Part of the Diocese of Pala and Kuravilangad Forane Church
Founded in 1911 and celebrates its 103rd anniversary in 2015
The strength of the parish is its families, more than 350 of them
Fr. Joseph Edathumparambil (Vicar)
‘Vayala’ is a small village located in the mid-western region of Meenachil Taluk of Kottayam district, a region bordered with hills, mountains, and streams. The landscape of Vayala is constituted of two small hamlets namely ‘Elackadu’ and ‘Kadappooru’.It is believed that since there were a lot of fields (‘vayal’ in Malayalam) in the valley that makes up the region, the village was named ‘Vayala’.
The early settlers of the region were normal agricultural families who had been making a living struggling hard against the forces of the nature, producing their own food through cultivation, for generations. There were no proper transportation facilities. Even though the people mastered agriculture like never before, they were starving most of the times. Many of them moved to Malabar region in search of better luck. The rest stayed on and decided that they need their own place of worship, a church, to pray to their dear God in times of despair, needs, and also happiness. Till then, for their spiritual needs, they had to travel a long distance to the nearest churches- which were in Kuravilangadu, Kadaplamattam, and Koodalloor.
An application was submitted to the then government to grant permission to build a church through the initiative of Niravath Mani Mani, Puthenpurayil Kurien Devasia, Cherukarayil Thomman Uthuppu, and Paimballil Matthai Matthai, who bought a part of land (around 4 and 1/2 ‘para’- approx. 63 cents) belonging to Arasseri family, for the purpose. On 8th February 1911 an order of permission (Order Number 1973) was signed by the Government Under-Secretary Mr. R. Krishna Pillai. On 23rd April 1911, a day before the feast of St. George, Fr. Abraham Kaipanplackal (Senior), the then Vicar of Kuravilangad Forane Church, laid the foundation stone for the new church in the name of St. George and offered the Holy Mass in a temporary shed.
From then on for a while, Fr. Mathayichan Alappatt of Kuravilangad Forane Church used to come and offer the Holy Mass on Sundays and other important days. The supervision of the building works of the church and the rectory was the responsibility of Ulahannan Kurien Vazhakkalayil. When the construction of a small rectory was completed in 1917, Fr. Youseppachan Thayyil (Pappoottiyachan) from Mannannam stayed there and started his service as an Assistant Vicar. It was not an easy job constructing a church 100 feet in length and 30 feet in width. In 1919, Pappoottiyachan was transferred and was replaced by Fr. John Nidhiri Puthenpura, who served the parish till September 1920. The roof of the church was tiled during the period when Fr. Joseph Pazheparambil, who came next, was here. The portico of the church was built even later. The construction was completed in 1924 and the Holy Communion was officially placed. The construction of cemetery space was also started around then. The first official visit was done by Bishop Mar Thomas Kuryalassheril on 11th September 1924. In the month of December 1926 Fr. Devassia Kalappurakkal took over the charge as assistant vicar when Fr. Devassia Pazheparambil was transferred. In 1930, the rectory was renovated. Even though a primary school was started under the management of the church it had to be closed down after a while. Fr. Thomachan Parekkunnel (Senior) took charge of the church in 1932. In 1933, the school had to be closed down, due to financial crisis. Even though Ulahannan Kurien Vazhakkalayil tried to retain the functioning of the school with his own money, it didn’t work out as well. Fr. Francis Vakassheril and Fr. Jacob Thaithottathil served as in-charges of the church in the years 1934 and 1935 respectively. St. George’s Church Vayala was raised to the status of an independent parish on 10thNovember 1936, according to Order Number 228 of Bishop Mar James Kalasseri. Fr. Jacob Thaithottathil was destined and given the chance to be the first vicar of the parish. Even though Bishop Mar James Kalasseri opinioned that a school be built in the place, during his official visit in 1937, there was no follow-up in this matter. Fr.Thomas Thazhathettu, Fr. Kuriakose Karussheril, Fr. Abraham Thengumthottathil, and Fr. Jacob Maramattathil served as vicars of the church in the years 1938, 1939, 1941, and 1943 respectively. In 1945, 20 cents of land was bought from Kallikkuzhuppil Kurien for the expansion of the cemetery space. Fr. Aagasthi Changanassheriyil took charge as vicar in 1947. In 1948, a sacristy room was built attached to the church. It was during the time of Fr. Aagasthi that a part of Kizhukumbil property, which lied alongside the road in Achukunnu junction, was bought. After three months, 50 cents from the said property was donated as space for a marketplace, taking into account the request of people living in the region, people from all walks of life, people of all religions. After a period of time, the market place closed down. But it was a catalyst for the growth of Vayala junction. The present shopping complex of the Panchayat, community hall, Ayurveda hospital, veterinary hospital, electricity office, telephone exchange etc all stands in the said location now.
