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
St. Francis Xavier is the patron saint of Ward number 12 of Vayala parish, a region lying south to the church, bordered by Koodalloor parish. In the ward-gathering held on 3rd December 2000, the members requested the vicar to grant permission to build a chapel in the name of St. Francis Xavier and informed him that the money needed for the construction would be donated by the people of the area and land needed would be donated by Mr. A C Joseph Aarukakkeel.
In the meeting held on 21st December 2000, it was decided that Joseph Cherian Aarukakkeel, Chacko Pazhoor, and Mathew Nangyalil would take responsibility for leading the further proceedings. Permission was taken from the Bishop’s office after submitting the plan and estimates. On 15th May 2006, the foundation stone of the chapel was laid by Fr. Sebastian Nadathadathil, vicar of Koodalloor church, in the presence of Vayala vicar Fr. Joseph Kochuparambil and Fr. Joy Chathamkandathil. The construction work was completed in the supervision of Varkey Varkey Nangyalil, Joseph Cherian Aarukakkeel, and Thomas Joseph Nangyalil Thazhathu. With the hard work put in by the parishioners of the area and the donations from all around (even by people of other religions) an amount of Rs. 7 lakh was collected. The rest of the amount (which came up to 1.25 lakh rupees) was given by the parish church. In 2007 Fr. Joseph was transferred and Fr. Thomas Parekkunnel took charge as the vicar. On 5th December 2007, Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Bishop of Pala diocese, blessed and inaugurated the chapel.
Every year, on 3rd December, the day of the feast of St. Francis Xavier, celebrations are conducted in the chapel and procession is held till Vayala school junction. On Good Friday, Way of the Cross is conducted till the chapel from the church. When Fr. Thomas Idathumparambil became vicar in 2010, permission was taken from the Bishop’s office to offer the Holy Mass was offered on every last Saturday of the month in the chapel. The people of the area gather round the chapel everyday to offer daily-prayers, special prayers are done on the Veneration month of Mother Mary (May), and in October special prayers are held for 10 days. The believers in the area remember with gratitude, all the blessings that we received through the prayers of St. Francis Xavier for us.