St. Antony’s Church
Mangalankombu, Kodaikanal – 624 216, Dindigul dt. Ph. 04542 - 266666
This parish is situated 100 km North West of Madurai and 100 km North East of Kodaikanal at lower Palani Hills. It belongs to Kamanur Panchayat in Dindigul district. In 1895 during the Jesuits’ presence at this place there were only 5 families who were working in the coffee estates of the Jesuits. At the request of these families a small church was built. There were 2 churches built in this area. One is Pannaikadu and another in Mangalankombyu. In 1895 the first church built by the Jesuits at Pannaikadu was dedicated to “Pannai Matha”. It was opened in 1937. On 19th April 1960 a small church was built at Mangalankombu by Rev. Fr. G. Ignatius and it was blessed by Most Rev. Peter Leonard, and opened by Fr. Ugarthey, the Rector of Sacred Heart College, Shenbaganur. On February 17th 1975 Anbagam Ignatius Hall was built and blessed by Most Rev. Justin Diraviam.
Later when the Diocese was created this mission was handed down to the Diocese. When Perumalmalai was created Fr. N. A. Manuel, the then Parish priest looked after the pastoral need of the people of this area. The old church was replaced with the new church on 08-03-1966 by Fr. Susai Michael Raj and it was blessed by Archbishop Arockiasamy. It is Fr. V. Antony Samy who made the blue print for the bifurcation of this parish and it became a new parish on 22-05-2004. Most Rev. Peter Fernando consecrated the new church and declared the parish as St. Antony of Padua parish, Mangalankombu.
Rev. Fr. Britto Suresh was the first parish priest from 2004 – 2009. He renovated the altar and the sacristy which was blessed by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 26-03-2007. The new presbytery which was built by Fr. Antony Samy and modified, with the help of “Propagation of Faith”, by Fr. Britto Suresh was blessed by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 03-12-2004. Fr. Britto Suresh also renovated St. Martin of Tours Church at Periyoor in 2006 where the parish has property adjacent to the Cluny sisters’ property. Fr. Jerome Eronimus was the second parish priest. Him succeeded Fr. Xavier SDM, who, with the help of the Archdiocese fenced 70 cents of coffee garden the parish. With the help from the Jesuits provincial and local contribution he built a belfry, which was blessed by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 23-08-2012.
The Religious: i) Holy Family of Bourdeaux ii) Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph iii) Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny .
Substations: Periyur, Vellaikarai, Pannaikadu, Perumparai, Manjalparappu, Thandikudi, Kuppammalpatti, Asaripatti, Pallathukalvai and K.C. Patti.
Succession of Parish Priests: Fr. Britto Raja Suresh (2004 – 2009); Fr. J. R. Jerome Eronimus (2009 - 2010); Fr. Arul Xavier SDM ( 2010 - 2013); Fr. Arockiam SDM ( 2013 onwards).
Mangalankombu, Kodaikanal – 624 216, Dindigul dt. Ph. 04542 - 266666
This parish is situated 100 km North West of Madurai and 100 km North East of Kodaikanal at lower Palani Hills. It belongs to Kamanur Panchayat in Dindigul district. In 1895 during the Jesuits’ presence at this place there were only 5 families who were working in the coffee estates of the Jesuits. At the request of these families a small church was built. There were 2 churches built in this area. One is Pannaikadu and another in Mangalankombyu. In 1895 the first church built by the Jesuits at Pannaikadu was dedicated to “Pannai Matha”. It was opened in 1937. On 19th April 1960 a small church was built at Mangalankombu by Rev. Fr. G. Ignatius and it was blessed by Most Rev. Peter Leonard, and opened by Fr. Ugarthey, the Rector of Sacred Heart College, Shenbaganur. On February 17th 1975 Anbagam Ignatius Hall was built and blessed by Most Rev. Justin Diraviam.
Later when the Diocese was created this mission was handed down to the Diocese. When Perumalmalai was created Fr. N. A. Manuel, the then Parish priest looked after the pastoral need of the people of this area. The old church was replaced with the new church on 08-03-1966 by Fr. Susai Michael Raj and it was blessed by Archbishop Arockiasamy. It is Fr. V. Antony Samy who made the blue print for the bifurcation of this parish and it became a new parish on 22-05-2004. Most Rev. Peter Fernando consecrated the new church and declared the parish as St. Antony of Padua parish, Mangalankombu.
Rev. Fr. Britto Suresh was the first parish priest from 2004 – 2009. He renovated the altar and the sacristy which was blessed by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 26-03-2007. The new presbytery which was built by Fr. Antony Samy and modified, with the help of “Propagation of Faith”, by Fr. Britto Suresh was blessed by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 03-12-2004. Fr. Britto Suresh also renovated St. Martin of Tours Church at Periyoor in 2006 where the parish has property adjacent to the Cluny sisters’ property. Fr. Jerome Eronimus was the second parish priest. Him succeeded Fr. Xavier SDM, who, with the help of the Archdiocese fenced 70 cents of coffee garden the parish. With the help from the Jesuits provincial and local contribution he built a belfry, which was blessed by Archbishop Peter Fernando on 23-08-2012.
The Religious: i) Holy Family of Bourdeaux ii) Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph iii) Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny .
Substations: Periyur, Vellaikarai, Pannaikadu, Perumparai, Manjalparappu, Thandikudi, Kuppammalpatti, Asaripatti, Pallathukalvai and K.C. Patti.
Succession of Parish Priests: Fr. Britto Raja Suresh (2004 – 2009); Fr. J. R. Jerome Eronimus (2009 - 2010); Fr. Arul Xavier SDM ( 2010 - 2013); Fr. Arockiam SDM ( 2013 onwards).