New Chapel Dedicated to Sacred Heart of Jesus in Andhra’s Yanam

By Fr. Polamarasetty Mariadas, Parish Priest, Yanam

The Catholic Mission at Yanam in the southern Indian state of Puducherry had its roots dated back to the seventeenth century. The period was marked for the development of Commerce with market vastly influenced by the West. Merchants from Portuguese, Netherlands, France and Britain had dominated the trade in our Land. Necessity gave way for the Church in attending the spiritual needs of these merchants. Missionaries, under the influence of Padroado attending on the Merchants. Thus, begun the presence of Christ’s faithful in and around Yanam.

Seventeenth Century witnessed a paradigm shift in the Church’s position for its Missions in then the Third World. The Mission and its development of this vast array had been brought under newly found Sacred Congregation: Propaganda Fide. This Dicastery called in The Missionaries of St Francis De Sales to help spread the Good News among the peoples in Central India Region having its headquarters in Visakhapatnam. These Missionaries landed first in Yanam (1846). Missionaries had given impetus to the Evangelist activity in and around Yanam.

The Diocesan Clergy begun its Service in the Station from early 1970s. Since then, taking cue from their forerunners, understanding the challenges ahead; Clerics are at work with a couple of brief interceptions. In the course of time parishes like Draksharama, Anaparthy, Mandapeta, Velangi, K Gangavaram, Ramachandrapuram and Tallarevu had emerged bifurcated from Yanam leaving with it ten substations.

The believing community at Kuyyeru is one among these ten. Catholic presence had its humble beginning way back in 1959 with the first baptism recorded of the person hailing from Kuyyeru.

Tatapudi Saramma (Seethamma) received baptism on 27-09-1959 paving the way for the Priest to visit the place on regular basis. Frequent visit to the place and the cooperation received from the locals enabled many receive Christ-the Light into their lives. In early 1970s, Bishop strengthened the missionary activity granting the Services of an assisting priest to the one already serving at Yanam.

Experience and dynamism of the Parish Priest and his Assistant respectively helped the Mission increase in quality and quantity. Sensing the need for spiritual animation Bishop Ignatius Gopu purchased eight cents of land in 1969 and 1971. In the following year, Fr Maipan Paul constructed a Chapel. It had been enabling Christ’s flock united in prayer until was pulled down in September 2020. It survived through various cyclones including the worst hit in 1996. But with HudHud cyclone in 2014 hitting the East Coast, Kuyyeru had its share. The roof of the Church was disturbed and steadily the tiles started falling. The faithful had been compelled from using it no more, as it became hazardous by early 2020.

A few unsuccessful attempts were made to construct a new Chapel earlier in 1996 and 2014. Now Providence, listening to the cries of the Faithful, prompted generous indigenous donors. With their overwhelming generosity, a rather beautiful Chapel was raised up within the span of eight months. God be praised ever more.

We, the faithful of our Parish and particularly that of Kuyyeru Village were in ecstasy on August 24, 2021 (Tuesday) when our dear archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Mallavarapu Prakash, bishop Most Rev. Dr. Maipan Paul, Priests from neighbourhood, faithful from all our villages, friends from far and wide gathering around the newly constructed chapel blessing it and giving it to us for our use.

This spiritual experience will ever remain with us. Our archbishop said the Mass dedicating the Chapel to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus while Bishop Maipan Paul recalling all his past memories with the places and peoples around this area preached the homily. At the end, both bishops shared in honouring the men behind the screen toiling in constructing this church. With the sumptuous meal served to all the day ended leaving us in awesome happiness and in no doubt leaving us with the sentiments of responsibility to lead our lives in perfect gratitude to God and everyone who made this day possible in our lives for great is granted upon us and great will be demanded of us.