St. Francis Xavier Church, Kethanahalli

St. Francis Xavier Church
Savariyar Church
புனித சவேரியார் ஆலயம்
Side View of the church
12.32333°N 78.14237°E / 12.32333; 78.14237
Location	Kethanahalli, Kariamangalam, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Denomination	Catholic
Religious institute	Jesuit
Membership	200 families
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	25 July 1936 (1936-07-25)
Founder(s)	Fr. Mathew Pulickal and Fr. Alexander Xavi
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church
Style	Modern Architecture
Groundbreaking	1999
Completed	2000
Administration
Archdiocese	Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Diocese	Dharmapuri
Deanery	Denkanikottai
Parish	Kethanahalli
Clergy
Archbishop	Francis Kalist
Bishop(s)	Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
Priest(s)	Fr. John Kennedy

Saint Francis Xavier Church is a parish church for catholic devotees around Kethanahalli (Kethampatti) village in Dharmapuri district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This church is under the administration of Dharmapuri Diocese

History

Initially, Catholic families from the Tirupathur-Koviloor parish brought land and settled in Kethanahalli. Later, Catholic families from Dharmapuri-Kovilur, Kottampatti, Poolapatti, and Savoor settled there. In 1930, this place became a substation of Kadagathur St. Mary's Parish Church.

In 1936, the villagers built a chapel in the name of St. Sebastian. Later in 1937, Rev. Fr. Mathew Pulicakal planned to build a church in the name of St. Xavier. With the help of the next parish priest of Kadagathur, Rev. Fr. Alexander Xavi, this Church was completed and the service began with the blessing of Salem bishop Henry Prunier. Vanniya Gounder, a landlord from Mudalipatti, brought the church bell from Pennagaram Franciscan sisters and donated to this church.

The first bishop of Salem dioceses, Henry Prunier, retired as bishop in 1949. He wished to remain in Kethanahalli village. From August 1949 to November 1953, he lived in a small room behind old St. Xavier Church and served the people in Kethanahalli village. In 1952, he bought a plot and began to build a primary school. In 1951, bishop Prunier brought 8.3 acres of land to the Church for future development. Locals honor him by calling "Siluvai Aandavar".

Old St Francis Xavier Church which is served before 2000 now this is abandoned

The parish of Palacode was formed in 1985, and this church became its sub station. Since then, Cluny sisters have been serving here during the weekends.

Thirty families lived in this village in 1930, but by 1974 the devotees had increased. They intended to build a new church. They bought a 1.59 acre land with the help of Salem Bishop Michael Bosco. Later new St. Francis Xavier Church was built with the help of the Dharmapuri Diocese under Bishop Joseph Antony Irudhiyaraj on July 25, 2000.

Pondicherry Vicars Bishop Laouënan M.E.P came to Kethanahalli once in 1873 and said that after some years, this village would become a Parish. 127 years later, this village became a Parish. Rev. Fr Madhalaimuthu became the first Parish priest for this Church, who also built a house for its priest.

Substations

Under this Kethanahalli Parish church, one Sub-Station church sits in Thumbanalalli Dam with two chapels within a 2 km radius. RC Fathima Primary School is run under the church administration.