Holy Spirit Church
Hanumanthanpatty, Uthamapalayam (Via), Theni Dt. - 625 533.
Substations:
Pudupatti, Kombai
In the begining people working in the estate sectled there. There were only a very few families. Though they were poor, they were god fearing. Following the example of Hanumanthanpatti people of Pudupatti and Kombai embraced christianity. In pudupatti the small chapel got collapsed in the year 1955. Later, they erected a thatched shead for chaple. In the year, 2006 it was rebuilt as a new one. Now, altogethu there are 120 families one there.
Cumbum :
Initially, the whole area was full of thick forests and fields. Since, it primarily depurded on the occassional rain, it was known as “Kadu” or “Vanam” Later, it was called as cumbum. Only after the commissioning of Malliperiyar dam, agriculture shot up. Most of the people were Estate workers and agricultural labouers. When Fr. Y. Arockiam was the parish priest, he could win a degal case against a Hindu who tried to grab the property in the main road. Now, it has housed a bank and a shoping complex. And, it was he who designed and built a nice chapel in cumbum. Considering the growth in number as well on in christion way of life, it may be elevated as an independent parish.
Gudalur :
They have migrated for sambalthattu of Nagarkoil to Gudalur, for about 100 yers ageo. Ealier there were 100 families. Now, many home given up their faith and a few have gone to other denomination. Though people, in lower camp, kakil chichampatti and Angurpalayam are nere few in number, they are stanch in their faith.
The Kurusadi of Our Lady of Bon Voyage near by Kumuli, chaws many more people as pilgrims. People take out a holy pilgrimay during the lenten season.
Properties :
A good number of acres of land as well as shopping complex are beneficial in making the parish as a self-sustainable one.
Todays life situation :
With all its tradition and services of the old minarionary and the present priests, still there is a big scope for various apostolate. There is plenty before us to contiue in the tradition of yester years.
Hanumanthanpatty was a sub-station of Sillukuvarpatti. In 1883 Fr. Berthieu built the first presbytery in Hanumanthanpatty and in 1889 it was detached from Silukkuvarpatty and made a separate parish. Then Rayappanpatti, Sindalachrery, Theni, Periyakulam and Chinnamanur were part of Hanumanthanpatty parish.
The first parish priest was Fr. F.X. Pancro, sj in 1881. He took initial efforts to build the Holy Ghost Church. During 1882 to 1889, Fr. Bertheiu, sj served as the parish priest. He designed the central part of the church. Fr. John Tiessel, sj was the parish priest from 1889 to 1892. The priests who followed him were: Francis Andrey, sj (1892-95), Fr. Joseph Pages, sj (1895-96), Fr. Antony Didedric, sj (1896-1901), Fr. Peter Sekredine, sj (1901-13) who started building the church at Rayappanpatti. The first Indian priest to work here was Fr. Santhappar, sj. He served here from 1921 to 1922. Fr. Othiran, sj served from 1922 to 1926. Sinthalacheri parish was formed in 1924. Fr. Quini who worked as parish priest from 1926 to 1931 tried to construct churches at Thevaram, Kombai and gudalur. The next parish priest was Fr. Piccard, sj others who followed him were: Fr. Appavu, sj first Tamil priest (1940-47, Fr. Hagen, sj (1947-59), Fr. Susai Michael Raj (1959), Fr. V.M. Irudayam (1959-66). Fr. P.C.Chacko (1969-73) Fr. De Cruz (1973-76).
Building the church in Hanumanthampatty was begun at the end of the last century and built up little by little by different French missionaries till it was completed with the tower by Fr. P.C. Chacko (1969-73) from the donations he personally collected in Malaysia. When Fr. De Cruz was parish priest (1973-1976), Fr. G. Packiaraj, sj the first son of the soil was ordained.
The parish was then entrusted to the Carmelites (whose earlier member Fr. Pierre Paul had been refused entrance to Hanumanthampatty in 1682). During the period of the Carmelites the presbytery in its present shape was completed. The compound wall was put up. The elementary school became middle school; the poor were provided with houses and protection of their land through MMSSS. A piece of land was bought and a church was built in Aankadar at the cost of Rs.40, 000. The cemetery in Kambam was recovered from the illegal possession of a Hindu high caste person and it was protected with a compound wall. The sub-station at Uthamapalayam got a new church in 1979. The top storey of St. Joseph’s Middle School, run by Sisters of St. Anne, was constructed. The basement structure to house the present Perianayaki Middle School later to be made a High School was blessed by the Carmelite General who came from Rome.
Fr. Thomas John ocd bought five acres of land near the water tank to build a Carmel Ashram. When he could not succeed, the land was sold to people around at a nominal rate and thus emerged ‘Thomas Colony’.
Vincent de Paul Society was started in Cumbum, Uthamapalayam and Hanumanthampatty. The sub-stations get Masses on all Sundays and novena of our Lady of Perpetual Succour on Wednesdays and Fridays. Fr. Vimi Charli got the towers completed and Fr. Peter Sahaya Raj renovated the church.
