and 1705. In 1705 Fr. Borghese was replaced by Fr. Peter Martin at Marungoor. In 1705 Nemom was erected as an independent Mission. Marungoor and Vadakankulam which were under Mudurai Mission were then included in Nemom Mission.
It
was a time of turmoil in the Trivancore Kingdom. The proprietors of the temple
properties ”The Ettu Vitttu Pillamar” laid trap to kill the king of Travancore
and to take possession of the Kingdom. They also ventured in wiping out the Europeans
from the Kingdom with whom the Christians had associations. It was at this
juncture the Nairs and other local vellalas( Pillamars) obstructed
the Vellala mission. History tells us that with the help of local people,
the church at Marungoor and Ramanthichenpudur were set fire between 1708 and
1709 when Fr. Simon de Carvalho was in
charge of this mission. At that time there were 3000 adult Christians in the Marungoor
Mission.Fr. Martin was placed again in Marungoor mission and he built an
Oratory to replace the burnt church. Today the renovated old church at
Ramanathichenpudur stands as a shining proof of the faith of our ancestors.
Christianity was flourishing in this area. Our ancestors of this parish and
those who lived in its vicinity withstood the onslaught of internal
controversies and external persecution and attacks of the enemies of
Christianity.
Ramanthichenputhoor
was a filial church of Kottur till
1912.Subsequently it became an independent parish in the year 1912 with a
population of 1478 Catholics spread over the villages of South Ramanahtichenputhoor, Rajavoor( South &
North), Ramapuram, Marungoor, Amaravathivilai and Mylaudi.
The present parish church at Ramanathichanputhur
with St. Ignatious of Loyala as its patron saint was consecrated and blessed on
7th July 1914 by Bishop Beniger.
For
reasons not known in 1921 the parish center was transferred to Rajavoor( 2 Kms
away from Ramanathichanputhur) and again
on 15th June1946 Ramanathichenputhoor was raised to the status of a
parish with all the former mission
stations as part of it except Rajavoor. That was because Rajavoor had already become
an independent parish.
The
Jesuits who brought faith to this community were blessed with many Jesuit priests from this community.
Natural boundaries:
Ramanathichenputhoor is situated at the Eastern border of South Travancore. Presently it is 8 Kms from Kottar/ Nagercoil. It is also called Manthavilai which means the grazing field of Kings Cattle and Horses. Via Narithondu valley, which is between Nedumalai and Kathadi Malai, there is short route to Pazhavoor (presently Trinelvelli district :formerly Pandiya Kingdom). It was used as a trade route to Pandya Kingdom by our ancestors.
Ramanathichenputhoor has clear cut boundaries: surrounded by hills Eastern Ghats: (Nedumallai-East,Kathadimallai-NorthandPerialkullam pond-West. Ramanathichenputhoor is the East border of Kanyakumari District.
The statistics of Catholics in 1847: (Source Kumari Christians by Rev.Fr. Narchisan)
Ramanathichenputhoor is situated at the Eastern border of South Travancore. Presently it is 8 Kms from Kottar/ Nagercoil. It is also called Manthavilai which means the grazing field of Kings Cattle and Horses. Via Narithondu valley, which is between Nedumalai and Kathadi Malai, there is short route to Pazhavoor (presently Trinelvelli district :formerly Pandiya Kingdom). It was used as a trade route to Pandya Kingdom by our ancestors.
Ramanathichenputhoor has clear cut boundaries: surrounded by hills Eastern Ghats: (Nedumallai-East,Kathadimallai-NorthandPerialkullam pond-West. Ramanathichenputhoor is the East border of Kanyakumari District.
The statistics of Catholics in 1847: (Source Kumari Christians by Rev.Fr. Narchisan)
S.No
|
Parish
|
No. of
substations
|
Names
|
Catholics
|
1
|
Kanya Kumari
|
4
|
Kovalam,
Manakudi,
|
2536
|
2
|
Puthenthurai
|
6
|
Pallam,
Rajakamanagalam
|
2484
|
3
|
Pillaithoppu
|
6
|
Muttam, Kadiyapatnam
|
2458
|
4
|
Colachel
|
4
|
Puthur,
Kodimunai
|
2566
|
5
|
Kurumbanai
|
5
|
Midalam,
|
1384
|
6
|
Thengaipatnam
|
4
|
Enayam,Puthenthorai,
|
1698
|
7
|
Kottar
|
87
|
Ramanathichanputhur,Mathal,Kurusady, Asaripalam, MadathattuVilai
|
6515
|
8
|
Karangadu
|
127
|
Eraniyal,Maanguli,Moolagumoodu,Manali
Vilai,Mathra Vilai, Alenchi,Mullingina Vilai, Pazhayakadai
|
7873
|
9
|
Venkodu
|
55
|
Pudukadai,
Kaliaka Vilai, KuzhithuraI,Parasalai
|
2780
|
Total No. of
Parishes:9
|
30,294
|
Fr.
Ignatius built the church at AmaravathiVilai in 1943 which was blessed on 8th
September 1943. In the same year Fr. Ignatius also converted a Bajan House at
South Ramanathichenputhoor into a church. And the extension work was done by
Fr. Thomas Fernandez which was later rebuilt by Rev. Fr.Amalraj SJ in
1997.
Memory and Gratitude:
How
could we not acknowledge the precious services of the previous parish priests
to all the Catholics of
Ramanathichanputhur. They have made a decisive
contribution to their growth of faith and also left an indelible mark on the
ecclesial, cultural and social life of parishioners.
