The people who got employment in those colleges began to settle in this place, which was a hub of Hindus. Among the new Catholic residents only a few people used to keep in touch with the parishes of Lalam and Cathedral. A meeting, which was presided by the then parish priest of Cathedral Rev. Mathew Madathikunnel, was held at Alphonsa College on the instruction of the then bishop of Pala Diocese
Rt. Pallickaparambil to discuss on how to make pastoral activities more effective in Arunapuram, at 3 pm on Dec. 11, 1982. The meeting was attended by 40 people, including parish priests from the old and the new churches of Lalam Rev. Sebastian Viruthi and Rev. A committee was formed for a detailed study of the issue. A meeting of the committee members was held and discussed on the results of the study at Assumption Institute on July 28, 1983. Mathew Madathikunnel submitted the report of the discussion and the suggestions to the Bishop. The Bishop, on receipt of the report, asked the Catholics of Arunapuram through his circular to attend the Sunday Holy Mass in the college chapel. The celebration of Holy Mass for the public on Sundays in convents and other institutions at Arunapuram was prohibited. Mathew Vayalilkalapura was given the charge of Arunapuram centre temporarily. The centre was inaugurated by the Bishop himself by offering the Holy Mass at the college chapel at 5 pm on Oct. 23, 1983. Joy Vayalilkalapura, who took up the responsibility of the parish along with the teaching in the college, used to visit and bless the houses. He was transferred after 8 months of his service. James Kattackal was appointed as parish priest on May 26, 1984. He took the census of the parish in the beginning itself and started the Sunday school in the ‘B’ block of the college with 185 students from 135 families. He called a public meeting of parishners and selected 15 committee members and 2 trustees for the parish. So the parish council was formed. was started on Sept. 16, 1984. The prayer meetings at ward level were started on the same day itself. The Mission League also was started in the same year in October. James Kattackal, who served here for a period of 2 years and 2 months, was transferred and Rev. Zacharias Kaniyampadickal took up the charge on July 26, 1986. Thomas Vettukattil and Rev. Augustine Kachiramattom were appointed as parish priests in 1988 and 1990 respectively. The general body meeting held on May 6, 1990 decided to construct a new church and a committee was formed for the same. A plot of 1.49 acre known as ‘green villa’ in the collage compound (survey number 397/4) was given to construct the church. The then Bishop of Pala laid the foundation stone for the construction of the church on July 15, 1990. Mathew was the acting vicar for the period from June 4 to Nov. 30. The foundation for the cemetery was laid on June 1, 1992. Kachiramattathil passed away when he was parish priest here in March 27, 1993. Emmanuel Periapuram was appointed on April 3rd. The construction finished by Fr.Jose Tharappel and is blessed by the bishop of palai Mar Joseph Pallikaparambil in 1998. There are 233 families and 1105 Catholics in this parish. The Feast of St. Sebastian is being celebrated as the main feast of the parish on Jan. 20th. The Marian Medical Centre of St. Clare sisters is here. The religious sisters of Assumption, Carmelite, Adoration, Clare and Sacred Heart etc. are having their hostels within this parish. San Damieno (Provincial House of Claritians), Seraphic Convent, Snehagiri Convent in association with the Pastoral Centre, Kalanilayam F C Convent, Sacred Heart Convent in connection with the Hospital, which is being constructed at Kotaramuttam etc. are the religious houses in this parish. The Pastoral Institute of Pala Diocese, which was blessed on Oct. 25, 1986, St. Philips Hostel in the college compound, C R Hostel etc. are also here. The Congregation of O.C.D. fathers have started a house at Kottaramattam recently.