On 25th July 1950 the then Pope Pious the 12th divided the diocese of Changanassery and thus the diocese of Pala came into existence with Bishop Mar Sebastian Vayalil as its first head. Fr. Mathayichan Moongamakkil, Fr. Kochu Geevarghese Vattukulathil, and Fr. Chackochan Kuryeppurath lead the parish as vicar in the years 1951, 1952, and 1954 respectively. It was around the time that a bell-tower and a big cross were built near the church. Fr. Kuryachan Kacchiramattam, Fr. G C Teelar, and Fr. Mathayichan Pattarmadathil took charge as vicars in the years 1955, 1957, and 1959 respectively. In 1961, a wayside chapel was built near Achukunnu junction as a memorial of the Silver Jubilee year of the church.
In 1963, Fr. Youseppachan Keeppurath became vicar of the parish. In the parish meeting that was held on 11th October 1964, it was decided that 5 cents of land was to be donated near Achukunnu junction to build Vayala Service Co-operative Bank.It was around this time that the thoughts of building a hospital for the poor and ailing in and around the parish had come up. The vicar discussed the subject with the parishioners. I was decided in the meeting that since Vayala East Government LP School was up for auction at the time due to renovation, the parish will purchase the building in the auction. The materials of the building could be used for the new hospital building. The Palapra land of the church was sold for the purpose and Kodikkulam plot was purchased to set up the hospital. The building process of the hospital was started using materials from the school building, timber from the church’s land, donations from people around, and contributions of money and labour from the parishioners. To run the hospital the Sisters of Sacred Heart Congregation from Pala was invited and in a parish meeting it was decided that 2 acres of land of the church would be donated to them to build residential quarters for the sisters. An agreement with the congregation was formed in a meeting held on 13th October 1968 and it was decided that a society comprising of parish representatives and members of the Sacret Heart congregation will run the hospital, with Fr. Vicar as its director. The hospital started its function in 1969. Fr. Youseppachan Keepurath was transferred in November, 1971 and was replaced by Fr. Augustine Thamarassheril as vicar. It was during his time that the post office building was built in Achukunnu Junction. On 15th August 1973 Mar Joseph Pallikkaparambil was anointed as the Assistant Bishop of Pala diocese. Fr. Joseph Kandanattu from Ettumanoor and Fr. Sebastian Puthussherythotti were appointed as vicars of the parish in 1973 and 1975 respectively. It was during the time of Fr. Joseph Kandanattu that the foundation was laid for a chapel in the name of St. Joseph in Puthanangadi. From 1928 onwards a ceremonial procession was held from Puthenangadi till the church a day before the feast of St. Sebastian. In 1979, Fr. Mathew Thondamkuzhy took charge as the vicar. In 1980, the construction of the chapel was completed and the blessing ceremony was held. Soon, permission was taken from the Bishop to conduct a Holy Mass in the chapel on every Sunday thereon. Around this time a decision was taken to build a parish hall for the running of Sunday school and construction was begun. In 1981, Fr. Abraham Kuzhumulloram became vicar of the parish. It was in his time that the space where the hospital and the convent stayed was donated legally to the congregation of the Sisters of Sacred Heart. The hospital became fully under the control of the congregation, from then on. On 25th March 1981, Mar Joseph Pallikkaparambil was anointed as the Bishop of Pala diocese. Fr. Joseph Paramkulangara became vicar of the parish in 1983. The construction of the parish hall was completed and blessing ceremony was held in 1984.
In 1986, Pope John Paul 2nd visited India and this became a big reason for happiness for the Catholic Church in India, especially Kerala. Two precious jewels from Kerala’s Catholic community, Sr. Alphonsa and Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, were beatified by the Pope and the official declaration was done by him in Kottayam on 6th February 1986.
