Highlights of Irudhaya Annai Church ( Immaculate Heart of Mary church): Periyasamypuram; Parents House

Periyasamypuram is a center pocket of catholic hamlet surrounded by many villages where authentic Hindus live. Periyasamypuram's center of attraction or (even we can call it as the heart of the village) is Irudaya Annai Church. It is a beautiful church built in late 1880s.The church is situated in the middle of the village and all the houses are built around the church in four directions. The main entrance of the church has a broad entrance steps, which enters in to the front mandapum the place where the married people sit, which leads to the huge ancient wooden main doors. There are three main doors including one big main door situated in the middle and two other doors at the each side of the center door all facing east.
The main entrance of the church holds majestic three steeples which can be seen from far from neighboring villages. At the main entrance of the church there is a baptismal font located at the right side and the confessional seat is located at the left side. The main doors lead in to church which reveals the beautiful altar, where Sacred heart statue situated at the top, just below that sanctuary Our lady of Immaculate Heart stands with her open heart and open hands. A heart stealing beauty of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has captivated me from my childhood. This miraculous statue, which articulates the symbol of love of God for men and women through salvation. Looking at her can infuse a sense of serenity and bring peace and quietude in the heart, which is beyond any explanation. People of Periasamypuram love Immaculate Heart of Mary immensely.She reigns in that village and in the people hearts. On the right side of Immaculate Heart of Mary there is St. Joseph statue and on the left side there is a statue of St. Francis xaviour. Just below the Mother Mary statue stand the Holy Tabernacle and Holy Mass altar.The altar opens in to the sacristy through two side entrances behind the altar. From the main body of the church open two huge side doors facing south and north. The northern door opens in to the St. Antony Middle School yard and the southern door opens in to the Our lady of Lourdes Grotto. Adjoined to the church a huge mandapam contains the huge car which is almost equal height to the church, which is used once a year where mother Mary is taken around the village on September 8th. Between the space of Church and the Car mandapam house the huge ancient bell when it chimes it can be heard from far about 5 to 10 Km.