Rev.Fr. Pious
Moras
Rev.Fr. Fernando
J C
Rev.Fr. Ignatius
Maria
Rev. Fr. Vincent
Rodriguez
Rev.Fr. Cyril S
Fernando
Rev.Fr. George N J
Rev.Fr. Sabastian
D
Rev.Fr. Retnaswamy
A E
Rev.Fr.
Wenceslaus C M
Rev. Fr. Joseph
A J
Rev.Fr. Ambrose
Baldons
Rev.Fr.
Mariathasan A
Rev. Fr. Thomas
Fernandez
Rev.Fr. Xavier
Rajamoni
Rev. Fr. Maria
Arokiam
Rev.Fr. Ambrose
Baldons
Rev.Fr. Maria
James
Rev. Fr.
Amalanathan
Rev.Fr. Borgia
Rev.Fr. Amalraj SJ
Rev. Fr. Joseph Caulins
Rev. Fr. Arul Seelan
Rev. Fr. Arul Seelan
Rev.Fr. Xavier
Sunderaj
As seen from history the old church was
formerly dedicated to Mother Mary and later to St. Ignatious of Loyala as the
faith was brought to this place by the Jesuits. With the priests one after
another had given their best spending their life to spread the Word of God and
there by strengthen the faith of the people.
Beside priests and religious, there were many lay people who
offered their life and comforts as sacrifices to nurture the faith among the
faithful at Ramanathichanputhur. We
do not even know many of their burial places, because their persecutors
deprived them of even this last mark of distinction and respect. But their
names are inscribed in the Book of the Living, and each one has received
"a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows
except him who receives it" (Rv2: 17). The blood of these
martyrs is a leaven of Gospel life which is not only active in our land, but
also in many other parts of the world.
Fruit of faith:
St.
Ignatius Church has also given some of the best and dynamic leaders to the
Church and society at large. Rev. Fr. Ignatius Maria from Ramanathichanputhur,
was the first local priest, to be ordained from Kottar diocese. His tomb stands majestically
in our cemetery. Sardar S A Raja, the renowned philanthropist and ardent
educationalist is born in this very soil.
Rev.
Fr. I Kulandai Swamy, the saintly son of soil who makes us proud, is the first one,
from Kottar diocese to be sent to Rome to be educated for his priestly studies in
1946 and he got Doctorate in Canon Law in 1957 with two gold medals from Urbana
University of Rome. He was a student
leader in Urbana University at that time. He served as Vicar General, Judicial Vicar, Chancellor,
and Procurator of our diocese till the end of his life. When the Jesuits handed
over the administration of St.Paul’s Major Seminary, Trichirapalli to the local
church, he received the mantle of its Rector(1978- 1984) and managed it to the appreciation of every
one concerned. His contributions to the local church in Tamil Nadu in
particular are remarkable and noteworthy.
Priests,
Religious and lay leaders from the parish:
A particularly outstanding merit of our parish is to have many
priests and religious who have dedicated
for the service of the Lord. The parish has given many priests
like Rev. Frs. Ignatius Maria, Dharmanathar, Stanislaus Maria, I. Kulandai
Swamy, A. Kulandai Swamy, Micheal Angelous, Thadeous Jude, religious and lay
leaders to serve the church and society. They have become an eloquent witness
to the deep faith of the catholic community at Ramanathichanputhur.
Present Challenges:
The two child norm set by the
Government in the seventies is precariously affecting our catholic community. Parents
are reluctant to encourage their children, for greater commitment at the service
of church and charitable services. Owing to employment opportunities people, many
families have migrated to other towns, metro cities and other countries. As a
result number of catholic families at Ramanathichanputhur is diminishing.
Therein
lies the challenge of this generation.
If our ancestors were called upon to re-establish the faith in this
parish, it is our duty to safeguard and defend it. Our views and our standards
do not match the prevailing culture. It
is harder than it was 100 years ago to stand up for Christian values. But we must not falter. Let us rise to the
challenges of the day and keep the light of faith glowing bright. In doing so let
us count on the prayers and support of our forefathers in the faith who have
now gone to their eternal reward;
Centenary
celebration to enkindle faith:
Centenary
celebration does not limit us only to church building. It is very much
authentically building the community into a faith living and sharing community.
Like our Patron whose motto “ Ad
Majorium Glorium “(“ All for the greater Glory of God”) may this jubilee spirit
enkindle the passion for the development of the church and many more to serve
the church as in the past. We wish and thank everyone for their endeavors and
remember and cherish the noble sacrifices of our ancestors who have left us
great legacies.
Centenary
celebration is a time of renewing our faith we received from our ancestors and
our commitment to create a new community of the kingdom in Ramanathichanputhur.
In spite of the dwindling catholic community at Ramanathichanputhur, our only
consolation is that God and the Spirit continue working in the world through
various movements and all that we are asked is to do is to discern their work
and collaborate with it. We need to work for the promotion of Justice and
equality and strive for an Eucharistic church and a church in dialogue. In
doing so the Catholics at Ramanathichanputhur
will be helping to accomplish God’s won mission leading to a new heaven and a
new earth which was described to John in the book of revelation:
See,
the home of God is among mortals,
He
will dwell with them as their God;
They will be His peoples,
And
God himself will be with them;
He
will wipe every tear from their eyes
Death
will be no more;
Mourning
and weeping will be no more,
For
the first things have passed away.
And
the one who was seated on the throne said,
“See,
I am making all things new” (Rev 21:3-5)