Fr. Joseph Madathipparambil and Fr. George Puravakkatt took charge as vicars in the years 1988 and 1990 respectively. Fr. Jacob Kunjaanayil, the first priest from the parish community, passed away on 1st July 1990 while he was serving as vicar in Mallikassery parish. He was buried inside Vayala church and a tomb was built in memory of him. Fr. Puravakkatt took initiative in renovating the roof of the church, which had become old and ruined. Timber frames were replaced with iron girders and was roofed using asbestos sheets. A small census was taken within the parish and a family register was publishedand distributed to each family during the time. In 1992, Fr. Polachan Kozhuppankutty became vicar of the parish. Family gatherings were organized in each ward of the parish. Since the marketplace of the Panchayat was demolished and was unused, it was decided that 7 and ½ cents of roadside land be retaken and a shopping complex built in the said site. When the construction of the ground floor was completed the spaces were allotted for business purposes. In 1997, Fr. Augustine Vellaramkuzhi took charge as the vicar. During his time he renovated the rectory to a two-floored building. A chapel was built on Vadakke Kalari, where the procession for the day of the foundation stone ceremony of the church used to start. In a small earthquake which happened during the Holy Mass at 7 am on 12th December 2000, a small part of a sculpture in the portico of the church fell and three parishioners suffered minor injuries. It is considered a blessing that nothing serious happened in the incident. Fr. Joseph Kochuparambil took charge as vicar in February 2002. In January 2004 a convention was held in the parish by representatives from Muringoor Retreat Center. The convention turned out to be a great boost to the spiritual growth of the parishioners. Mar Joseph Kallarangatt was appointed as the 3rd Bishop of Pala diocese on 2nd May 2004. A fund was inaugurated by the Bishop in January 2005 taking forward a vision by Fr. Joseph to build a new church building to commemorate the centenary of the establishment of the parish church. The chapel on the North side of the church was renovated so as to be able to accommodate more people and Holy Mass be celebrated. In 2006, a small plot was donated to the church by A C Joseph Aarukakkiyil for a chapel to be built, South of the church. Even though this chapel, in the name of St. Francis Xavier, was started during the time of Fr. Joseph, it was only completed and blessed in 2007, when Fr. Thomas Kochuparambil (Junior) was vicar of the parish. The blessing ceremony was done by Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt on 5th December 2008. In the 8 lakh rupees spent for the construction of the chapel, 6 lakh was donated by the people of the area and the rest by the church.
When Blessed Sr. Alphonsa was raised to the status of St. Alphonsa on 12th October 2008, it was a proud moment for entire catholic community of Kerala; a reason for rejoice especially for the Diocese of Pala, where she was from.
In Februay of 2009, the parish had its first Assistant Vicar, Fr. Sebastian Pazheparambil, a beloved figure for all parishioners. A committee was formed for the celebration of the centenary year of the church on 23rd April 2010 and the Bishop inaugurated the centenary celebrations officially on 3rd July. Many activities and initiatives were taken up and executed in the centerary year, by the parish. In the month of October a proper sent-off function was organized for the assistant vicar Fr. Sebastian, when he was leaving for higher studies in Paris University, France. Since the day of centenary, 23rd April 2011 fell on Holy Saturday, the celebration was held on Easter Sunday, 24th April, and the foundation stone for a new church was laid by Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt. The centenary celebrations were concluded on 8th May with a public gathering, community feast, and cultural activities.
The Bishop presided over the function and inauguration was done by the Chairman of the Inter-Church Council and previous Arch Bishop of Changanassery Diocese, Mar Joseph Powathil. Felicitations were done by prominent political and socio-cultural leaders. A week before the grand function, seminars were conducted each day for people of various age groups. A large number priests and nuns who served the parish during different time periods attended the clergy meeting held on the occasion. The chief guest of the gathering was Fr. Joseph Pallikakparambil. First Holy Communion ceremony was also held on the same day for the kids of the parish.
From the time of Fr. Thayyil Pappoottiyachan, a total of 34 priests served the parish in the course of 100 years, building the community strong and spiritual. We remember with gratitude, each and every one of those priests, parish representatives, kaikkarans, parish assistantsand faithful parishioners who made this parish what it is now.
The responsibilities and struggles to build a new church for the present parish community are similar to the struggles that were endured by our forefathers, a hundred years ago. Let our patron St. George give us all enough strength and belief that to continue the good work that our predecessors did for the community and let us brighten our lights of true faith and belief in our God Almighty.