2022

St Devasahayam Pillai, the first Indian lay saint

On 15 May 2022 Pope Francis canonised Devasahayam Pillai, baptised in this church on 14 May 1745, the first Indian layman ever raised to the altars. In 1894 the Jesuit historian Auguste Jean recorded that the church held a part of his garment and the chains with which he was bound. The diocese records that the head-cloth he wore as a Travancore court official is kept here; each 15 August it is exposed in a glass case for veneration.