Christ the King Church
Melur, Sivagangai Road, Madurai Dt. - 625 007.
Around the year 1935, the local dominant Community of Kallars became a problem for the then British Rulers. To control them a force was stationed here. The Catholic Officers of this Regiment approached the parish priest of K. Pudur, for their spiritual needs. He readily obliged them by giving them occasional Sunday Masses. Since it was found that Sivagangai parish was in a better position to cater to the spiritual needs of Melur Catholics, Melur was made a substation of Sivagangai Parish. Rev. Fr. Sicard, SJ a very zealous French missionary, as parish priest of Sivagangai, bought a land, which later was converted into a small Chapel cum school shed.
As Melur was too far from both K.Pudur and Sivagangai and so many problems against the Christians to be attended, it was felt by this time that there was a real need for a resident parish priest in Melur. So it was raised to a parish in 1945. Fr. S Visuvasam (1945-47) was the first parish priest of Melur. A small school with two teachers and 30 children was started in 1946. There was heavy opposition to it. Then Fr. P. K. Mathew succeeded him in 1947 but he was there only a year. Then came Fr. I. Saldhana in 1948 and he also ministered for a year only. For some unknown reasons Melur was once again looked after by the Pudur parish priests for time being from 1949-52. Fr. T. Amalraj, sj was the then parish priest of K. Pudur, gave them occasional Sunday Masses.
In 1950 about 20 catholic families were migrated from Anupanadi area, st Mary’s parish and settled in ‘St. Xavier’s Street’ to work in the Jesuit farm in Pathinettankudi. A whole village by name Pathinettankudi had become Catholics. This is a completely Dalit village with about 100 families. Then Fr. S Manuel was the parish priest in 1952-53. Then in Nov 1st, 1953, Fr. Thomas Kalam, sj was appointed as parish priest. He took up residence in Melur on 24 December 1953. Braving courageously several odds, he started building the church; but before he could complete the church he was transferred in the middle of 1957. Fr. T.A. Sebastian completed the church in 1957. Then the following parish priests rendered their valuable ministry: Fr. Benedict Michael (1957 – 1958), M. SavariMuthu (1958 – 1960), S. Sebastian (1960 – 1970), Fr. B.A. Pinto(1970 – 1972), G. Packiar( 1972–1975) D. Amolrpavam(1975 – 1982), V. Michael(1983 – 1984), A. Francis Xavier (1984 – 1991), V.M. Savarimuthu(1991 – 1996)
Fr. D. David Kulandai samy S.J. took charge in 1996. It was in his time the golden jubilee for the school was celebrated and anew building was built on that occasion. The parish council was formed in 1999. When Fr. A. Rosario was parish priest a new stage cum class room was constructed in memiry of the golden jubilee of the parish and the platinum jubilee of the school. Anbiams were started in 2004 by Msgr. S.M. Selvaraj. The prison ministry is so vibrant from 2010.
The total catholic population of this parish is 210 families. However out of this, 103 families live in Pathinettankudi. Melur town has only a few families. People are of below middle class, so poor who are working as agricultural coolies. It is only now the first generation that reaches to the level of higher education. They are so faith oriented and cooperative. This parish is being nourished by the activities of the CIC sisters, Vincent de Paul Society and Legion of Mary.
There is 5acres of coconut grove in Melur near the church campus and two and a half acres of cultivable land in Pathinettankudi. There is a shopping complex in the Trichy road.
The following are the substations of this parish: Pathinettankudi, Thiruvaadhavur, Therku Theru, Ayyappatti, Sendalapatti, Kidarpatti, Chettiarpatti and Rengasamypuram.
Succession of Parish Priests
1. Fr. S. Visuvasam 1945 – 1947
2. Fr. P.K. Mathew 1947 – 1948
3. Fr. S. Soldana 1948 – 1949
4. Fr. T. Amalraj. SJ 1949 – 1952
5. Fr. S. Manuel 1952– 1953
6. Thomas kalam 1953 – 1957
7. Fr. Benedict Michael 1957 – 1958
8. Fr. M. Savari Muthu 1958 – 1960
9. Fr. S. Sebastian 1960 – 1970
10. Fr. B.A. Pinto 1970 – 1972
11. Fr. G. Packiar 1972 – 1975
12. Fr. D. Amolrpavam 1975 – 1982
13. Fr. V. Michael 1983 – 1984
14. Fr. A. Francis xavier 1984 – 1991
15. Fr. V.M. Savarimuthu 1991 – 1996
16. Fr. D. David kulandai samy SJ 1996 – 1999
17. Fr. D. David SJ 1999 – 2000
18. Fr. J. Jeyaraj 2000 – 2001
19. Fr. A. Rosario 2001 – 2004
20. Msgr.S.M. Selvaraj 2004 – 2009
21. Fr. J. Benediest Banatas 2009 onwards
Melur, Sivagangai Road, Madurai Dt. - 625 007.
