SahayaAnnai Church
Rajapalayam, Malayadipatti, Virudhunagar Dt. - 626 117.
In 1979 a beautiful church was built at Malayadipatti, for a fast-growing section of Rajapalayam, a sub-station of Srivilliputhur. Three years later the sisters of the Immaculate Conception started a nursery school near the church. Rajapalayam was thus growing towards becoming an independent parish. The small Catholic community used to come together in the small chapel in Puthupalayam, built a century ago. Realizing the need for a bigger church, Fr. Jacob Manala, the then parish priest, constructed the church.
Carved out of Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam was declared a new parish on 11 May 1985 with Fr. G. Francis Britto as the first parish priest. He constructed the residence of the parish priest. He was succeeded by Fr. Jacob Manala. He was responsible for constructing a shopping complex on the southern side of the church campus to make the parish self-reliant.
Succeeding Fr. Britto Francis, Fr. Antony Eetikal constructed St. Antony's grotto. Then J. Nathampatti was created. Fr. Xavier built a new church in 1997 to cater to the needs of the increasing number of the fatihful. He also built a new church in Malayapuram.
Fr. John Selvaraj continued the momentum introduced by his predecessor and the Silver Jubilee year marked the beginning of spiritual renewal. The church was renovated and the campus was given a facelift witha grotto of St. Antony. He started all the associations in the parish including the Vincent De Paul society. A new piece of land was bought for cemetry.
Fr. Paul initiated many developmental works. Shops were constructed. The church had a new arch in front of it. Besides the parish churhc, there is within the town another church, St. Sebastian's, at pudupalayam which serves also as a school. During the time of Fr. P. V. Soosai Parish Silver Jubilee was celebrated. Desikapuram was renovated and the works are in the process.
South Nathampatti, a substation has another elementary school with four teachers. Here also the chapel is used as a school. The following are the substations of this parish; Malayapuram, Mill Krishnapuram, Desikapuram, Pudupalayam and JaminNathampatty, MurambuSolapuram and Ramalingapuram.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Francis Britto (1985), Fr. Antony Eetikal (1988), Fr. Jacob Manala (1990), Fr. Xavier (1995), Fr. John Selvaraj (2000), Fr. Maria Valan S.J. (2005), Fr. Sahaya Ambrose Raja (2006), Fr. M. Paul (2008), Fr. P.V. Susai (2010-).
Rajapalayam, Malayadipatti, Virudhunagar Dt. - 626 117.
In 1979 a beautiful church was built at Malayadipatti, for a fast-growing section of Rajapalayam, a sub-station of Srivilliputhur. Three years later the sisters of the Immaculate Conception started a nursery school near the church. Rajapalayam was thus growing towards becoming an independent parish. The small Catholic community used to come together in the small chapel in Puthupalayam, built a century ago. Realizing the need for a bigger church, Fr. Jacob Manala, the then parish priest, constructed the church.
Carved out of Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam was declared a new parish on 11 May 1985 with Fr. G. Francis Britto as the first parish priest. He constructed the residence of the parish priest. He was succeeded by Fr. Jacob Manala. He was responsible for constructing a shopping complex on the southern side of the church campus to make the parish self-reliant.
Succeeding Fr. Britto Francis, Fr. Antony Eetikal constructed St. Antony's grotto. Then J. Nathampatti was created. Fr. Xavier built a new church in 1997 to cater to the needs of the increasing number of the fatihful. He also built a new church in Malayapuram.
Fr. John Selvaraj continued the momentum introduced by his predecessor and the Silver Jubilee year marked the beginning of spiritual renewal. The church was renovated and the campus was given a facelift witha grotto of St. Antony. He started all the associations in the parish including the Vincent De Paul society. A new piece of land was bought for cemetry.
Fr. Paul initiated many developmental works. Shops were constructed. The church had a new arch in front of it. Besides the parish churhc, there is within the town another church, St. Sebastian's, at pudupalayam which serves also as a school. During the time of Fr. P. V. Soosai Parish Silver Jubilee was celebrated. Desikapuram was renovated and the works are in the process.
South Nathampatti, a substation has another elementary school with four teachers. Here also the chapel is used as a school. The following are the substations of this parish; Malayapuram, Mill Krishnapuram, Desikapuram, Pudupalayam and JaminNathampatty, MurambuSolapuram and Ramalingapuram.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Francis Britto (1985), Fr. Antony Eetikal (1988), Fr. Jacob Manala (1990), Fr. Xavier (1995), Fr. John Selvaraj (2000), Fr. Maria Valan S.J. (2005), Fr. Sahaya Ambrose Raja (2006), Fr. M. Paul (2008), Fr. P.V. Susai (2010-).