St. Francis Xavier Church, Kethanahalli

Saint Francis Xavier Church is a parish church for catholic devotees around Kethanahalli Village in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, India. This church servers under administration of Dharmapuri Diocese

History
Initially, some Catholic families from the Tirupathur-Koviloor parish brought land here and settled in Kethanahalli (Kethampatti). Later, Catholic families from Dharmapuri-Kovilur, Kottampatti, Poolapatti, and Savoor have settled here. In 1930, this place became a substation of Kadagathur St. Mary's Parish Church.

During the year 1936, the villagers built a small chapel in the name of St. Sebastian. Later in 1937, Rev. Fr. Mathew Pulicakal planned to build a church in the name of St. Xavier. With the help of the next parish priest of Kadagathur, Rev. Fr. Alexander Xavi, this Church was completed and the service began with the blessing of Salem bishop Henry Prunier. Vanniya Gounder, a landlord from Mudalipatti, brought the church bell for Rs. 60 from Pennagaram Franciscan sisters and donated to this church.

The first bishop of Salem dioceses Henry Prunier retired as bishop in 1949, and he wished to remain in Kethanahalli village. From August 1949 to November 1953, he lived in a small room behind old St. Xavier Church and served the people in Kethanahalli village. In 1952, he brought a plot to Kethanahalli and began to build a primary school in this village. In 1951, bishop Prunier brought 8.3 acres of land to the Church for future development. Till now locals honors him by calling "Siluvai Aandavar".



The parish of Palacode was formed in 1985, and this church became its sub station. Since then, Cluny sisters have been serving here during the weekends.

Thirty families lived in this village in 1930, but by 1974 the devotees had increased so that they intended to build a new church. So they bought a 1.59 acre land with the help of Salem Bishop Michael Bosco. Later new St. Francis Xavier Church was built with the help of the Dharmapuri Diocese under Bishop Joseph Antony Irudhiyaraj on July 25, 2000.

Pondicherry Vicars Bishop Laouënan M.E.P came to Kethanahalli once in 1873 and told that after some years, this village would become a Parish. 127 years later, on 19-7-2000, this village became a Parish. Rev. Fr Madhalaimuthu became the first Parish priest for this Church, who also build a house for priest.

Sub Stations
Under this Kethanahalli Parish church, there is one Sub-Station church in Thumbanalalli Dam and 2 chapels with in 2 km radius. RC Fathima Primary School is run under the church administration.