The church built in 1551 A.D. proved inadequate. To commemorate the 19th centenary of St. Tho mas Martyredom in 1972, a circular church was built at Little Mount. 

The annual feast of the church dedicated to Our Lady of Health is celebrated on the fourth Sunday after easter. Pilgrims from all over South India both Christians and non-christians flock to this pilgrim centre-year after year. There is a great awareness and awakening to the cult, Veneration and honour to our Apostle Thomas.

There is an interesting incident about our Apostle at the time of burial. corn’ and sl. The body of the Saint was brought to San Thome in great veneration and piety. They burried him in the church, which he himself built, together with the stone which had the foot prints on it, and the sand with blood. But the right arm resisted burial. Their attempts to push it down failed. The arm of the Apostle remained outside the grave unburried. The people covered the arm with a silk cloth.

Dionysio attests to this fact. Devotees used to kiss the hand. Monserrate, suggests that the arm refused to be burried, because it had touched the Sacred side of our Lord. Though his remains, relics, were taken away to Edessa and Ortona, he still lives with us. His extending and protecting hand is over us and our country.Pope Paul VI sent his legate, His Eminence, the Cardinal Convey, for the 19th centenary cel ebrations of St. Thomas at Madras in the 1972. year

On the final concluding day speech, the Cardi nal Convey, declared, as the representative of the Holy Father Pope Paul VI that St. Thomas is the Patron Apostle of India. It is an official declaration from the Holy See.

In the Acts of the Apostles we read “so many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles”. Even to day people come with faith to the holy places of the apostles get the same favours as when they were alive.