Infant Jesus Cathedral

Infant Jesus Cathedral
Infant Jesus Cathedral, Tangasseri
Infant Jesus Cathedral of Quilon at Tangasseri
8°53′05″N 76°33′57″E / 8.884644°N 76.565856°E / 8.884644; 76.565856
Location	Tangasseri, Kollam(Quilon)
Country	India
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Churchmanship	High church
History
Former name(s)	Bom Jesu Church
Founded	AD 1614
Dedication	Saint Francis Xavier
Architecture
Status	Church
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Portuguese
Completed	1614
Administration
Parish	Tangasseri
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon
Province	Kollam
District	Kollam
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Stanley Roman
Vicar(s)	Fr. Joseph John

The Infant Jesus Cathedral is a historic Roman Catholic church established by Portuguese during 1614, situated at Tangasseri in the city of Quilon (Kollam), India. It is now the pro-cathedral of Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon, the ancient and first catholic diocese of India. The Church remains as a memento of the Portuguese rule of old Quilon city.

The history of Infant Jesus Cathedral dates back to 1503 when Tangasseri came under the control of the Portuguese. The Portuguese who came to Quilon in 1503 led by Afonso de Albuquerque made Tangasseri a well fortified city by building a fort, which was called San Thome Fort (known as St. Thomas Fort). Saint Francis Xavier established a church, a college(San Salvadore College), a printing press(San Salvadore seminary Press), and a religious study centre at Tangasseri during his visits in 1544 and 1549. In 1614, the Portuguese established the Infant Jesus church in its present location.

Later in 1661, Dutch gained control of Tangasseri and started deteriorating churches and other structures built by Portuguese. But in 1789, the Carmelites missionaries, who have arrived Quilon renovated this church and named it the Bom Jesu Church. In 1838 when Malabar Vicariate was erected with Verapoly as headquarters, Quilon was joined to it. Tangasseri retained its pivotal position in ecclesiastical parlance and became the base for Carmelite expeditions. Quilon vicariate was formed in 1845. Messenger Charles Hyacinth Valerga, pro-vicar Apostolic of Quilon died in Tangasseri on December 24, 1864 and was buried in the church. His successor Msgr. Maria Ephrem Carrelon was consecrated in Tangasseri in 1866.

Infant Jesus Church has been serving as the pro-cathedral of Kollam Diocese since 1886. Mortal remains of former Bishop of Quilon, Fr. Bishop Jerome M. Fernandez are also buried in the Infant Jesus Cathedral.