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1. The St. Paul's Church Vakakkad is situated on the side of the Moonnilavu - Konippadu - Melukavu Road, one Kilometer away from Moonnilavu (Kottayam District, Meenachil Taluk).The majority of the original inhabitants of Vakakkad were the native 'Malaarayans'. The Catholics here are the migrants from Plassanal, Ampara and Pravithanam. The St. Paul's Church was founded in 1898 by Rev. Fr. Antony Elanjimattam, from the Parish of Bharananganam, under the Diocese of Verapoly. The land for the Church (15 "Para Vithu Padam") was donated by a Malaarayan Chacko Karottumundoor from Erumapra who later became a Christian. The first Church was constructed by the Archbishop of Verapoly and the liturgical services in the Church lasted only for three years. As a result of the ardent desires of the Catholics of the place and the request of Mar Thomas Kurialassery, the Bishop of Changanacherry, the St. Paul's Church and its property were donated to him by the Archbishop of Verapoly. Thus on the day of the conversion of St. Paul, 25th January 1916, St. Paul's Church was restored and the Holy Mass on Sundays began to be said by the Priests from Bharananganam. As the first Vicar of the Parish, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Mukkattukunnel from Kurumpanadam Parish, took charge of it on 9th June 1916 and resided in the closed verandah of the church. He baptized several of the inhabitants into Christianity. He bought 8.32 Acres of land for the church, established a Primary School in 1924 and built the Presbytery nearby the church in 1925. He started also the Clarist convent at Vakakkad in the name of the Little Flower. He was transferred from here on 23rd February 1929. The Parish Church was rebuilt (106ft long and 36ft wide) at the time of the Vicar Fr. Kurian Pandiyanmackal (1929-1935). The work of the Madbaha was completed by the Vicar, Fr. Joseph Koodathinal (1935-1942). In 1985 Fr. Sebastian Maniyakupara took the initiative to extend the church building and also constructed the new Mughavaram. Fr. Mathew Thekkel reconstructed the whole church: renewing the Altar and Madbaha, paneling the Madbaha and Haikala, embellishing the whole floor of the church with Marble and also renewing the roof of the Church.

2. The Parish Priests (Vicars)

Fr. Geevarghese Mukkattukunnel (1916-1929), Fr. Kurian Pandiyanmackal (1929-1935), Fr. Joseph Koodathinal (1935-1942), Fr. Cyriac Muthukattil (1942-1951), Fr. Mathew Varakilparampil (1951-1953), Fr. Sebastian Puthusserithottiyil (1953-1957), Fr. Jacob Thazhathel (1957-1965), Fr. Augustine Thamarasseriyil (1965-1966), Fr. Mathew Kuzhinjalil (1966-1973), Fr. Joseph Nedumpurath (1973-1977), Fr. Joseph Olickal (1977-1983), Fr. Sebastian Maniyakupara (1983-1989), Fr. George Puravakkatt (1989-1990), Fr. Kuriakose Narithookkil (1990-1993), Fr. Mathew Kurisummoottil (1993-1998), Fr. Kuriakose Pangottil (1998-2003), Fr. Mathew Thekkel (2003-2008), Fr. Jacob Vadakkel (2008-).

3. The Filial Churches which later became autonomous Parishes

1. Edamaruku St. Antony's Church: Starting as a filial Church at Nechikattupara (present Edamaruku) in 1917 under the initiative of Fr. Geevarghese Mukkattukunnel, became an independent parish in 1924. 2. Moonnilavu St. Mary's Church: 1n 1948 Fr. Kuriakose Muthukattil took the initiative for the establishment of the Moonilavu church and it became autonomous in 1965. 3. Nellappara St. Mary's Church: Its origin goes back to 1944. In 1962 began the Sunday Masses here, celebrated by the Assistant Vicars from Vakakkad Church. In 1975, it became an independent parish.

