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Saint Francis Xavier established a church, a college (San Salvadore
College), a printing press (San Salvadore seminary Press), and a
religious study centre at Tangasseri during his visits in 1544 and 1549.
In 1614, the Portuguese established the Infant Jesus church in its
present location.
400-year-old Infant Jesus Cathedral at Quilon-Tangasseri. In 2006 it was
demolished and replaced by a new building
Later in 1661, Dutch gained control of Tangasseri and started
deteriorating churches and other structures built by Portuguese. But in
1789, the Carmelites missionaries, who have arrived Quilon renovated
this church and named it the Bom Jesu Church. In 1838 when Malabar
Vicariate was erected with Verapoly as headquarters, Quilon was joined
to it.
Tangasseri retained its pivotal position in Ecclesiastical parlance
and became the base for Carmelite expeditions. Quilon vicariate was
formed in 1845. Messenger Charles Hyacinth Valerga, pro-vicar Apostolic
of Quilon died in Tangasseri on December 24, 1864 and was buried in the
church. His successor Msgr. Maria Ephrem Carrelon was consecrated in
Tangasseri in 1866.
Infant Jesus Church is serving as the pro-cathedral of Kollam Diocese
since 1886. Mortal remains of former Bishop of Quilon, Rev. Fr. Bishop
Jerome M. Fernandez are also buried in the Infant Jesus Cathedral.
As the old Pro-Cathedral was ageing, a plan for a new building both
beautiful and large to accommodate the increasing congregation was put
forward. The old church was demolished and the foundation stone was laid
by the then bishop Rev. Dr. Joseph G Fernandez in the year 2000 during
the tenure of Monsingor Rev. Paul Mullassery. Later in the year 2001
Rev. Dr. Stanley Roman became the Bishop of Quilon and carried on with
the construction. Rev. Msgr. George Mathew took charge as the parish
priest in 2002 taking an active part in the completion of the church in
the year 2005.
Getting There
Considering Kollam as the entry city to the lake, nearest airport is the
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 71 km (44 mi) away and by
road to almost all important centres in Kerala and the rest of the
country. National Highway 47 (NH 47) passes through the lake periphery
not only from Quilon but also to other locations on its bank from
Thiruvananthapuram to the northern towns of Kerala.
Southern
Railways network of metre gauge and broad gauge lines connects with
Quilon and to all important centres in the rest of the country. The
metre gauge train journey from Quilon to Chennai via Madurai is stated
to offer a picturesque journey.
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