Diocese of Ootacamund
Ten parish communities serve Gudalur and its surrounding villages at the foot of the Nilgiris.
Annai Velankanni Church was erected as the parish in the year 2021 and Rev. Fr Thomas Valiyil was its first Parish Priest. Annai Velankanni Church, Cherankode, is a sub-station of St Francis Xavier’s Church, Pandalur, in the Diocese of Ootacamund. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health and is situated near the Kerala border, surrounded by tea estates and forests.
The Catholic community consists of approximately thirty-five families, most of whom are employed as labourers in the tea estates. The shrine attracts numerous devotees from neighbouring villages and across the state border. People belonging to other faiths also visit the shrine and seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This was part of St Mary’s parish, Upper Gudalur. Rev. Fr Joseph Koovackal, the parish priest of Gudalur built a shrine in honour of Infant Jesus in 1986. Eventually in 1987, the new parish of Infant Jesus came into existence with Rev. Fr Thomas Thekkapara as its first parish priest.
Masinagudi was formerly a sub-station of St Mary’s parish, Upper Gudalur. The church was built and blessed in 1976 by Rev. Fr Immanuel Olickal. In 1977, it was made a separate parish with Rev. Fr M.T. Sebastian as its first parish priest.
Devarshola was part of St Antony’s parish, Devala up to 1985. In 1985, it became a separate parish with Rev. Fr Soosai Arockiam as its first parish priest. The present church was built in 2010 by Rev. Fr Arockiarajan.
This was bifurcated from St Francis Xavier’s church, Pandalur in 1969 with Rev. Fr Joseph Pudhukulankara CMI as its first parish priest. In 1980, St Antony’s parish church was constructed by Rev. Fr Thomas Valyil in remembrance of the Diocesan Silver Jubilee.
St Antony’s Church, Glenvans was built in the year 1976. In 1978 Glenvans was made a separate parish with Rev. Fr Alexander Mathew as its first parish priest.
It was a sub-station of St Mary’s parish, Upper Gudalur. In 1951, it was made a separate parish with Rev. Fr Kunnath as its first parish priest. Rev. Fr Thomas Maniangat built a beautiful church in 1998.
The parish was established in 1981. Rev. Fr J.S. Kanipilly went through a great deal of trouble to build the new, beautiful church in 1963. The church was completely renovated and beautified in 2010 by Rev. Fr C. Arokiasamy.
Cherambadi was a sub-station of St Mary’s parish, Upper Gudalur. The church was rebuilt by Rev. Fr Paul Valloran. When Pandalur was erected as a parish it was attached thereto. In 1985, it was made a parish in its own right with Rev. Fr K.V. Antony as its first parish priest.
Naduvattam was a sub-station of St Mary’s parish, Upper Gudalur. In 1956, it was erected as a separate parish with Rev. Fr Raynard de Prigny as its first parish priest. The present church was built by Rev. Fr Cyril Lazarus in 1975. It was renovated and the bell tower was built in 2010.