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Introduction:
When we think of how St.
Joseph’s church at Chennamkari which is shining forth against
the rural background has achieved world renown, we should look
back at its history. Its claim to fame rests on the fact that
it is the first Catholic Church dedicated to St.
Joseph ever erected in the
whole of the continent of Asia. St.
Thomas the Apostle landed in
lush green Kerala which is lying between the Arabian
Sea and the Western
Ghats on
the extreme end of India in
52 A.D. St. Thomas
founded a Christian community which extended through out Kerala by baptizing many people. It is
popularly believed that as the community grew up, 7 churches
namely, Maliankara, Palayoor, Paravoor
(Kottakayal), Kokamangalam,
Niranam, Chayal
(Nilackal),Kollam
and a half completed church at Thiruvankodu
which were called ‘ezharapallika’l,
were founded. Of these, Niranam
situated close to the sea was very prominent. Christians from Niranam and Kuravilangadu
and its neighbourhood immigrated to
the present Kuttanadu which was
abounded with kandal forests in those
days-later this area was converted into fertile paddy
fields-.Most of the immigrant Christians settled in Kalloorkadu area. They had to depend on the
distant Niranam church for worship.
As it had been extremely difficult to travel to Niranam, the faithful of Kalloorkadu erected a church in the
locality in 427 A.D. Some 550 years passed by. In the meantime
more and more Christians had immigrated to different parts of Kuttanadu. The Christians who had been
living in scattered settlements in and around Chennamkari found it extremely hard to
depend on Kalloorkadu church for
worship. Therefore, the elders of 11 powerful families of Chennamkari, Nedumudi
and Kainakari areas met and decided
to erect a church in Chennamkari.
After getting the required sanction from political and church
authorities, a church was erected in Chennamkari
with the united effort of the faithful on 1 August 977 A.D.
Though it is not known for certain what materials were used for
the construction of the church, it is generally believed that
it was built with palm leaf and bamboo. Later in 1201, the main
portion of the church was renovated with stone and lime mortar.
The wings in the south and north were built in 1300.Later the
southern wing was pulled apart to construct the cemetery. Prior
to the construction of the cemetery, the dead were buried in
different parts of the church yard. The ‘mondalam’(roof) was constructed in
1601. Chennamkari had been included
in the list of churches under the jurisdiction of Varapuzha Diocese published in 1786 which
is entered in the History of Indian Church written by Rev.Fr.
Xavier Koodapuzha. No other document
about the history of Chennamkari
church between 1800 and the famous Coonan cross Oath of 1653 is
available.
Blessed
Rev. Fr. Chavara Kuriakose
Elias who is the pride of Kerala was
born in Chennamkari parish in 1805
and was baptized at Chennamkari
church. The granite baptismal font which witnessed the sacred
rite still adorns the church.Rev.Fr. Chavara
Kuriakose Elias was ordained in
1829.Through the efforts of Rev.Fr. kuriakose
Elias, the first ……………….(Darsana samuham) dedicated to St. Joseph in India
and Asia was founded in Chennamkari
in 1836 vide the decree of Pope Gregory XVI which was sent
through H.E. Mar Sauriar, the Bishop
of Varapuzha Diocese. Those who
assumed the Presidentship of the Darsana samuham
each year became the prasudenthi. The
Sunday following 14 September (the thirunnal
of the Veneration of the Cross), the Darsanathirunnal
of St. Joseph is celebrated. The Darsanathirunnal
has been conducted by prasudenthis
without lapse except during the construction period of the
present church building. As more unity and co-operation was
required for the construction of the church building, the Darsanathirunnal had been conducted
commonly by the parishners during the
construction of the church.
A
Dark Chapter:
The period from 1891-92 to 1895-96 may be described as the dark
chapter in the history of St.
Joseph’s Church, Chennamkari. The parish had been under the
tenure of Rev.Fr. Kuruvila Padavupurackal. He had been an excellent
orator and a man of profound learning. Kuruvila
kathanar started preaching against
the true faith and the throne of Rome. But
the parishners
who had deep faith and the will-power to face crisis and the
tradition of obeying the Supreme authority, approached the
bishop and reported against the vicar. Having studied the
seriousness of the matter, H.E. Bishop Charles Lavinju issued the order banning Kuruvila kathanar.
But none of the priests dared to read out the order during the
Holy Mass. In the meantime, Rev. Kuriakose
Thevaril Deacon who had already
received 5 ‘pattoms’ (5th Order)
informed the Bishop that he would read out the Episcopal order
banning Kuruvila kathanar.
Accordingly, the bishop sent the deacon to Pulinkunnu
Koventha to undergo the retreat in
preparation for the ordination. The deacon was bestowed with
6th pattom (6th Order) first,
following which he was ordained on the following day. After the
ordination, Fr. Kuriakose was sent to
Chennamkari with instructions to read
out the order during the Mass on the following Sunday. But Fr. Kuriakose was prevented from reading the
order during the Mass by the supporters of Kuruvila
kathanar. Fr. Kuriakose
was assaulted with sticks and was held captive. Following the
skirmish, the church was sealed and a case was filed in the
court. While the case was tried in the court, a witness went
over to the enemy camp and gave false evidence. Though the
judge who was a pious Brahmin warned him that it he gave false
evidence he would lose his eye sight, he stuck to his false
evidence. It is said that when the witness went out of the
court after giving false evidence and tried to quench his
thirst by drinking from a tender coconut, a shred of the
coconut pierced his eyes and he lost his eyesight. After 4
years, the verdict came in favour of
Fr. Kuriakose in 1895-96, following
which the rebels erected a church on the west bank of the
river. Though more rebels joined Bethani
church erected by the seceders, they
returned to the Catholic Church later. All the protestant
groups in Chennankari had originated
from the seceders. The prominent
persons who had lead the Catholics in
those days include Rev.Fr. James Kalasseril
and Rev. Fr. Thomas kurialasseril.
