150th year celebrations of Palayam church begin

Thiruvananthapuram: Annamma Antony was delighted to celebrate the eve of her 80th birthday at Palayam St Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral on the occasion of the church’s ongoing 150th-year celebrations. “I am a living witness to the fact that prayers are answered after we come here. In 1990, when my husband was admitted to the ICU after a fatal heart attack, doctors told me that his pressure levels were unstable and that I should be prepared for the worst. I was not ready to accept my fate, especially with my four young children then. I came here and prayed fervently. Later, the doctors told me that my husband returning to life after a very close call was extremely rare. Since then, I come here regularly,” she said.
Like Annamma, there are many who flock to Palayam church since its establishment on May 4, 1837. “The first church, with a thatched roof, was built on the request of Catholic military men and other people who had migrated from the erstwhile Travancore and parts of Tamil Nadu. In 1927, the church extension was done with a cross and a bell tower. It was during this time that the do-re-me synchronized bells were brought from Belgium as the priests in charge of the church during those years were Belgian Carmelites,” said Ignatius Thomas, secretary of the church committee.
The cathedral, situated in the heart of the city, is famous for its fascinating Gothic architecture. Adding to the sheen is the communal harmony the church follows with the neighbouring Ganesha temple and Juma Masjid. “In 2010, the church was renovated, changing its colour from the iconic brick red to the present pristine white. Eminent personalities like Mother Teresa and Dalai Lama had visited the church, and it continues to be an ideal example of interfaith harmony. A cake to both the Masjid and the temple during Christmas is never forgotten. We exchange greetings on auspicious days and offer assistance to them as much as possible,” he added.
The parish-level celebrations began on Monday.
“This is a year-long event to be concluded on December 3, 2023. Each month, we will be conducting various programmes under each ministry like the youth and education, in addition to other charitable activities,” said parish priest Monsignor Nicholas T.