Palaekarikula kshatriyan: Started basic post v1

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{{Short description|Roman Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St. Francis Xavier Church
| coordinates = {{coord|12.0599675|78.1237831|display=inline,title}}
| fullname =
| native_name = புனித சவேரியார் ஆலயம்
| native_name_lang = ta
| image = St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur.jpg
| caption = Side View of the church

| location = [[Kovilur, Dharamapuri|Kovilur]], [[Nallampalli]], [[Dharmapuri district|Dharmapuri]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| country = [[India]]

| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| religious institute = [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]]
| cult = [[Catholic devotions]]
| founded date = 1897
| founder = Fr. Surrel & Fr.Priez

| status = [[Parish church]]
| functional status = Active
| dedication = Francis Xavier
| architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]
| style = [[Medieval architecture|Medieval]]
| groundbreaking = 1897
| completed date = 1912

| parish = [[Kovilur, Dharamapuri|Kovilur]]
| deanery = [[Dharmapuri]]
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri]]
| episcopalarea = [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India|TNBC]]
| district = [[Dharmapuri district|Dharmapuri]]

| archbishop = [[Francis Kalist]]
| bishop = Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
| priest = Fr. J. Arockiasamy
}}

'''The Saint Francis Xavier Church''' in [[Kovilur, Dharamapuri]] is the oldest parish church in the diocese. It is called the mother church and the first [[Parish]] in the entire diocese. This church has been in service over 100 years, but over 300 years catholic and priests where present in this village. Now this church is serving under the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharamapuri Diocese]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dharmapuridiocese.com/cms/public_view/list-parishes.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825175657/http://www.dharmapuridiocese.com/cms/public_view/list-parishes.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 25, 2013|title=Dharmapuri Diocese}}</ref>

==History==
By the time of Mysore missionaries, this village was known as Bellagoundanahalli and Velliyan Pettai, but after the church was set up, villagers began to call it Kolvilur.<ref>Saruthira Surrukam - Salem Diocese</ref> Since from 1704 priests from [[Society of Jesus]] where settled in this village and started holy services. A small chapel was built here during the 1720s and was maintained by a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit priest]] for over 100 years.<ref>History of Dharamapuri Diocese - Fr A. Susairaj</ref> Since the 1830s [[Paris Foreign Missions Society|M.E.P priests]] have been taking care of this church services since then Fr. Abbe Dubois and Fr. Mark Arokiyanadhar have been working here as priests since then around 28 [[Paris Foreign Missions Society|Paris (MEP) priests]] have worked here.<ref>Catholic Record of Salem Diocese Fr. Abe Bubey</ref>

Kovilur was remarkably improved in hospitality and in primary education during Fr. Thirion Francis Joseph's 29-year period serving this parish (between 1856 and 1885). As a result of the food crisis in southern India in 1847, Fr. Thirion helped many people around [[Bommidi]] and Mallapuram, making many people convert to [[Catholicism]]. [[Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary]] (FIHM) convent was built in 1864 and started the mission. The St. Thomas primary school for girls was completed in 1867. The school was upgraded to a higher secondary school in 1999. In 1871, a school for boys was completed not this is serving as St. John's Higher Sec School.

Around 1820s Catholics from [[Koviloor, Tirupattur]] (different village) settled in the nearby village of [[Poolapatti]]. In Kovilur, half of the Catholics were from nearby village Savur and Sowkarpet. Sowkarpet vanished between 1880 and 1890 because the villagers had left the village and moved to [[Kolar Gold Fields]] as mining workers.

Fr. Surrel initiated construction of this church in 1897 and then the construction was continued by the next parish priest, Fr. Perez, who completed the construction. Fr. Perez painted the interior of this church with bible art work, and on September 11, 1912, this church was opened to the public. The tower of this church was additionally constructed in 1962 by Father Paul Thalat, and this gives the church a grand look.

The Nirmala Clinical Hospital was started in 1972 by the [[French people|French]] woman Dennis, and from 1974 it has been under the care of the [[Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles]](SRA). After 100 years this church was renovated in 2012 still serving to local catholic.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaspar |first=Michael |date=21 December 2024 |title=India: “Faith Rekindled -A Journey of Renewal and Devotion” at St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur, Dharmapuri |url=https://www.cssr.news/2024/12/india-faith-rekindled-a-journey-of-renewal-and-devotion-at-st-francis-xavier-church-kovilur-dharmapuri/ |website=cssr.com |location=Kovilur, Dharmapuri |publisher=Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref>

Two priests [[Joseph-Isidore Godelle]] and [[Melchior de Marion Brésillac]], who served in this church became bishops of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Coimbatore|Coimbatore]] and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry]], respectively.

==See also==
* [[Kovilur, Dharamapuri]]
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri]]
* [[Queen of Angels Church, Kadagathur]]
* [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, B Pallipatti]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri}}

[[Category:Churches completed in 1912]]
[[Category:Churches in Dharmapuri district]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in the Diocese of Dharmapuri|F]]

St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur - Revision history

Palaekarikula kshatriyan: Started basic post v1