The New Church:
Though the ancient church was majestic, it began to show the
signs of aging. Therefore it was decided to pull apart the
church and to build a new church during the tenure of Rev.Fr.
Joseph Thumbayil. Rev. Fr. Thomas Kizhakkedath who succeeded Fr. Thumbayil established a fund for the
renovation of the church. Under the leadership of his
successor, Rev. Fr. Thomas Peelianickal
and the convener, the old church was pulled apart. The
construction of the new church began in 1994. The newly constructed
church was consecrated on 21 December 1997 by
H.E. Mar Joseph Powathil. Rev.Fr.
Thomas Alumparampil who succeeded Fr.
Peelianickal paid off the debts
incurred due to the construction of the church and started a
fund for the erection of a kodimaram(flag
pole).A chapel was erected in the cemetery during his tenure.
The manimalika at Chennamkari
church is as reputed and ancient as Chennamkari
church. Though the building had developed a slant, it enjoys a
pride place in the heart of the parishners.
The two storeyed vicarage
was renovated under the leadership of Rev.Fr. Xavier Vettuthiruthel and the trustees in 1975.A
new kodimaram (flag pole) much more
beautiful but ancient looking similar to the former beautiful
and famous kodimaram was erected under the leadership of the then
vicar Rev.Fr. Joseph Poovathusseril
and the convener in 2005.
Deva Matha High
School:
The Primary School established in 1909 in Chennankari
was upgraded into a Middle School. It was named Alphonsa Memorial Middle
School. It
was upgraded to a High School named St. Mary’s High School in 1966.The High
School was
renamed as Devamatha High
School in
1970 due to certain technical reasons.Rev.Fr. Joseph Moolamkunnathu and Rev. Fr. Antony Elayachamkalathil
rendered praiseworthy service for upgrading the school. On the
occasion of celebrating the centenary, I remember all the Rev.
Fathers who had served the school as managers, trustees,
Headmasters, teachers and non teaching staff with gratitude. It
is a matter of satisfaction that the former students of this
school are ascending the steps of fame in different parts of
the world.
Parishes
Bifurcated from Chennamkari Parish:-
Kainakari St. Mary’s parish
church(1877), Nasreth St. Jerome’s
(1966),Pallathuruthi St.
Thomas’(1969), Thottuvathala Sacred
heart’s (1 January 1980, Narbhonapuram
St. Sebastian’s(1 March 1980), Ponga
Mar Seeva (1999)and Koolipurackal Lourde
Matha (2006).Chennamkari
which wishes to ascend heights of glory has thus 7 children.
The mother church of Chennamkari has
887 families and 2057 members.
Adoration
convent:
Adoration convent was founded in the parish on 14 September 1949
which was the day of Veneration of the Cross due to the
initiation of Rev.Fr. Joseph Moolamkunnathu.
The convent was erected on its present site on 9 May 1955.
From 1949 about more than 1000 Rev. Sisters have served in this
convent. I remember all the Mother Superiors and sisters who
have rendered selfless service to the parish.
Sunday
School:
Sunday School which is the platform for the practice of the
faith in the parish is functioning very well. I remember the
Sunday School teachers who have been providing voluntary
service and the vicars and assistant vicars who have provided
leadership to them, the deacons and the Headmasters on behalf
of the parish with gratitude.
Organisations:
St. Vincent de
Paul Society which was established in 1951 and Yuva Deepthi
which was established in 1972 have been actively functioning in
the parish. The place of Legion of Mary, Munnam
Sabha and CHASS which had functioned
in the parish in the past is taken up by S.F.O, Pithruvedi, Mathru
Jyothis, Mission League and K.V.S.
with their activities.
It is
a matter of pride that a Balasangham
of Altar Boys consisting of 65 boys is functioning very
systematically in the church under the able guidance of the
vicar and the sacristan.
Parish
Today:
Established towards the end of the 1st century, Chennamkari parish has crossed another
century and has stepped into a 3rd century acquiring tradition
and antiquity. The dream of the parishners
that the parish should progress more in spirituality and unity
is realized through the activities of Rev.Fr. Alex M. Parappurathu who is a renowned retreat
preacher who took charge of the parish on 30 May 2006.A total
spiritual awakening was achieved by the parishners
through the selfless efforts of Fr. Alex. Let us thank God for
giving us a vicar who reaches every one in his spiritual and
material necessity neglecting his own health. The parish has
become a model in Christian life. Renovations are being made in
the church, school, cemetery, church yard and even in amenities
for fulfilling the primary needs. The construction of a Parish
hall which is very necessary and the expansion of the school
into the next stage and much more remain to be achieved. It is
beyond doubt that the parish will achieve all progress through
the present vicar with the blessings of Lord Jesus, and through
the intercession of St.
Joseph, the Patron Saint,
and Blessed Chavara Kuriakose Elias, who is the first Indian
whose name is entered in the Book of the Blessed and the
dearest son of Chennamkari.
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