October 18 will be a memorable day for the parish of the new St Xavier’s Church here. The church will be inaugurated on the day by archbishop Francis Kallarackal of Varapuzha Archdiocese.
Constructed for the convenience of Catholics in Aluva and the surrounding areas, the parishioners and believers from far and wide are expected to attend the services on the opening day and afterwards. According to vicar Fr Joseph Collins Elanjikal, St Francis Xavier is the canonical mediator of the Church for education, good health and for missionaries.
The new edifice is located at the heart of the town. “It is a dream project envisaged during the period of the late archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil, and for which he laid the foundation stone on 18 October 2009,” said Elanjickal.
The church is an apotheosis or a glorification of the old church which had been there in the name of St Francis Xavier since 1904. Architecturally, we have incorporated fresh ideas and made it a representation idealistic to the current age. This year is important for the parish as it is also the quasquicentennial (125th anniversary) of the Varapuzha Archdiocese. “The church was known as Kunnel Palli since its beginning, and it will be known by the same name in future also,” said Elanjickal. The new church, according to him, was built on a total outlay of `2.5 crore.
More than seven churches, including the famous Pilgrim Church in Aluva, Etteakkar Palli, the Church of Judas Thaddeus, St Anns Church, Thottekattukara and Ave Maria Church, Muthirappadam come under this church. A number of reputed educational institutions such as St Xavier’s College, BEd College and St Francis School also come under the church.