Maximillian Kolbe church, Mangalam is a Salesian parish situated in the Western coastal area of the Arabian Sea consisting of about 650 catholic families under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Alappuzha. Initially, this parish, as a substation, was handed over to the Salesians by His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Peter M. Chenaparampil, Bishop of Alappuzha, in the year 1998. On 21st November 2003, the new Church was blessed by Rev. Dr Stephen Athipozhiyil, the Bishop of Alappuzha and declared as a parish.

The majority of the people belong to the fisherfolk community and fall under the category of low-income groups. Fishing and coir industry which provide only seasonal employment are the major sources of livelihood. Unemployment and lack of proper educational opportunities are the predominant concerns of the people.