St. Antony’s Church
Kadachenendal, Kathakinaru (P.O), Madurai-625 107.
Kadachanendal is a place 5 Kms away from K.Pudur on the way to azhagar kovil. Thirty years ago Kattunayakkan Community headed by Mr. Vedamuthu (Velu Muthu) got a favour from St. Antony (Puliampatty) and so his family members kept St. Antony’s statue in their house and started praying. There were no Christians at that time in that locality then. When the Christians started settling in Kadachanendal area, the devotion to St. Antony became popular. The people of Kattunayakkan community were not ready to be converted and still keep the statue in Mr. Velumuthu’s house and pray even now.
Earlier Kadachenendal was under the Salesian Parish of K.Pudur but there was a primary school from 1949, which was upgraded as a middle school in 1979, under the direct correspondent ship of the procurators. A small chapel was built in 1980 in Kathakinaru, where the diocesan coconut grove is. The novena proper to St. Antony was started in 1981. With the help of Rev. Fr. Thumburaj in charge of Schoenstatt seminary and later by Fr. S. Jesudasan of Irai Amaithi Solai, spiritual needs of the people were met by the Salesians till May 2007. On 16 June 2007, Kadachenendal was erected as an independent parish by the Archbishop Peter Fernando and Fr. A. Iruthayaraj was appointed as the first parish priest. The present parish priest is Fr. A. Antony Packiam.
The new parish of St. Antony’s church, Kadachenendal extends to an area of 15 sq. kms. The boundaries of the parish are: Surveyor Colony on the South; Alagarkoil village on the North; Mattuthavani – Melur Road on the East; Oomachikulam–Vellichanatham Villages in the West.
This suburban parish has the following substations: Chinnapatti, Solaimalayar Patti, oomachikulam, Jubilee town and Pudupatti Camp, wherein the population is around 20,000 of which the Catholic population is nearly 1700 (280 families). They are mostly settlers of recent years. They are all retired as well as in service government officers, teachers, private company employees. The catholics in villages are daily wage earners.
The new church was built and consecrated on 17 July 2010. The existing middle school was upgraded to a high school in 2013. An additional new building is being constructed for the high school. 13 cents of land has been acquired for the parish cemetery with the help of local V.A.O. in 2013.
The participatory structures like Parish Council, Anbiams, Legion of Mary, Society of Vincent de Paul, Youth movements for boys & girls, Yesuvin Kanmanigal (Altar boys & girls) are being strengthened, renewed. Some new structures like Parish Finance council, evangelisation commission and government officials and teachers welfare association are under formation in the parish.
This parish enjoys the services of Salesian Sisters, Franciscan Sisters, Sisters of Our Lady of Leuca and the Schoenstatt Fathers. The St. Pius X seminary for diocesan college going seminarians is functioning near the church.
The parish priest is contented with the cooperation and participation of parishners. Efforts are being taken in the parish to strengthen the faith level of the people and to prevent the people who go to other denominations of Christianity.
Succession of Parish Priests
1. Fr. A. Iruthayaraj (2007 - 2012)
2. Fr. Antony Packiam (2012- )
Kadachenendal, Kathakinaru (P.O), Madurai-625 107.
Kadachanendal is a place 5 Kms away from K.Pudur on the way to azhagar kovil. Thirty years ago Kattunayakkan Community headed by Mr. Vedamuthu (Velu Muthu) got a favour from St. Antony (Puliampatty) and so his family members kept St. Antony’s statue in their house and started praying. There were no Christians at that time in that locality then. When the Christians started settling in Kadachanendal area, the devotion to St. Antony became popular. The people of Kattunayakkan community were not ready to be converted and still keep the statue in Mr. Velumuthu’s house and pray even now.
Earlier Kadachenendal was under the Salesian Parish of K.Pudur but there was a primary school from 1949, which was upgraded as a middle school in 1979, under the direct correspondent ship of the procurators. A small chapel was built in 1980 in Kathakinaru, where the diocesan coconut grove is. The novena proper to St. Antony was started in 1981. With the help of Rev. Fr. Thumburaj in charge of Schoenstatt seminary and later by Fr. S. Jesudasan of Irai Amaithi Solai, spiritual needs of the people were met by the Salesians till May 2007. On 16 June 2007, Kadachenendal was erected as an independent parish by the Archbishop Peter Fernando and Fr. A. Iruthayaraj was appointed as the first parish priest. The present parish priest is Fr. A. Antony Packiam.
The new parish of St. Antony’s church, Kadachenendal extends to an area of 15 sq. kms. The boundaries of the parish are: Surveyor Colony on the South; Alagarkoil village on the North; Mattuthavani – Melur Road on the East; Oomachikulam–Vellichanatham Villages in the West.
This suburban parish has the following substations: Chinnapatti, Solaimalayar Patti, oomachikulam, Jubilee town and Pudupatti Camp, wherein the population is around 20,000 of which the Catholic population is nearly 1700 (280 families). They are mostly settlers of recent years. They are all retired as well as in service government officers, teachers, private company employees. The catholics in villages are daily wage earners.
The new church was built and consecrated on 17 July 2010. The existing middle school was upgraded to a high school in 2013. An additional new building is being constructed for the high school. 13 cents of land has been acquired for the parish cemetery with the help of local V.A.O. in 2013.
The participatory structures like Parish Council, Anbiams, Legion of Mary, Society of Vincent de Paul, Youth movements for boys & girls, Yesuvin Kanmanigal (Altar boys & girls) are being strengthened, renewed. Some new structures like Parish Finance council, evangelisation commission and government officials and teachers welfare association are under formation in the parish.
This parish enjoys the services of Salesian Sisters, Franciscan Sisters, Sisters of Our Lady of Leuca and the Schoenstatt Fathers. The St. Pius X seminary for diocesan college going seminarians is functioning near the church.
The parish priest is contented with the cooperation and participation of parishners. Efforts are being taken in the parish to strengthen the faith level of the people and to prevent the people who go to other denominations of Christianity.
Succession of Parish Priests
1. Fr. A. Iruthayaraj (2007 - 2012)
2. Fr. Antony Packiam (2012- )