Our Lady of Assumption Church, Keelavaippar,
Thoothukudi
Our Lady
of Assumption Church is located on the eastern bank of the Vaippar River in Keelavaippar of Thoothukudi District. It
is one of the first churches built by the Portuguese in the sub-continent. The Jesuit record shows that a church dedicated to Our Lady
of Assumption existed as early as 1571. The feast of Our Lady of Assumption is
celebrated annually on 15 August, being preceded by a flag hoisting ceremony on
6 August and with novena prayers on all subsequent days until the feast
itself.
Keelavaippar
is one of the ancient five Padroado parishes of the Pearl Fishery Coast. Even after, Tuticorin was made a diocese, it continued to be a part of the Mylapore Padroado diocese. In accordance with an agreement
between the Vatican and the Portuguese government, the parish was
joined with Tuticorin diocese on 4 April 1930. This parish was made into seven Basic Christian Communities on 11 December
1994. In 1995 a parish council was constituted with the representatives of the
Basic Christian Communities. St. Antony’s grotto in the beach was enlarged in
1995 and a grotto of the Child Jesus was constructed inside the campus in 1996.
Keela
Vaippar Village is located in Vilathikulam Taluk in Tuticorin District of
Tamilnadu State, India. It is located 31 Kms towards North from District headquarters
Thoothukudi, 16 Kms from Vilathikulam and 584 Kms from State capital Chennai.