Saint Francis Xavier Church – Ilampilavilai

Contact Details:

Saint Francis Xavier ChurchIlampilavilaiIlampilavilai, Kanyakumari District – Tamil Nadu.
Parish Priest – Fr. Leo Alex.
Church Established – 1545.

Brief History:

Saint Francis Xavier Church, Ilampilavilai, has one of the oldest traditions in the region, with Saint Francis Xavier himself reportedly planting a stone cross in the area during the reign of the Travancore kingdom around 1545. A small chapel was constructed approximately 100 years later at the site of the cross. Following establishment of the Kottar Diocese in 1930 many residents received baptism. The original tiled church was replaced with a new building consecrated on April 23, 1963 by Bishop Anicius Samy, and a modern structure was subsequently dedicated on December 9, 1998. The parish serves approximately 130 families.