St. Thomas Church
Batlagundu, Dindigul Dt. - 624 202.
The Protestants had started their ministry in Batlagundu already in 1834 and the Catholics in and around Batlagundu were small in number and smaller in faith. Msgr Leonard granted the request of the people to make it a parish in 1944, on condition that they supported the priest and they were regular for Sunday attendance. It was bifurcated from Silukkuvarpatty in 1944. The first parish priest was Fr. P.S. Antony who had a measure of success in raising the spiritual standard of Catholics at the centre, but not so in the sub-station of Koilpatti. Fr. G. Packiar, the 4th parish priest erected an iron bell tower near the old church. In 1979 Fr. T.A. Michel constructed a present a new church with asbestos sheet/roof in a Separate place.
During the time of Fr. Ganasandhanam the custom of taking the car procession in the main street of Batalagundu town was started from July 3, 1980. Batalagundu was made in to a new vicariate and Fr. Sebastian was the first Vicar Forane. In 2010 the present church was renovated with fall sealing and new electrical service and in 2012 the same church was renovated with granite flooring by Fr. Jeyaraj which was blessed by Arch Bishop Peter Fernando. The beautiful present bell tower in front of the church was constructed by Fr. Louis in 23-07-2006, which was blessed by archbishop peter Fernando.
Presbytery
In 1988 the new presbytery was built by Fr. Sebastian the first VF of Battlagundu. The old presbytery was demolished by Fr. Gnanapragasam and put up three guests rooms in the same place. Now the present presbytery was renevated by Fr. Jeyaraj.
School
In 1997, the nursery school was started in the old church building by Fr.M. Gnanaprgasm. It was developed in to primary school by Fr. A. Xavier Raj. He constructed a new building for this primary school, in the year 2002. The primary school was upgraded in to Matriculation higher secondary school during the time of Fr. Louis. The diocese took all initiative to construct all the buildings during the time of Fr. Louis and Fr. Jeyaraj. The idea to start the Annai Velanganni Matriculation higher secondary school was initiated by Archbishop Peter Fernando which is one of the best and the biggest schools in this area.
Substations
The followings are the substations of the parish Melakoilpatti, Antoniarpatty, Mariyayeepatty, Vengasthri Kottai, Malayappanpatti, Karatupatty, Ceylone Tamils colony, G.Kallupatti and Muthulapuram. Fr. Sebastian renovated the church in Mariayeepatti. Fr. Ganaprgasam renovated the church in Melakovilpatti. In Gandhinagar a new place was bought at the time of Fr. Louis and a church was built by the diocese. Fr. Jeyaraj renovated the church in Malayappanpatti.
Social background
Only in Battalagundu the Eesanattu kallargal are very prevelant. Most of the people are sent to military services even now and they believe that it is the blessings of St. Xavier who is the patron saint for the people of Melakoilpatti. Most of the women from Melakovilpatti are actively participating in the Evangelization activities.
Vocation
Fr. Sigamani SJ. from Melakovilpatti and Fr. Lazar from Bethany are the two Jesuit priests from Batlagundu parish.
At the formation of the church the people were very poor and small in number too. Now the total population is 750 families.
Life Situation
Most of the people are in military services and software engineers within and outside the country. Most of the women from Bethany are working in the Leonard hospital.
Religious
The CIC sisters started Leprosorium at first in battalagundu, later it was shifted to Nilakottai.
Holy Cross Sisters are doing social services, education ministry, healthcare ministry (Leonard hospital). De La Salle Brothers have an orphanage for boys. Bro. Kingston, a De La Salle brother who pioneered the NGO reaching the unreached by which many people are benefited. Now the administration has been handed over to the capuchins.
Important Event
Melakovilpatti: In 2011 there was tension between Eesanattu kallar Christians and Hindu Dalits. The Christians built a grotto in a place which is common to these both the groups. Later it was demolished by the police which became a big problem between both a communities. But it was smoothly solved by the patient listening and prudent dealing of the parish priest.
Now the active participation of the people in the liturgical activities is highly appreciable due to the initiative of the parish priests. And with the school and hospital run by CIC Sisters and Holy Cross Sisters and the work of Legion of Mary, the parish has greatly improved. The parish priest planned with the help of MMSSS to build houses for the poor of Bethany area and to encourage the charitable works of De La Salle Brothers. Now Capuchin fathers also help the parish priest in the ministry.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. P.S. Antony, Fr. Sicard, sj, Fr. Francis Xavier, Fr. G. Packiar, Fr. Alexis Fernando, sj, Fr. Maria Soosai, Fr. J. Arulanandam, sj, Fr. T. A. Michael, Fr. Gnanasandanam, Fr. Arockiaraj, sj, Fr. Sebastian, Fr. M. Gnanapragasam, Fr. Xavier Raj, Fr. A. Louis, Fr. J. Jeyaraj.
