[1][2] He lived in a grotto cavern on the seaward face of a cliff and held mass at a chapel of the Captain's Cross, built close to the sea from a ship's mast after a storm in 1540.

In 1583, The relic of the True Cross, sent by Pope Gregory XIII, arrived at Manapad, after a grand tour along the coastal belt with halts in the places of Catholic predominance.

Every year, from 1st to 14th of September, the relic of the True Cross is publicly displayed to thousands who attend the festival season.

The captain, who was devoted to the veneration of the Holy Cross, implored and entrusted the safety of the vessel and that of the crew to Christ.

The movie Neethaane En Ponvasantham had a climax shootout there and the coverage exposed the place to many Tamil people.