Fr. Vimi Charli was proud to speak of the young men of the place who served in Colleges and Schools as teachers, of the Sisters who visited houses, helped the rectification of marriages and of the tailoring institute for girls.
Hanumanthampatty had a Catholic poet, Mr. Anthonymuthu (1863-1920) the grandfather of Fr. G. Packiaraj, sj who published his poems. This book ‘Santhamar Sinthukkavithaikal’ contains religious themes like ‘Thiru Iratchaniya Sinthu’, social themes like ‘Plague Sinthu’, ‘Puthukkal Sinthu’ and even dialogical themes like ‘Sarama Kavikal’ which shows his attachment to a Muslim, Angoor Nainar Ravuthar of Kambam. His devotional hymns are still sung in the village. His poems show his tender devotion to Our Lady. It is refreshing to know that the poetic muse lives on in that family of Mr. Antonimuthu. His son Mr. Asirvatham has written hymns on God, Christ, Mary etc., in the classical tunes used by non-Christians. Mr. Andrews was another poet who wrote ‘Villuppattu’ on Christian themes, poems on the way of the cross etc. His manuscript poems on the scientific Basis of Christian faith (Kristhuvil Meignanat Thoondal) and his ‘Narpavai Narpathu’ a close adaptation of Tiruppavai and Tiruvembavai, the Tamil literature of Hindus sung in Margali (December), deserve study and encouragement.
This parish enjoys the services of St. Anne’s Sisters of Trichy and the Seva Missionary Sisters. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of St. Vincent de Paul Society, Society of Our Lady of Dolours and Immaculate Conception of Mary’s Society.
The following are the substations of this parish:St. Antony’s Church(Kokkilsikkayanpatty), St. Lourdes Church(C. Pudupatty), Annai Velankanni Church (Cumbum), St. Joseph’s Church(Gudalore), Lower Camp and Angoorpalayam.
Succession of Parish priests
(From 1976-84the Carmeliltes) Fr. Stephen Mary, Fr. Samuel, Fr. Zacharias, Fr. Gerard, Fr. Alex. Fr. Thomas John. Fr. Sebastian Mundacheri, Fr. Silvister, Fr. Peter Soosairaj. (From 1985 onwardsthe Diocesan Priests)Fr. Jeganathan, Fr. Valentine Joseph, Fr. Vimi Charli, Fr. Y. Arockiam, Fr. James Paulraj, Fr. Joseph, Fr. Arockiaraj, Fr. Peter Sahayraj, Fr. A. Antony Samy (2013- )
Hanumanthanpatty, Uthamapalayam (Via), Theni Dt. - 625 533.
Substations:
Pudupatti, Kombai
In the begining people working in the estate sectled there. There were only a very few families. Though they were poor, they were god fearing. Following the example of Hanumanthanpatti people of Pudupatti and Kombai embraced christianity. In pudupatti the small chapel got collapsed in the year 1955. Later, they erected a thatched shead for chaple. In the year, 2006 it was rebuilt as a new one. Now, altogethu there are 120 families one there.
Cumbum :
Initially, the whole area was full of thick forests and fields. Since, it primarily depurded on the occassional rain, it was known as “Kadu” or “Vanam” Later, it was called as cumbum. Only after the commissioning of Malliperiyar dam, agriculture shot up. Most of the people were Estate workers and agricultural labouers. When Fr. Y. Arockiam was the parish priest, he could win a degal case against a Hindu who tried to grab the property in the main road. Now, it has housed a bank and a shoping complex. And, it was he who designed and built a nice chapel in cumbum. Considering the growth in number as well on in christion way of life, it may be elevated as an independent parish.
Gudalur :
They have migrated for sambalthattu of Nagarkoil to Gudalur, for about 100 yers ageo. Ealier there were 100 families. Now, many home given up their faith and a few have gone to other denomination. Though people, in lower camp, kakil chichampatti and Angurpalayam are nere few in number, they are stanch in their faith.
The Kurusadi of Our Lady of Bon Voyage near by Kumuli, chaws many more people as pilgrims. People take out a holy pilgrimay during the lenten season.
Properties :
A good number of acres of land as well as shopping complex are beneficial in making the parish as a self-sustainable one.
Todays life situation :
With all its tradition and services of the old minarionary and the present priests, still there is a big scope for various apostolate. There is plenty before us to contiue in the tradition of yester years.
Hanumanthanpatty was a sub-station of Sillukuvarpatti. In 1883 Fr. Berthieu built the first presbytery in Hanumanthanpatty and in 1889 it was detached from Silukkuvarpatty and made a separate parish. Then Rayappanpatti, Sindalachrery, Theni, Periyakulam and Chinnamanur were part of Hanumanthanpatty parish.
