St. Joseph’s Church
Opp. to Union Office, Aruppukottai-626 101.
Already at the beginning of the last century, the region of Aruppukkottai was very important in the parish of Kamudhi. As Kamudhi parish was too large, Fr. Ignatius Fidelis created a centre in Aruppukkottai. During the time of Fr. Pignol SJ, not Aruppukkottai, but KeelamudiMannarkottai was the focus of attention because of the 500 Catholics living there.During the tenure of Fr. M. Savarimuthu(1969-78) the PP of KM Kottai there was a move to transfer the parish centre to Aruppukkottai. It was given up because of the small number of Catholics there.
However in 21stDecember 1986, during the reign of Archbishop Casimir, a new parish was created in Aruppukkottai with Fr. A. Aruldoss as the parish priest.At that time already there was an old church in Aruppukkottai town with presbytery. So he stayed in a rented house till 1988 a presbytery was constructed in another land of the diocese, which is situated just opposite to the union office of Aruppukottai. However, after the arrival of Fr. James Paul Raj, the second parish priest in 1988, it was opened and blessed by Archbishop Casimir.
During the tenure of Fr. S. James Paul Raj, the Congregation of TertianCarmelites was invited to serve the parish. A group of sisters came in May 1989. They started their ministry by staying in a rented house. Soon they also built a convent near the presbytery. Two sisters of this convent are working in the R.C. Primary school at Pandalgudi, which was started by Fr. ClementMontaudSJ in 1937. In April 1982 a new church was built in Pandalgudi and it was opened and blessed by Archbishop Justin Diraviam. From that onwards the old church became the classrooms of the primary school. Moreover, those sisters were a great help for the parish priest to visit all the substations which were forgotten for so many years. Along with the PP, they used to visit the substations for teaching fundamental catechism to the people. They also started a small English medium school on the parish premise near the presbytery. Later it became a Matric School. During the time of Archbishop Peter one acre land was sold to them with a lease agreement. Fr. James built a school building in Rajagobalapuram with the project money which was applied by Fr. Aruldass, his predecessor.
The next parish priest Fr. A.S. Arulrayanfelt the need for building a new church near the presbytery. Thenew church was constructed as per the proposal of the PP. It was opened and blessed by Archbishop Arokiasamy in 1997. Then came Fr. M. Gnanapragasam whose attention was always towards the spiritual upliftment of the people. He constructed a kurusadifor Our Lady of Velankanni in front of the church. Next Fr. A. Maria Louis came there in 2000. He put up compound wall for the church and constructed a kurusadi for St. Joseph in front of the church. During his time some unknown persons encroached on the land of the old church. With much difficulty, he redeemed the land. After some time, the old church and land were disposed by the diocese.
Fr. M. Dhivyanandam succeeded him in June 2002. He completed construction of the compound wall of the church and started novena prayer service to St. Joseph, the patron of the parish on every Wednesday; regularly taught Sunday catechism. He sent a project appeal for asking fund to build a hall for catechism class. While the money reached the Procurator, he was transferred to Nagamalai.
Fr. Lucas Gnanam came there in 2004. He formed prayer groups and gave much importance for spiritual animation. Fr. S. Jeganathan succeeded him in 2006. With his efforts, church bell was installed. He remodelled the kurusadi of St. Joseph and put there the statue of St. Antony. During his time, alter and the interior of the church were painting and given a new look, first time land for cemetery was bought in 2007, built compound wall for the school in Pandalgudi compound. He made the sisters to be the headmistress in that school. Every week he used to visit Pandalgudi to say mass and visit the houses. Every Friday evening he conducted prayer service in Aruppukkotai.
Fr. L.M. Jeganivasagar has been the parish priest since the year 2009. He formed participatory structures such as Parish council, finance committee and anbiams. In his time, on 20, August 2012 the parish celebrated its Silver Jubilee. Thanks to the financial support of the diocese and generous contribution of the parishioners, in memory of the Jubilee, the entire church was beautifully renovated and a tower was put up over the church.Recently, with the efforts of Fr. L.M. Jeganivasagar, a new school building is constructed in Pandalgudiwith the financial assistance of Manos Unidas, which was blessed on 28th January 2014 by Msgr. Z. Joseph Selvaraj, the vicar General. On the same occasion, a newly built stage, constructed with the generous contribution of the local catholics as well as with some well-wishers outside, was dedicated for the use of the school and local church.
The total population of the area is around one lakh and the Catholics are only 1120 only. Pandalgudi, Anaikkkulam, Crundamadam andChullampattiare the substations of this parish with chapels.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Aruldoss (1986-88), Fr. S. James Paul Raj (1988-92), Fr. A.S. Arul Rayan (1992-97), Fr. M. Gnanapragasam (1997-2000), Fr. A. Maria Louis (2000-2002), Fr. M. Dhivyanandam (2002-2004), Fr. Lucas Gnanam (2004-2006), Fr. S. Jeganathan(2006-2009) and Fr. L.M. Jeganivasagar (2009- )
Opp. to Union Office, Aruppukottai-626 101.
