St. Antony’s Church
Ayravathanallur, Viraganur (P.O), Madurai-625 009.
Ayravathanallur is in the eastern outskirts of Madurai city. It is situated on on Rameswaram Road, at the 10 kilometer from Madurai Railway station. Most of the people are landless agricultural labourers and unorganized workers. Some are teachers and government employees. Earlier Ayravathanallur had been a substation of Our Lady of Dolours, Cathedral parish for 75 years. The number of Christian families in the suburban town increased considerably in1990s. Looking at their strong faith and enthusiasm to form a parish community, the then Archbishop Arokiasamy raised it to the status of a parish on 11 June 1994. Fr. M. Maria Raj was the first parish priest. It is to be noted that a couple of faithful members of this parish community had donated their properties generously for the construction of the present parochial Church, R.C. Primary School and the presbytery. Silaimaan, Viraganur, teacher’s colony, Tepakkulam, Mettutheru, Anupanadi Teachers’ Colony, Adaikalam Colony, Babu Nagaar, Manicka Nagar and Satya Nagar are the areas that come under the jurisdiction of the parish.
At present the parish community has 190 Catholic families amounting to a total number of 760 members. The present Church was constructed on 16 December 1989. The present presbytery was built on 01 December 1992. The church was renovated by Fr. Cyprian who built the two wings of the church, the compound wall and the grotto. The entire cost of the construction (a.sixty lakhs) was borne by the parishioners who made substantial contribution and collected from donors. The new church was rededicated and consecrated by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 19 February 2012. A vacant land of 10 cents, lying at the back of the church, had been donated by a member of the parish which can be used for future development.
St.Sebastine’s chapel at Melavadakkur, a substation, was constructed in 1996 by Fr. Mariaraj. This substation has an R.C. Primary school run by our diocese. Two teachers are working in that school.
St. Peter’s College and CIC Provincialate are located in this parish. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, youth Association for boys & girls, altar boys – yesuvin kanmanigal, Kolping society, evangelical group, Tamil welfare group and liturgical committee.
Succession of parish priests
Fr. M. Maria Raj (1994-2001), Fr. D. Susai Michael Raj (2001-06), Fr. M. Appolin Claret Raj (2006-07); Fr. S. Cyprian (2007-12); Fr.G. Antony Raj (2012); Fr. M. John Diraviam (2013).
Ayravathanallur, Viraganur (P.O), Madurai-625 009.
Ayravathanallur is in the eastern outskirts of Madurai city. It is situated on on Rameswaram Road, at the 10 kilometer from Madurai Railway station. Most of the people are landless agricultural labourers and unorganized workers. Some are teachers and government employees. Earlier Ayravathanallur had been a substation of Our Lady of Dolours, Cathedral parish for 75 years. The number of Christian families in the suburban town increased considerably in1990s. Looking at their strong faith and enthusiasm to form a parish community, the then Archbishop Arokiasamy raised it to the status of a parish on 11 June 1994. Fr. M. Maria Raj was the first parish priest. It is to be noted that a couple of faithful members of this parish community had donated their properties generously for the construction of the present parochial Church, R.C. Primary School and the presbytery. Silaimaan, Viraganur, teacher’s colony, Tepakkulam, Mettutheru, Anupanadi Teachers’ Colony, Adaikalam Colony, Babu Nagaar, Manicka Nagar and Satya Nagar are the areas that come under the jurisdiction of the parish.
At present the parish community has 190 Catholic families amounting to a total number of 760 members. The present Church was constructed on 16 December 1989. The present presbytery was built on 01 December 1992. The church was renovated by Fr. Cyprian who built the two wings of the church, the compound wall and the grotto. The entire cost of the construction (a.sixty lakhs) was borne by the parishioners who made substantial contribution and collected from donors. The new church was rededicated and consecrated by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 19 February 2012. A vacant land of 10 cents, lying at the back of the church, had been donated by a member of the parish which can be used for future development.
St.Sebastine’s chapel at Melavadakkur, a substation, was constructed in 1996 by Fr. Mariaraj. This substation has an R.C. Primary school run by our diocese. Two teachers are working in that school.
St. Peter’s College and CIC Provincialate are located in this parish. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, youth Association for boys & girls, altar boys – yesuvin kanmanigal, Kolping society, evangelical group, Tamil welfare group and liturgical committee.
Succession of parish priests
Fr. M. Maria Raj (1994-2001), Fr. D. Susai Michael Raj (2001-06), Fr. M. Appolin Claret Raj (2006-07); Fr. S. Cyprian (2007-12); Fr.G. Antony Raj (2012); Fr. M. John Diraviam (2013).