Historic Punnaikayal Church installs new statue of Saint Francis

On March 13, a church in south India installed a new statue of Saint Francis Xavier, resembling the saint’s incorrupt body.

Punnaikayal, a historic hamlet in the Diocese of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, holds a deep connection with the Spanish Jesuit Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552), who baptized its early Christian community. A church was built in his honor in 1622, the year of his canonization.

The present church stands on the very site where the saint lived, offered Mass, and baptized the local fisherfolk. Today, the church still preserves the baptismal font he used, the altar where he celebrated Mass, and the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom he prayed for the success of his mission.

The installation ceremony was attended by Father Pancras, the former parish priest; Fr. Rayappan Pathrose, correspondent of St. Thomas Matriculation School in Tuticorin; Fr. Antony Titus, parish priest; Fr. Antony Chandra Vivek; and Deacon Jerald.

During the homily, 93-year-old Father Pancras reflected on the saint’s life, highlighting his humility and commitment to evangelization.

“Saint Francis Xavier owned nothing but a cassock, a crucifix, and a Bible. He arrived in India wearing a silk cassock but returned with a simple cotton one, demonstrating his poverty and deep dedication to his mission,” he said.

As part of the celebrations, Father Titus and the church committee announced the start of a weekly novena every Thursday to deepen devotion to the saint.

Punnaikayal is one of the largest mission centers established by Saint Xavier, second only to Tuticorin in the Diocese of Tuticorin. The saint arrived in 1542, when no Catholic churches existed in the region, and he baptized the local people.

With the help of a translator, he translated Catholic prayers into Tamil and worked to reform societal practices. He entrusted Manuel D. Cruz, a local convert, with building the church, and historical records suggest that the saint himself contributed to its construction.

Saint Xavier always intended to return to Punnaikayal, as evidenced by his letters.

The village was once a Portuguese harbor, and in 1552, he departed from Punnaikayal for Japan, with villagers tearfully bidding farewell to their “Godfather.”

During his canonization process, the people of Punnaikayal shared their testimonies about the saint’s life and mission.

Today, they continue to uphold his legacy, carrying his statue in a shipborne procession, honoring the way he first arrived in their village.

In 2007, Archbishop Pedro Quintana, former Apostolic Nuncio to India, inaugurated the reconstructed church after the devastation of the tsunami.

Despite the passage of time, the people of Punnaikayal remain steadfast in their devotion to Saint Francis Xavier, celebrating his enduring presence in their faith and history.