St.Therese of Infant Jesus Church, Kandanvilai
| ST.Therese of Infant Jesus Church, Kandanvilai | |
|---|---|
| Basic information | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Kanyakumari |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Year consecrated | April 7, 1924 |
| Website | http://www.thereseofkandanvilai.info/church.html |
It is a World First church which is built for st.Therese. It is blessed on April 7, 1924.It is in Kottar Diocese, India.
History
There was a time before 75 years when the kandanvilai village was attached to the Karankadu parish under the Diocese of Quilon. During this time Mr. Packianathan donated his land to Diocese and requested the Bishop that a church may be built in Kandanvilai. The Bishop of the Diocese of Quilon, Most Rev Fr. Aloysius Maria Benzigar OCD consented and together with the parish priest of Karankadu came down to Kandanvilai to select a site for the Church.
The suitable place was selected after visiting many sites. The bishop found a miraculous consistency as the place he dreamt of and place selected were one and the same. The bishop, the priest and the people were overjoyed and confirmed the site for the Church. In Tamil the vision was interpreted as "kanavil kanda Vilai." The actual name of the place was, "Mukattu Kathirvilai".
In the year 1923, the Bishop partook in the celebration of canonization of St. Therese and requested to Pope Pious XI, to set upright the Church for the mediation of St. Therese. In the year of 1925 on May 17, partaking the Mass of St. Therese on promulgating her as Saint, proclaimed that the first Church set upright for the blessings of St.Therese would be at Kandanvilai.
Bells
As this was the first church in tribute of St. Therese after the declaration of her as Saint, the Sisters of St. Therese donated two bells to the church and people from the birth place of St. Therese, Lisieux also contributed bell. The following words are inscribed on the bells:
Michiels A.Tournai 1931 My name is Therese of the Infant Jesus and I will call all Indians to Kandanvilai to honour the little flower.
Michiels A.Tournai Fondeur. My name is John of the Cross and I will ring in honour of my sister in heaven saint Therese of the Infant Jesus.
It is located at the left side in the belfry, The bells ring and echo the message that the “ St. Therese invites all the Indians to Kandanvilai and to make them aware of the holy virgin life of St. Therese of Infant Jesus ”.
References
http://www.kottardiocese.org/History.aspx
http://www.thereseofkandanvilai.info/church.html