Punalur Mission
Politically the mission territory was the administrative part of Desinganad, Venad and of Travancore until the general re-organization of Indian states of 1956.
There is no reference about this area in the travel narratives of missionaries and travelers of Kollam. This region is rich in agrarian products such as paddy, tapioca spices, cashew pepper, rubber, turmeric etc.
At the dawn of 20th century Punalur found a place in the developmental map of Kerala.
The arrival of cantilever bridge across the river Kallada in 1877 made Punalur a link town for the trade route between Shenkotta – Kollam
The starting of Tirunelveli-Kollam railway line had an impact on the town
Punalur became the headquarters of Pathanapuram Taluk in 1905\
The migration of labourers in search of jobs in plantations and other industries
The Belgium Carmelites
postels of Punalur
It is indeed proper to call Carmelites as the first apostles of Punalur, because of their valuable services.
It is Belgium Carmelite missionaries who made Punalur as one of their missionbase and spread out almost in to the interior of Punalur mission
There were several missionaries with great zeal and a Marvelous capacity of sacrifice to work in and around this migrant land.
Fr. John of the Cross, Fr. John Mary, Fr. Brocard, Fr. Pious and Ildephonse had tremendously contributed to the mission enterprise
The initial attempts of Mission enterprise
The foundation of the Carmelites mission in Quilon, amidst the padroado-propaganda conflict, brings Punalur to the light of catholic history.
It is from that time onwards missionaries frequented their visit in Punalur
The mission work was actually launched by Belgium Carmelite missionaries much before 1885 when this area was under the Quilon vicariate.
The oldest catholic community brought faith in 1866 is in Punalur and in 1877 is in Aranmula.
There were missionaries who desired to make a foothold for an organized mission enterprise in the adjourning areas of Punalur.
These initial attempts may be traced back to the times of Dr. Bernadine Baccinelli (1946), the provicar Apostolic of Kollam vicariate.
After the time of Bernadine Baccinelli there were evangelization efforts by his successors but they could not start an organized mission over here, since their tenure in the ecclesiastical office was not very long, and they could not start mission over here.