St.Mary's Church

Establishment of the church

It is the foresight ,vision and good will of the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam, viz, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Augustin Kandathil, that led to the establishment of the parish.

A small church was built under his direction in the year 1926. The first priest given the charge of the church is Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Pathiyammoola. He used to come from St. Mary’s high School Aluva every Sunday and offer Holy Mass . Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Puliyanthuruthy, and Rev. Fr. Ittoop Parappilly succeeded him in the subsequent years.

In 1933 Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Thombra of the Jacobite community and a group of people reunited to Catholic Church and he used to stay in the church and offer divine liturgy daily.

Pope Benedictus XVI Joseph Ratzinger	Diocese:Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archbishop: His Emi Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil Major Archbishop Vicar General:Bishop Thomas Chakkiath (Auxilary Bishop) Pro .Vicar General :Bishop Sebastian Edayanthrath (Auxilary Bishop) Forane: St. Teresas Church ,Vallam.
His Emi. Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil	Bishop Thomas Chakkiath	Bishop Sebastian Edayanthrath	Vicar Re.Fr.Jose Thelakatt

Declaration as a parish

In 1940 Rev Fr. Thomas Kandathil who was the then vicar of St. Thomas Church Pulluvazhy was given additional charge of the church at Perumbavoor. At this time an area belonging to Vallam parish, viz, Kanjirakkad, was added and the filial Church of Perumbavoor was elevated to the rank of an independent parish. As the result of the hard work of the next parish priest Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Kodiyan and the parishners, donations were collected and foundation was laid for the present Church.

In 1947 Rev. Fr. Antony Parackal was appointed as vicar and the construction of the church was continued with the fund made available by Archbishop Augustin Kandathil.The construction was completed and the church was blessed and consecrated to Immaculate Heart of Mary by Archbishop Kandathil on Oct. 8, 1949.

In 1967 a small chapel was constructed in the cemetry. In 1984-85 a parish hall was constructed using low cost construction technology. First floor above the same was constructed in 2001. Further developments were done in the parish hall in 2004. In 2004 Dec. St. George chapel at the front of the church was rebuilt and blessed at the occasion of the main feast.

A major step in the renovation of the 57 years old church was done during at the occasion of the main feast of the church in November 2005.Since the construction of the present church the old church was begun to be used as residence for priests. In 2006 residence was shifted to another building and the 80 years old building was demolished.

St Mary’s Chapel, Kanjirakkad

A chapel was built in 1956 under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Abraham Padayattil. A larger one , which can be called a filial church was constructed and blessed on January 22, 2005 in the same spot removing the old one, which was in a dilapidated condition.

Sunday Mass was allowed to be offered there from June 2005 in this small church.

Rev. Dr. Augustin
Kandathil

Rev. Fr. Antony Parackal 1947
Rev. Fr. John Thachil 1950
Rev. Fr. Jon Maniamkott 1950
Rev.Fr. Antony Puthussery 1951
Rev.fr. James Parathala 1952
Rev.Fr. Alexander Eravimangalam 1955
Rev. Fr. Joseph Pulianthuruthy 1956
Rev Fr. Kuruvila Mullakkari 1959
Rev.Fr. Christopher C.S.T 1960
Rev.Fr. Joseph Thekkinen 1961
Rev.Fr. Antony Urakkadan 1962
Rev. Fr. Joseph Puthuva 1963
Rev Fr. Jacob Arackal V.C. 1963
Rev.Fr. George Kuzhiparambil 1965

Rev. Fr. Peter paravara 1967
Rev Fr. Joseph Punchaputhussery 1969
Rev Fr. Kuriakose Puthenmanayil 1973
Rev Fr. Cyriac Puthanangady 1974
Rev.Fr. Samuel Malamel 1975
Rev Fr. Paul Kattackakathoot 1977
V.Rev.Msgr. Joseph Thaliyath 1977
Rev Fr. Paul Karachira 1982
Rev.Fr. Varghese Puthussery 1986
Rev Fr. Mathew Painunkal 1992
Rev Fr. Joseph Thottappily 1993
Rev Fr. Hormis Thottakkara 1998
Rev Fr. Joseph Puthankudy 2000
Rev Fr. Jose Thelakkatt 2004

Family fellowship comprising
9 units.
Women Welfare Services who run
a bookstall.

Developments under planning
Short term plans:
Renovation of church.
construction of priests residence,
improving facilities for Sunday
School,
extention of shopping complex,
construction of tombs in the
cemetry,
construction of houses for the
poor.
Long term plans
Construction of a new and bigger church, completion of parish hall, contruction of an auditorium, starting an institution for professional education and vocational training etc.

The present vicar Fr. Jose Thelakkatt took charge on Feb. 28, 2004. His native parish is East Cheranalloor.
He holds Masters degree in Psychology from Mahatma Gandhi university with first rank in 2001. 2006 is his Silver Jubilee Year of his priesthood .
Besides the charge of the parish he also continues to function as the executive director of Centenary
Memorial Education Sponsorship Programme of Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.