Keelavaippar

On the eastern bank of the Vaippar river is the church of Our Lady of Assumption, one of the first churches built by the Portuguese in the sub-continent. The Jesuit record shows that a church dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption existed as early as 1571.^[2] The feast of Our Lady of Assumption is celebrated annually on 15 August, being preceded by a flag hoisting ceremony on 6 August and with novena prayers on all subsequent days until the feast itself.^{[citation needed]}

Keelavaippar is one of the ancient five Padroado parishes of the Pearl Fishery Coast. After Tuticorin was made a diocese, it continued to be a part of the Mylapore Padroado diocese. In accordance with an agreement between the Vatican and the Portuguese government, the parish was joined with Tuticorin diocese on 4 April 1930.^[2]

This parish was made into seven Basic Christian Communities on 11 December 1994. In 1995 a parish council was constituted with the representatives of the Basic Christian Communities. St. Antony's grotto in the beach was enlarged in 1995 and a grotto of the Child Jesus was constructed inside the campus in 1996.^{[citation needed]}

• Times Of India website, article dated June 8, 2021