The first parish priest was Fr. F.X. Pancro, sj in 1881. He took initial efforts to build the Holy Ghost Church. During 1882 to 1889, Fr. Bertheiu, sj served as the parish priest. He designed the central part of the church. Fr. John Tiessel, sj was the parish priest from 1889 to 1892. The priests who followed him were: Francis Andrey, sj (1892-95), Fr. Joseph Pages, sj (1895-96), Fr. Antony Didedric, sj (1896-1901), Fr. Peter Sekredine, sj (1901-13) who started building the church at Rayappanpatti. The first Indian priest to work here was Fr. Santhappar, sj. He served here from 1921 to 1922. Fr. Othiran, sj served from 1922 to 1926. Sinthalacheri parish was formed in 1924. Fr. Quini who worked as parish priest from 1926 to 1931 tried to construct churches at Thevaram, Kombai and gudalur. The next parish priest was Fr. Piccard, sj others who followed him were: Fr. Appavu, sj first Tamil priest (1940-47, Fr. Hagen, sj (1947-59), Fr. Susai Michael Raj (1959), Fr. V.M. Irudayam (1959-66). Fr. P.C.Chacko (1969-73) Fr. De Cruz (1973-76).
Building the church in Hanumanthampatty was begun at the end of the last century and built up little by little by different French missionaries till it was completed with the tower by Fr. P.C. Chacko (1969-73) from the donations he personally collected in Malaysia. When Fr. De Cruz was parish priest (1973-1976), Fr. G. Packiaraj, sj the first son of the soil was ordained.
The parish was then entrusted to the Carmelites (whose earlier member Fr. Pierre Paul had been refused entrance to Hanumanthampatty in 1682). During the period of the Carmelites the presbytery in its present shape was completed. The compound wall was put up. The elementary school became middle school; the poor were provided with houses and protection of their land through MMSSS. A piece of land was bought and a church was built in Aankadar at the cost of Rs.40, 000. The cemetery in Kambam was recovered from the illegal possession of a Hindu high caste person and it was protected with a compound wall. The sub-station at Uthamapalayam got a new church in 1979. The top storey of St. Joseph’s Middle School, run by Sisters of St. Anne, was constructed. The basement structure to house the present Perianayaki Middle School later to be made a High School was blessed by the Carmelite General who came from Rome.
Fr. Thomas John ocd bought five acres of land near the water tank to build a Carmel Ashram. When he could not succeed, the land was sold to people around at a nominal rate and thus emerged ‘Thomas Colony’.
Vincent de Paul Society was started in Cumbum, Uthamapalayam and Hanumanthampatty. The sub-stations get Masses on all Sundays and novena of our Lady of Perpetual Succour on Wednesdays and Fridays. Fr. Vimi Charli got the towers completed and Fr. Peter Sahaya Raj renovated the church.
Fr. Vimi Charli was proud to speak of the young men of the place who served in Colleges and Schools as teachers, of the Sisters who visited houses, helped the rectification of marriages and of the tailoring institute for girls.
Hanumanthampatty had a Catholic poet, Mr. Anthonymuthu (1863-1920) the grandfather of Fr. G. Packiaraj, sj who published his poems. This book ‘Santhamar Sinthukkavithaikal’ contains religious themes like ‘Thiru Iratchaniya Sinthu’, social themes like ‘Plague Sinthu’, ‘Puthukkal Sinthu’ and even dialogical themes like ‘Sarama Kavikal’ which shows his attachment to a Muslim, Angoor Nainar Ravuthar of Kambam. His devotional hymns are still sung in the village. His poems show his tender devotion to Our Lady. It is refreshing to know that the poetic muse lives on in that family of Mr. Antonimuthu. His son Mr. Asirvatham has written hymns on God, Christ, Mary etc., in the classical tunes used by non-Christians. Mr. Andrews was another poet who wrote ‘Villuppattu’ on Christian themes, poems on the way of the cross etc. His manuscript poems on the scientific Basis of Christian faith (Kristhuvil Meignanat Thoondal) and his ‘Narpavai Narpathu’ a close adaptation of Tiruppavai and Tiruvembavai, the Tamil literature of Hindus sung in Margali (December), deserve study and encouragement.
This parish enjoys the services of St. Anne’s Sisters of Trichy and the Seva Missionary Sisters. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of St. Vincent de Paul Society, Society of Our Lady of Dolours and Immaculate Conception of Mary’s Society.
The following are the substations of this parish:St. Antony’s Church(Kokkilsikkayanpatty), St. Lourdes Church(C. Pudupatty), Annai Velankanni Church (Cumbum), St. Joseph’s Church(Gudalore), Lower Camp and Angoorpalayam.
Succession of Parish priests
(From 1976-84the Carmeliltes) Fr. Stephen Mary, Fr. Samuel, Fr. Zacharias, Fr. Gerard, Fr. Alex. Fr. Thomas John. Fr. Sebastian Mundacheri, Fr. Silvister, Fr. Peter Soosairaj. (From 1985 onwardsthe Diocesan Priests)Fr. Jeganathan, Fr. Valentine Joseph, Fr. Vimi Charli, Fr. Y. Arockiam, Fr. James Paulraj, Fr. Joseph, Fr. Arockiaraj, Fr. Peter Sahayraj, Fr. A. Antony Samy (2013- )