MOOKAIYUR (1932)

Patron                                                  :           St. James

Parish Priest                                         :           Fr.

Address                                               :           St. James Church

                                                                        Mookaiyur- 623 120

                                                                        Ramnad (Dt)

Cellphone                                            :

Catholics                                              :           0000

Non-Catholics                                      :          

Vocation          : Priests                                    :        02    

                        : Sisters                                    :           05

Institutions                                           :          1. St. Anne Sisters of Bangalore

                                                                        2. St. James R.C. Middle School, Mookaiyur 

                                                                        3. R.C. Primary School, Mookaiyur

History

             Mookaiyur is an ancient Catholic center, and it was evangelized by St. Francis Xavier himself in 1559. It was originally part of Tuticorin diocese until 1963. In 1964, Fr. G. Maria Diraviam became its first parish priest under the Madurai Archdiocese. Interestingly, the thriving fisherfolk communities in Thangachimadam, Rameswaram, Pamban, and Mandapam are said to be migrants from Mookaiyur. Despite its historical significance, Mookaiyur faced challenges due to poor fishing yields in the nearby sea, particularly during certain months of the year, leading to an annual migration of its fisherfolk to Pamban. In 1992, Mookaiyur became the birthplace of the new parish of Sayalkudi.