Batlagundu, Dindigul Dt. - 624 202.
The Protestants had started their ministry in Batlagundu already in 1834 and the Catholics in and around Batlagundu were small in number and smaller in faith. Msgr Leonard granted the request of the people to make it a parish in 1944, on condition that they supported the priest and they were regular for Sunday attendance. It was bifurcated from Silukkuvarpatty in 1944. The first parish priest was Fr. P.S. Antony who had a measure of success in raising the spiritual standard of Catholics at the centre, but not so in the sub-station of Koilpatti. Fr. G. Packiar, the 4th parish priest erected an iron bell tower near the old church. In 1979 Fr. T.A. Michel constructed a present a new church with asbestos sheet/roof in a Separate place.
During the time of Fr. Ganasandhanam the custom of taking the car procession in the main street of Batalagundu town was started from July 3, 1980. Batalagundu was made in to a new vicariate and Fr. Sebastian was the first Vicar Forane. In 2010 the present church was renovated with fall sealing and new electrical service and in 2012 the same church was renovated with granite flooring by Fr. Jeyaraj which was blessed by Arch Bishop Peter Fernando. The beautiful present bell tower in front of the church was constructed by Fr. Louis in 23-07-2006, which was blessed by archbishop peter Fernando.
Presbytery
In 1988 the new presbytery was built by Fr. Sebastian the first VF of Battlagundu. The old presbytery was demolished by Fr. Gnanapragasam and put up three guests rooms in the same place. Now the present presbytery was renevated by Fr. Jeyaraj.
School
In 1997, the nursery school was started in the old church building by Fr.M. Gnanaprgasm. It was developed in to primary school by Fr. A. Xavier Raj. He constructed a new building for this primary school, in the year 2002. The primary school was upgraded in to Matriculation higher secondary school during the time of Fr. Louis. The diocese took all initiative to construct all the buildings during the time of Fr. Louis and Fr. Jeyaraj. The idea to start the Annai Velanganni Matriculation higher secondary school was initiated by Archbishop Peter Fernando which is one of the best and the biggest schools in this area.
Substations
The followings are the substations of the parish Melakoilpatti, Antoniarpatty, Mariyayeepatty, Vengasthri Kottai, Malayappanpatti, Karatupatty, Ceylone Tamils colony, G.Kallupatti and Muthulapuram. Fr. Sebastian renovated the church in Mariayeepatti. Fr. Ganaprgasam renovated the church in Melakovilpatti. In Gandhinagar a new place was bought at the time of Fr. Louis and a church was built by the diocese. Fr. Jeyaraj renovated the church in Malayappanpatti.
Social background
Only in Battalagundu the Eesanattu kallargal are very prevelant. Most of the people are sent to military services even now and they believe that it is the blessings of St. Xavier who is the patron saint for the people of Melakoilpatti. Most of the women from Melakovilpatti are actively participating in the Evangelization activities.
Vocation
Fr. Sigamani SJ. from Melakovilpatti and Fr. Lazar from Bethany are the two Jesuit priests from Batlagundu parish.
At the formation of the church the people were very poor and small in number too. Now the total population is 750 families.
Life Situation
Most of the people are in military services and software engineers within and outside the country. Most of the women from Bethany are working in the Leonard hospital.
Religious
The CIC sisters started Leprosorium at first in battalagundu, later it was shifted to Nilakottai.
Holy Cross Sisters are doing social services, education ministry, healthcare ministry (Leonard hospital). De La Salle Brothers have an orphanage for boys. Bro. Kingston, a De La Salle brother who pioneered the NGO reaching the unreached by which many people are benefited. Now the administration has been handed over to the capuchins.
Important Event
Melakovilpatti: In 2011 there was tension between Eesanattu kallar Christians and Hindu Dalits. The Christians built a grotto in a place which is common to these both the groups. Later it was demolished by the police which became a big problem between both a communities. But it was smoothly solved by the patient listening and prudent dealing of the parish priest.
Now the active participation of the people in the liturgical activities is highly appreciable due to the initiative of the parish priests. And with the school and hospital run by CIC Sisters and Holy Cross Sisters and the work of Legion of Mary, the parish has greatly improved. The parish priest planned with the help of MMSSS to build houses for the poor of Bethany area and to encourage the charitable works of De La Salle Brothers. Now Capuchin fathers also help the parish priest in the ministry.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. P.S. Antony, Fr. Sicard, sj, Fr. Francis Xavier, Fr. G. Packiar, Fr. Alexis Fernando, sj, Fr. Maria Soosai, Fr. J. Arulanandam, sj, Fr. T. A. Michael, Fr. Gnanasandanam, Fr. Arockiaraj, sj, Fr. Sebastian, Fr. M. Gnanapragasam, Fr. Xavier Raj, Fr. A. Louis, Fr. J. Jeyaraj.