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MAIN FEASTS
St. Antony’s - June 13
St. Joseph’s - March 19
St. Mary’s - December 8
Borders
South - Chaalakkadavu Bridge
North - Endappoo Bridge
East - Vembanattu Lake and Anjilithara Island
West - Arabian sea
Church
Family Units - Total 40
Total Families - 1050
Parish Members - 4843
A Brief History - ST.JOSEPHS FEAST
Even though Kannamaly church is in the name of St.Antony’s, this church is widely known as St. Joseph’s Church. 102 years ago, St. Joseph rendered blessings over Kannamaly. In memory of this blessing, the prayer offerings and Choroonu conducted here on every march 19th, is world famous.
Massive sea attack in 1905, paved the way for the spreading of cholera in Kannamaly. There were no medicines, hospitals and even transportation facilities. Several people died at that time, and situation became so critical as there were not enough people alive to bury the dead ones. Cholera Spread like anything through water and food.
The Parish Vicar of Kannamaly Church Fr. Joseph Swaras was fully engaged in treating the affected and burying the dead along with some youth of the village.
One day Fr. Swaras had a heavenly vision during his sleep. The next day, in his holy speech during the mass he asked the people to bring a pack of food on the next Sunday, March 19th, on the feast of St.Joseph. Majority of the people in Kannamaly had dead and the remaining people were too weak without having any food. They agreed to the father’s decision to have food, selling in the courtyard of the Church on March 19th.
On March, 19th 1905, after the holy mass they had a procession with St.Joseph’s Statue. Fr. Swaras made everyone sit in the church courtyard and he blessed the food brought by the people and made himself. After that he asked them to have the food, but everyone was frightened of being affected by Cholera. Then the Father himself took the initiative and had the food. Seeing this people also had their food and ran to their houses to give that blessed food to the cholera affected ones. The whole village waited for death. But to their surprise, no one was affected and the sick ones even regained their health.
Fr. Swaras later revealed that he did all these because, St.Joseph with Mary and Infant Jesus asked him to act in this way, during his holy vision. Since then Cholera had never attacked Kannamaly Village.
Every year lakhs of people from various regions visit Kannamaly on March 19th, to have the prayer offerings and to get blessed. Besides this many people visit here to take part in the holy masses (on every Wednesdays at 10.30 AM and 5.30 PM) Novena and children’s ‘Choroonu’ - Firts time of taking solid food for the children.
ABOUT THE FEAST
Every year, the holy feast commences with novena on March 10 the and ends on March 19th . The novena is at 5.30 PM. The flag hosting of the feast will be on March 15th. After the Pontifical Festive Mass and procession on March 19th, feast offerings will start by donating food and clothes in a selected family, in remembrance of the holy family. As part of the feast offering, “feast payasam” is also distributed.
FEAST ORGANIZING
The major decisions regarding the feast are taken by the eleven member director board (The trust known as St. Joseph’s Charities) for which the church Vicar is the President. More than 2000 Volunteers work for months in the categories-celebration, store, catering and packing. A 1,30,000 Square feet, temporary hall (Panthal) is raised in the courtyard in the premises of the church.
OUR CHARITY
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The amount gathered out of the feast offerings is used of various charity activities like medicinal, marriage, house-building and Educational aids. Scholarship are also provided for educational purpose.
The hospital established by St.Joseph’s Charitable Trust was handed over to the sister’s for its comfortable management. The St.Joseph hospital is now a prestigious charitable establishment. |
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