1993 — Parish history 2026

Declared a Shrine

On 6 August 1993 Bishop S.T. Amalanathar of Tuticorin consecrated the Holy Family Church and proclaimed it a sacred shrine. Every witness of that year names it by the old dedication, to the Holy Family; the Marian style it carries today — the Shrine of Our Lady of Assumption — is first found in the diocese's letters of 2022. With the honour came a monthly First-Saturday devotion of novena and adoration that pilgrims keep to this day.

Parish traditionThis moment rests on 3 sources.

Parish history 2026p. 7

1926 A.D. – Vadakkankulam Called “Little Rome” In 1926, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Tiburtius Roche S.J., the first Bishop of the Diocese of Thoothukudi, referred to Vadakkankulam as “Little Rome” in recognition of the remarkable construction and importance of the Holy Family Church. The first Vicar General of the Diocese of Thoothukudi, Msgr. Soosai Marianather, hailed from Vadakkankulam. His brother, Yagapparpillai, served the church faithfully as catechist for sixty years. 1935 A.D. – Papal Honour to Yagapparpillai In recognition of his long and dedicated service to the Church, Yagapparpillai was conferred the “Bene Merenti” honour by Pope Pius XI in 1935. 1993 A.D. – Holy Family Church Declared a Shrine In 1993, the then Bishop of the Diocese of Thoothukudi, Most Rev. Dr. S.T. Amalanathar, officially declared the Holy Family Church of Vadakkankulam as a Shrine. Parish Profile – Vadakkankulam Succession of Parish Priests Chapter I Name of the Parish Priest from the Origin of the Congregation Period I 1. Rev. Fr. Bernard de Saa (1697-1699) 2. Rev. Fr. Mariya Xavier Borghese (1700–1704) - I 3. Rev. Fr. Peter Martin (1705–1707) –“Pedro Samiar” 4. Rev. Fr. Simon Carvalho (1708) 5. Rev. Rev. Fr. Maria Xavier Borghese (1709–1710) - II 6. Rev. Fr. Louis Novel (1711–1712) 7. Rev. Fr. Ignatius Cardoza (1712)