If we travel 4 kms by Road from Tiruchendur towards Kanyakumari we will be received by a coastal village called Alanthalai.

Alanthalai is one of the ancient villages in the pearl fishery coast during the middle of Sixteenth century. We are already aware of how Paravars were converted to Christianity by Portuguese followed by the strengthening in the faith by the arrival of St. Francis Xavier in these coastal regions including Alanthalai.

The Portuguese advised the Paravars scattered around 30 villages to settle in leading Pearl Fishery Ports so that the violence unleashed by the Arabs could be handled. Thus the Great Alanthalai became one of the Seven Pearl Fishery Ports including Tuticorin, Kayalpattinam etc. for the Portuguese.

History of Church

A thatched church was constructed at Alanthalai by St. Francis Xavier was later renovated during 1558 by Jesuit Fr. Henriques (who built many churches in the coastal region during this time) and it was named after St. Peter. This fact has been established in a Jesuit’s report in 1571. The place in Alanthalai from where St. Francis Xavier wrote the letters to Rome and others is called “SAVERIAR KINARU” and it still exists there.

In 1644 the parish priest planned and started to build a bigger church of St. Peter. But, owing to several reasons the construction of the church was halted. Later in 1712 Fr. Chansess completed the construction of St. Peter’s church.

Ministries in Alanthalai were in the hands of Jesuit Priests till 1774. Later Pope Clement XIV “de-recognised” or “suppressed” the Jesuits and the administration of this Parish went to Goan Priests till 1838. The Jesuits took over the parish again when the “Society of Jesus” (Jesuits) was restored by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832. Owing to shortage of Priests the Alanthalai Parish was functioning as a substation of Virapandianpatinam parish from 1800 to 1894.
Foundation for the present church was laid by the Bishop of Tuticorin G.F.T.Roche S.J. in presence of the parish priest Fr. Ambrose Missier on the 29th of June 1929. Later this work was taken up by Fr. Soosainathar who along with the help of local Paravars and the businessmen of Alanthalai in Colombo built the church which is in place currently. In 1938 this church was consecrated by Bishop G.F.T.Roche S.J. of Tuticorin and named “St. Peter & St. Paul” church.

The tower measuring 140 feet in height and the Eucharistic Tabernacle inside the church are mentionable main attractions of the church. The additional beauty of the church is to be found in the roof of the church over the tabernacle where the figures of the four apostles – Mathew, Mark, Luke and John are depicted.
The feast of St. Peter and St. Paul is observed on June 29th every year.

History of the Grotto (Keby in Tamil) of Sacred Heart

The early 20th century saw dissension in the village and it led to a few leaving the Catholic church. When the dissension took place (1920) the first Latin rite parish priest Rev.Fr.Ambrose Missier came and he spread and inculcated the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the installation of His holy picture. After this many of the Paravars who left Catholic church retraced their path and rejoined the Catholic church. This miracle marked the foundation for the construction of the Keby (Holy Grotto).

In the meanwhile, Tuticorin was elevated to the status of Diocese in 1923 and the first Latin rite Bishop G.F.T.Roche S.J. was installed. When the Bishop was heading to Manapad from Tuticorin, the villagers gave a warm reception to him. Nevertheless a few who still did not rejoin the Catholic church stood away from the faithful. Seeing them the Bishop said

“I also pray for my brothers who are standing away from here so that the blessings of Almighty God may continue to increase on them also”.
This sincere prayer of the Bishop melted the hearts of those who stood away from the receiving crowd and they also returned to Catholic church.

In 1926 as a recognition of this peace that had dawned in the village, Fr. Ambrose Missier vowed to build a grotto (Keby) depicting the scene of “Jesus Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene”.

The foundation stone was laid in 1926 by Fr.Missier. An artist from Manapad painted the scene of Jesus Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene and a sculptor from Idaikattur Mr. Manuel Pillai carved the Grotto. On 30th June, 1928 his Grace Bishop G.F.T.Roche blessed the Grotto (Keby).

The feast of this Grotto is observed during the last Friday of August every year. The first Friday of every month (called “Thala Vellikilamai” in Tamil) a large crowd gathers before the grotto and offer special prayers devoutedly.

by Anton Niresh