Already at the beginning of the last century, the region of Aruppukkottai was very important in the parish of Kamudhi. As Kamudhi parish was too large, Fr. Ignatius Fidelis created a centre in Aruppukkottai. During the time of Fr. Pignol SJ, not Aruppukkottai, but KeelamudiMannarkottai was the focus of attention because of the 500 Catholics living there.During the tenure of Fr. M. Savarimuthu(1969-78) the PP of KM Kottai there was a move to transfer the parish centre to Aruppukkottai. It was given up because of the small number of Catholics there.
However in 21stDecember 1986, during the reign of Archbishop Casimir, a new parish was created in Aruppukkottai with Fr. A. Aruldoss as the parish priest.At that time already there was an old church in Aruppukkottai town with presbytery. So he stayed in a rented house till 1988 a presbytery was constructed in another land of the diocese, which is situated just opposite to the union office of Aruppukottai. However, after the arrival of Fr. James Paul Raj, the second parish priest in 1988, it was opened and blessed by Archbishop Casimir.
During the tenure of Fr. S. James Paul Raj, the Congregation of TertianCarmelites was invited to serve the parish. A group of sisters came in May 1989. They started their ministry by staying in a rented house. Soon they also built a convent near the presbytery. Two sisters of this convent are working in the R.C. Primary school at Pandalgudi, which was started by Fr. ClementMontaudSJ in 1937. In April 1982 a new church was built in Pandalgudi and it was opened and blessed by Archbishop Justin Diraviam. From that onwards the old church became the classrooms of the primary school. Moreover, those sisters were a great help for the parish priest to visit all the substations which were forgotten for so many years. Along with the PP, they used to visit the substations for teaching fundamental catechism to the people. They also started a small English medium school on the parish premise near the presbytery. Later it became a Matric School. During the time of Archbishop Peter one acre land was sold to them with a lease agreement. Fr. James built a school building in Rajagobalapuram with the project money which was applied by Fr. Aruldass, his predecessor.
The next parish priest Fr. A.S. Arulrayanfelt the need for building a new church near the presbytery. Thenew church was constructed as per the proposal of the PP. It was opened and blessed by Archbishop Arokiasamy in 1997. Then came Fr. M. Gnanapragasam whose attention was always towards the spiritual upliftment of the people. He constructed a kurusadifor Our Lady of Velankanni in front of the church. Next Fr. A. Maria Louis came there in 2000. He put up compound wall for the church and constructed a kurusadi for St. Joseph in front of the church. During his time some unknown persons encroached on the land of the old church. With much difficulty, he redeemed the land. After some time, the old church and land were disposed by the diocese.
Fr. M. Dhivyanandam succeeded him in June 2002. He completed construction of the compound wall of the church and started novena prayer service to St. Joseph, the patron of the parish on every Wednesday; regularly taught Sunday catechism. He sent a project appeal for asking fund to build a hall for catechism class. While the money reached the Procurator, he was transferred to Nagamalai.
Fr. Lucas Gnanam came there in 2004. He formed prayer groups and gave much importance for spiritual animation. Fr. S. Jeganathan succeeded him in 2006. With his efforts, church bell was installed. He remodelled the kurusadi of St. Joseph and put there the statue of St. Antony. During his time, alter and the interior of the church were painting and given a new look, first time land for cemetery was bought in 2007, built compound wall for the school in Pandalgudi compound. He made the sisters to be the headmistress in that school. Every week he used to visit Pandalgudi to say mass and visit the houses. Every Friday evening he conducted prayer service in Aruppukkotai.
Fr. L.M. Jeganivasagar has been the parish priest since the year 2009. He formed participatory structures such as Parish council, finance committee and anbiams. In his time, on 20, August 2012 the parish celebrated its Silver Jubilee. Thanks to the financial support of the diocese and generous contribution of the parishioners, in memory of the Jubilee, the entire church was beautifully renovated and a tower was put up over the church.Recently, with the efforts of Fr. L.M. Jeganivasagar, a new school building is constructed in Pandalgudiwith the financial assistance of Manos Unidas, which was blessed on 28th January 2014 by Msgr. Z. Joseph Selvaraj, the vicar General. On the same occasion, a newly built stage, constructed with the generous contribution of the local catholics as well as with some well-wishers outside, was dedicated for the use of the school and local church.
The total population of the area is around one lakh and the Catholics are only 1120 only. Pandalgudi, Anaikkkulam, Crundamadam andChullampattiare the substations of this parish with chapels.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Aruldoss (1986-88), Fr. S. James Paul Raj (1988-92), Fr. A.S. Arul Rayan (1992-97), Fr. M. Gnanapragasam (1997-2000), Fr. A. Maria Louis (2000-2002), Fr. M. Dhivyanandam (2002-2004), Fr. Lucas Gnanam (2004-2006), Fr. S. Jeganathan(2006-2009) and Fr. L.M. Jeganivasagar (2009- )