St.Marys church Mulagumoodu 2019 1st day church festival

DIOCESE OF QUILON : The Diocese of Quilon or Kollam is the first Catholic diocese in India in the state of Kerala, first erected on August 9, 1329 and re-erected on September 1, 1886. Since the latter half of the 12th century, Quilon became the main centre of missionary expeditions. Franciscan and Dominican Missionaries in the 13th and 14th centuries visited Quilon and their letters confirm the existence of a vibrant Christian community in Quilon. The ancient Diocese of Quilon had extensive jurisdiction over modern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma and SriLanka. DIOCESE OF KOTTAR: Diocese of Quilon was bifurcated from which the Diocese of Kottar was established on May 26, 1930 A.D. Due to linguistic reorganization of States, Kottar Diocese was formally detached from the Archdiocese of Verapoly (Kerala) and attached with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai (Tamil Nadu). Diocese of Kuzhithurai: Pope Francis created the new Latin rite Diocese of Kuzhithurai, carved out of the Diocese of Kottar, in Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan See of Madurai and with great joy and pastoral concern, he announced it officially on 22nd December 2014 at 12.00 hrs Italian Time 16.30 hrs (IST) appointing Fr. Jerome Dhas Varuvel S.D.B as its first Bishop. He was consecrated by the Bishop of Kottar P. Remigius on 24th February 2015. This new Diocese comprises of Mulagumoodu, Mathiravilai, Karankadu, Vencode, Thirithuvapuram and Puthenkadai vicariates and has 264,222 catholics spread over 100 parishes, 123 mission stations and the Shrine, spread across 915 sq.km. served by 131 priests. MULAGUMOODU PARISH: Mulagumoodu is known as the Oxford of Kanniyakumari District as a substantial number of educational institutions are in and around it. One of the Malayalam Schools of Trivancore Samasthan stands majestically by the name Annai Community Hall, just about 500 meters away from Mulagumoodu Junction towards Colachel road on the south. The name Mulagumoodu came as there were plenty of “Mulagu”( pepper) cultivated in the village once upon a time. “moodu” (Stem of the plant) and hence, the village was popularly known as Mulagumoodu. Mulagumoodu was the centre of the ancient Kingdom of Travancore. It was situated very near to Padmanapapuram Palace which was the capital of Travancore. Mulagumoodu was one of the very important route by the king travelled through this place to go to another palace in Trivandrum (East Fort). Now this road is named as National Highway 47 (NH-47). Mulagumoodu is the Holy land which is situated very close to Thiruvithancode "Arai Palli" (The Foot Prints of St. Thomas and Apostle of India who came and stayed here and constructed a church at Thiruvithancode in the year 63 A.D). Besides, St.Francis Xavier landed in 1542 at the Port of Goa and came to Kanniyakumari in 1544. The King of Travancore gave ample scope for his evangelizing mission. St. Xavier had his headquarters at Kottar, Kanniyakumari district which is just 20 km from Mulagumoodu. Martyr Devasahayam Pillai (Beautified on 02.12.2012 by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI) crossed through Mulagumoodu during his marriage and later paraded during his passion. The first recognized painting of Martyr Devasahayam Pillai is displayed in the Church. Fr. Victor of Belgium who came from Rome to Mulagumoodu in the year 1860 was the first Parish Priest of Mulagumoodu.