Around the year 1935, the local dominant Community of Kallars became a problem for the then British Rulers. To control them a force was stationed here. The Catholic Officers of this Regiment approached the parish priest of K. Pudur, for their spiritual needs. He readily obliged them by giving them occasional Sunday Masses. Since it was found that Sivagangai parish was in a better position to cater to the spiritual needs of Melur Catholics, Melur was made a substation of Sivagangai Parish. Rev. Fr. Sicard, SJ a very zealous French missionary, as parish priest of Sivagangai, bought a land, which later was converted into a small Chapel cum school shed.
As Melur was too far from both K.Pudur and Sivagangai and so many problems against the Christians to be attended, it was felt by this time that there was a real need for a resident parish priest in Melur. So it was raised to a parish in 1945. Fr. S Visuvasam (1945-47) was the first parish priest of Melur. A small school with two teachers and 30 children was started in 1946. There was heavy opposition to it. Then Fr. P. K. Mathew succeeded him in 1947 but he was there only a year. Then came Fr. I. Saldhana in 1948 and he also ministered for a year only. For some unknown reasons Melur was once again looked after by the Pudur parish priests for time being from 1949-52. Fr. T. Amalraj, sj was the then parish priest of K. Pudur, gave them occasional Sunday Masses.
In 1950 about 20 catholic families were migrated from Anupanadi area, st Mary’s parish and settled in ‘St. Xavier’s Street’ to work in the Jesuit farm in Pathinettankudi. A whole village by name Pathinettankudi had become Catholics. This is a completely Dalit village with about 100 families. Then Fr. S Manuel was the parish priest in 1952-53. Then in Nov 1st, 1953, Fr. Thomas Kalam, sj was appointed as parish priest. He took up residence in Melur on 24 December 1953. Braving courageously several odds, he started building the church; but before he could complete the church he was transferred in the middle of 1957. Fr. T.A. Sebastian completed the church in 1957. Then the following parish priests rendered their valuable ministry: Fr. Benedict Michael (1957 – 1958), M. SavariMuthu (1958 – 1960), S. Sebastian (1960 – 1970), Fr. B.A. Pinto(1970 – 1972), G. Packiar( 1972–1975) D. Amolrpavam(1975 – 1982), V. Michael(1983 – 1984), A. Francis Xavier (1984 – 1991), V.M. Savarimuthu(1991 – 1996)
Fr. D. David Kulandai samy S.J. took charge in 1996. It was in his time the golden jubilee for the school was celebrated and anew building was built on that occasion. The parish council was formed in 1999. When Fr. A. Rosario was parish priest a new stage cum class room was constructed in memiry of the golden jubilee of the parish and the platinum jubilee of the school. Anbiams were started in 2004 by Msgr. S.M. Selvaraj. The prison ministry is so vibrant from 2010.
The total catholic population of this parish is 210 families. However out of this, 103 families live in Pathinettankudi. Melur town has only a few families. People are of below middle class, so poor who are working as agricultural coolies. It is only now the first generation that reaches to the level of higher education. They are so faith oriented and cooperative. This parish is being nourished by the activities of the CIC sisters, Vincent de Paul Society and Legion of Mary.
There is 5acres of coconut grove in Melur near the church campus and two and a half acres of cultivable land in Pathinettankudi. There is a shopping complex in the Trichy road.
The following are the substations of this parish: Pathinettankudi, Thiruvaadhavur, Therku Theru, Ayyappatti, Sendalapatti, Kidarpatti, Chettiarpatti and Rengasamypuram.
Succession of Parish Priests
1. Fr. S. Visuvasam 1945 – 1947
2. Fr. P.K. Mathew 1947 – 1948
3. Fr. S. Soldana 1948 – 1949
4. Fr. T. Amalraj. SJ 1949 – 1952
5. Fr. S. Manuel 1952– 1953
6. Thomas kalam 1953 – 1957
7. Fr. Benedict Michael 1957 – 1958
8. Fr. M. Savari Muthu 1958 – 1960
9. Fr. S. Sebastian 1960 – 1970
10. Fr. B.A. Pinto 1970 – 1972
11. Fr. G. Packiar 1972 – 1975
12. Fr. D. Amolrpavam 1975 – 1982
13. Fr. V. Michael 1983 – 1984
14. Fr. A. Francis xavier 1984 – 1991
15. Fr. V.M. Savarimuthu 1991 – 1996
16. Fr. D. David kulandai samy SJ 1996 – 1999
17. Fr. D. David SJ 1999 – 2000
18. Fr. J. Jeyaraj 2000 – 2001
19. Fr. A. Rosario 2001 – 2004
20. Msgr.S.M. Selvaraj 2004 – 2009
21. Fr. J. Benediest Banatas 2009 onwards