Foundation stone laid to the Mannar St Mary’s Church on 10-02-2013 ( Photo )

One of the oldest St Mary’s Church was demolished in Mannar last year , in order to erect a new modernized church which could house around 1000 devotees. The former building is one of the oldest Catholic Church in Mannar diocese. This was build more than 150 years ago.

The picture shows the oldest church and the severe damages caused in 1987 due to ethnic war , where the Military canon was used and the front portion of the church bears a war memorial hole of 30 c.m in width .

During the last five years of severe war the most of the Catholic families who lived in the main land have migrated towards to the Mannar Island town and started living here for temporarily or permanently. This made the Catholic population increased to more than 2,200 families in the Mannar Town.

Rev Fr. Koduthore Devarajah who was the Parish Priest of this church two years back initiated the idea for a new church . The Catholic of Mannar who is proud to say that they are the children of Martyrs, who sacrificed their life for the sake of Christianity at Thottawali & Pattim area, gave their fullest cooperation to the Bishop of Mannar and to the Parish Priest of St Sebastian & St Mary’s church towards this gigantic construction work .

The Present Parish Priest Rev. Fr .Sathiya Sanjuvam is a very young and energetic priest who is the Head of the Church Parish committee planned to have the Foundation Stone laying ceremony on 10^th of February,2013. Sunday at 10.30 a.m. His Lordship Rt Rev Dr Rayapoo Joseph , surrounded with more than two hundred devotes blessed and laid the foundation stone and commence the new church construction work.

The Parish Building committee seek the help of all Catholic in the Island and especially to the migrated youths in abroad to give a helping hand to construct this modern church. The Bank account and details are given below please.

The well wishers could address all their donation to the Parish Priest of St Mary’s Church Mannar t.P.no; 023-2222-142

Through “ St.Mary’s Church Building Fund” The Commercial Bank, Mannar, Saving Account No; 815-400-1684 and
also at the same heading to Hatton National Bank, Mannar .Saving Account No; 02-002-030-1336

The 150 years Oldest Sty Mary’s Church in 1985

During the war time in 1987 an artillery attack was done by mistakenly & the Church witnessed the 30.c.m width of a hole due to canon struck in front side of the aisle