1742–43

The statue arrives from the sea

In the years 1742–43 a wooden box stencilled "To Vadakankulam, From Portugal" and holding carved images of Our Lady was carried by the sea currents and cast ashore at Kootapuli. Fishermen brought it to the parish priest, Fr John Baptist Buttari, who kept one image for Vadakkankulam, gave a second to Kamanayakkanpatti and the third into the Bishop's care. The statue kept here, Our Lady of the Assumption, is the very image that would one day weep.