4. Anchumala Kalvarymount Our Lady of Dolours Church

It was the initiative and great achievement of Rev. Fr. Mathew Kurisummoottil the origin of the Kalvary Mount Lady of the Dolours Church and the subsequent development of the place. In March 1993 the land for the church (50 cents and 58 "virippu") was bought and on 9thApril 1993 erected a Holy Cross there. A temporary chapel was built there in 1993 and started saying Holy Mass on Sundays. Within 1995-97, Fr. Mathew Kurisummoottil could finish the work of the new church with 60 ft length and 30 ft width. The consecration of the Church was done by His Exc. Mar Joseph Pallickaparampil on 24th November 1998.

5. Rosa Mystica Matha Kurissady

The devotion to the Rosa Mystica Matha here was started by Fr. Mathew Kurisummoottil. The Grotto of it, situated at the Vakakkad - Mooonilavu roadside, too was constructed under his guidance in 1997. Since then is the Marian feast celebrated every 13th of the month.

6. Vakakkad Convent

In 1927, Fr. Geevarghese Mukkattukunnel started a Franciscan Clarist Convent in the name of the Little Flower. The Convent became a pilgrim centre due to the St. Alphonsa's residence here during her teaching ministry at Vakakkad School. The relics of the Saint too are preserved here.

7. St. Alphonsa's Shrine and Vidyarambakalari

Fr. Mathew Kurisummoottil founded in 1995 an 'Aksharagnanaarambha Kalari' in front of St. Alphonsa's Girls High School as a memorial of St. Alphonsa's teaching at Vakakkad. Since then a lot of children are brought to the Kalari for 'the Vidyarambham' every year on 29th July, the day of the local celebration of the Feast of the Saint Alphonsa, and also at random. This Kalari was reconstructed in 2009 as a special Memento of the Canonization of the Saint and since then it functions also as a Shrine of the Saint.

8. The Schools

A Malayalam Primary Grant School was started here in 1924 at the time of the ministry of the first Vicar Fr. Geevarghese Mukkattukunnel. St. Alphonsa taught here in 1933. At the time of the ministry of Fr. Cyriac Muthukattil (1942-1951) was built the building of the Primary School - the present main building of the Alphonsa's Girls High School. At the same time he built and started The Cambridge School at Moonnilavu. Later this School developed into a Middle School and High School. In 1953 Moonnilavu High School became bifurcated: the Girls' section starting as Alphonsa Girls High School at Vakakkad and the Boys' section remaining at Moonnilavu as St. Paul's High School.

7. The Priests from the Parish

1. Fr. T.C. Joseph Thazhathel (Palai Dioc.,Ord. 21. 12. 1937, death in 2005) 2. Fr. Jacob Thazhathel (Palai Dioc.,Ord. 21.12.1937) 3. Fr. Alphons Kadaliyil (Ofm. Cap: Ord.17.3. 1945, death in 2008) 4. Fr. George Narikatt (Palai Diocese., Ord. 18.3.1950, death in 2006) 5. Fr. Thomas Cheruvallil (Patna Dioc., Ord. 3.12.1959) 6. Fr. Mathew Moothedath (Palai Dioc., Ord. 16.3.1976) 7. Fr. Santhosh Elamthuruthil (Jabalpur Dio.,Ord. 10.11.1976) 8. Fr. Jos Chunkapura (SDB., Ord. 2.1.1982) 9. Fr. Thomas Mannoor (Palai Dioc., Ord. 30.12.1988) 10.Fr. Martin Mankunnath (Ord. 19.4.1994) 11. Fr. George Kapiyankal (SDB., Ord. 1.1.2004) 12. Fr. Biju Junnackatt (Palai Dioc., Ord. 29.12.2005) 13. Fr. Joby Panthalany (SIC., Ord. 26.11.2008)'

There are more than 47 Religious Sisters too from the parish serving the Lord and the people in different parts of the world.

The Feasts: The Patron Saint of the Parish, St. Paul's Feast is celebrated traditionally on the first Sunday of February; St. Alphonsa's Feast is on 29th July, the Feast of Our Lady of the Dolours at Kalvary mount is on the Sunday after the Feast of Our Lady of the Dolours; and the Feast of the Rosa Mystica Matha is on 13th of every month.