The Sacramental ministry in the Parish keeps us engaged in day - today life. The parishioners’ unshakable faith and their participation in the church activities boost our faith and add tremendous meaning to our Priestly life and brotherhood.
Our involvement in the sacramental ministry and animation of Basic Christian communities every month helps us to learn more and more about human life and their sufferings. Being the proclaimers of the Cross and our Passionist Charism enables us to be one with them in their sufferings and bring a message of hope, courage and strength and comfort to them. The growth of Basic Christian Communities and their active role in the Parish and diocese levels secured the award of best Parish in the diocese this year.
The basic Christian Faith formation is given through Catechism and we have about 470 children studying catechism and the catechism department secured prizes both in Holy Childhood Programmes and Skit competition in the diocese level.
The Construction of the new church was begun in October, 2006 and was completed in September, 2010. With the Support of Kochi foundation, Propaganda Fidei, Vicariate and local people’s contribution we were able to complete the construction of the Church and this project brought a sense of belonging and unity among the Parishioners. Today the parishioners are proud of their Church and many miracles are happening with the intercession of Our Lady of Velankanny which attracts other parishioners and Hindus to attend Novenas on Saturdays.
All these groups are very active and contribute to the spiritual well-being of the Parish on every level.
The Lay Passionist Movement, established in the parish three years ago, has become an important part of the parish's spiritual and social mission. Through monthly formation programs, members deepen their understanding of Passionist spirituality, the Christian meaning of suffering, and the call to serve the poor and marginalized.
Over the years, the parish has organized several outreach initiatives, including blood donation drives, cancer and eye care camps, fishermen's safety awareness programs, and eye donation awareness campaigns in collaboration with local healthcare institutions. The Lay Passionist Movement has played a key role in planning and carrying out these activities.
The parish has also adapted its facilities to meet changing pastoral needs. A former parish clinic, once managed by the Visitation Sisters, was later transformed into the Sleeha Retreat Centre, which now hosts retreats, spiritual programs, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and prayer gatherings. The former tailoring school building now serves as the Sleeha Religious Articles Stall, providing a modest source of support for parish activities.
The Passionists enjoy a strong relationship with the local community and are actively involved in pastoral ministry. While challenges such as limited educational opportunities, alcoholism, and drug addiction remain, the parish continues to respond through creative pastoral initiatives and outreach programs.
Today, the parish is a vibrant and faith-filled community where people grow in their relationship with God, strengthen community bonds, and work together in service of the Gospel.
Parish Ministry
Parish organizations include:
The St. Paul of the Cross Milk Society was established in 2002–2003. Through the Cow Program, families are provided with loans ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 to purchase a milking cow or a ploughing bull. These animals serve as a source of income, helping families settle debts, meet their children's educational expenses, and provide for their household needs.
As families begin to generate income through this initiative, they gradually move toward self-support and self-sufficiency. The loans are provided without interest and are repaid over time. The repaid funds are then used to assist other families, thereby creating a sustainable cycle of support and development within the community.
The Milk Society was established to collect milk from families who own cows. The milk collected in aluminum containers is sent to the dairy farm. The dairy farm pays the society every ten days for the milk supplied. In turn, the society pays the families every fifteen days for the milk they provide.
The Cow Program and the Milk Society have been functioning very successfully and have helped many poor families improve their economic condition and become more self-reliant.
The C.WW Group from the USA donated funds for the construction of houses for poor families in the village. The beneficiary families are deeply grateful for the generous support received from the C.WW Group.
Through a collaboration between Kolping India and the Diocese, with support from Germany, five houses were also constructed for poor families. These housing initiatives have significantly improved the living conditions of the beneficiaries and brought hope and stability to many needy families.
There are 12 Self-Help Groups in the parish: 5 Farmers' Sangams, 5 Women's Sangams, 1 Dhobi Sangam, and 1 Cooperative Sangam. The aim of these groups is to help their members start small-scale industries and income-generating activities, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion, enabling them to become independent and self-sufficient.
The Mission owns 9 acres of land. The main crops cultivated are rice, sugarcane, and peanuts. In recent years, however, these lands have not been fully utilized for cultivation due to a shortage of water in the wells and insufficient rainfall.
