Catholic Church Among the fisherfolk of Southern Coast - Xavier James L.S.

CATHOLIC CHURCH AMONG THE FISHERFOLK OF SOUTHERN COAST

Xavier James L.S.

The new convert Joao Da Cruz and the lay Vicar General of Goa Michael Vaz took initiative and baptized 30,000 fishermen and women in the South India along the Arabian coast.  The fisher folk saw that the new religion was freedom giving, gave them self-identity and self worth.  This gave boost to their conversion.  They felt tremendous relief from the Muslim merchants who afflicted them. 

Since there was no one to enrich the faith of the people it was not growing and was stagnant.  Therefore in 1542, Francis Xavier wrote that they knew nothing about their faith.  Francis was a missionary on the move and went from place to place catechizing and strengthening the faith of the Christians.  This made a difference and impact on the new converts.  There were 12 priests working in these areas in the 5 missions, helping in the faith formation of the Christians.  Since they were with the people as full-pledged missionaries, people saw their hard work and the holy life. They were witnesses of Christian values.  Hence they were the models for the Christians. 

The educational institutions such as schools, boarding and seminary played an important role in the formation of the young Christians.  These institutions produced marvelous and disciplined Christians from the newly converted areas of 22 Paravar 14 Mukkuvar villages of Tutucorin and Cape Comorin.  This education gave them dignity and proper self image.

Over 50 years of hard work of those 12 missionaries and Francis Xavier Changed the image of the Christians and so in 1600 Fr. Valiganano the Jesuit provincial, after visiting these areas, wrote that they were the best Christians in India.  Their children knew catechism better than the European children.  By this time the number of Christians amounted to 1,00,000. 

At present there are 11,00,000 Catholics in these areas.  They are staunch in their faith and are proud to be called as the followers of Christ.  Over hundreds of local priests from here are working both in their native and as missionaries in North India and European countries.  Today many of them are well educated and hold good jobs because of the boost of their faith.  Catholic Church with the message and values of Christ continues to inspire people all over.   

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