Sacred Heart Church
Thiruvilliputhur, Virudhunagar Dt - 626 125
As of the Government documents, the pioneers of Catholic people of Srivilliputhur were serving as soldiers to the kings of Nayaka Dynasty. They obtained lands as rewards for their service. After the fall of the reign of Nayakas, these people happened to lose their lands gradually. Only a small portion of land in Sriniyapuram could be preserved. In 1875, when Fr. Trincal, who began his missionary ministry keeping W. Pudupatti as the centre, came here and saw a church being elegantly built by the people themselves at Ooranipatti. But he found them fighting among themselves claiming for ownership as to whom the church belongs. In 1880, he started a school in Srivilliputhur so to enable the poor study. After his demise, in 1892 the centre for missionary purpose was shifted from W. Pudupatti to Srivilliputhur for travelling conveniences. Fr. Berthur S.J, Fr. Thalan S.J, Fr. Jeganthar S.J were the missionaries then.
Having been created as a separate parish in 1906, Fr. Mage S.J was appointed as the first parish priest to Srivilliputhur. He served all around Thiruvilliputhur. He started building the structure of the church in Gothic pattern. In 1910 Sundaranachiyapuram parish was bifurcated from Srivilliputhur. In 1911 he called for the ICM sisters from Mulahumoodu to serve in this area. The sisters established a convent and besides the gospel ministry they worked for the development of women. Fr. Mage started about 22 schools on surrounding villages.
In 1919, Fr. Morair @ Chinnapa Swamy took charge of the parish and completed the tower building of the church. He changed the thatched roof of the school into a tiled (clay) roof. In 1926, W. Pudupatti was divided as a separated parish from Thiruvilliputhur. In 1938, Fr. Joly took charge as parish priest and sold the church (Kurusdi) land of Koonamkulam to ICM sisters for Rs 5000 in order that the sisters might establish a school for the development of the girl-children. He made use of the money for the extension work of the church building. The first floor of the presbytery was built by him. In 1953, Fr. Manuel erected a grotto of our lady of Lourdes inside the church campus with the hard work of the people. During his time Sivakasi was created as parish from Srivilliputhur. In 1955, having taken the charge of the parish, Fr. Peter Mondo undertook the extensive works and completed the church as is in the present model. From 1968, Fr. Maria Soosai served both as the first vicar forane and the parish priest.
In 1976, taking charge as the parish priest Fr. Manala built the churches at Alangulam, Mamsapuram and Indra Nagar. He also built 16 shops for the development of the parish. He renovated the church in Pattakulam. He rejuvenated the parish church and the altar. In 1984, Fr. Arul Rayan served as the parish priest and Rector of the vicariate. The school building was renovated. Functioning of vicariate centre was shifted from Srivilliputhur to the district centre of Virudunagar. Fr. Eronimus who was the assistant parish priest assumed as parish priest in 1989. He focused on the youth to get them actively involved in the liturgical and parish activities. He began Sunday Catechism in order to edify the children with Christian values.
In 1990, Fr. Irudaya Raj became the priest. He renovated the parish church and built new one in Kothankulam. In 1995, Fr. Peter Sahaya Raj implemented a system of Sunday mass in all the substations. He began mass on the first Friday of every month at St. Paul the Hermit Kurusadi. It was during his time that the diocese constructed a shopping complex at Sivakasi road to meet the needs of the diocese. St. Antony’s Church at Chandai Pettai and St. Sebastian’s Church at Raitam Patti were renovated by him. In 2000, he laid stone slabs on the floor both inside and outside the church.
Fr. Amal Raj, who took charge as parish priest in 2004, furnished the altar with a new tabernacle. He customized the acoustic system in the church. In 2006, Srivilliputhur was elevated as a Vicariate Centre of the diocese. Fr. Kennedy assumed as the first vicar forane. Infant Jesus Church was completed and opened by him at Matha Nagar. He changed the tiled roof and laid concrete roof to the school. In order to bring all the parish people together, he introduced a system of Sunday Eucharist celebration only in the parish church on first Sunday of every month. The back side building of St. Paul the hermit kurusadi was extended by him.
In 2008, Fr. Xavier Raj became the parish priest. He laid marble floor inside the church. He painted the church white. He established parish council and Basic Christian Communities in the parish. He upgraded the middle school into high school in 2009 and higher secondary school in 2002. He reconstructed the repaired complex shops built for the development of the parish. He rescued the kurusadi of St. Antony the hermit from private ownership and brought it under the diocesan administration. He regularized the festival celebration. He constructed St. Xavier’s church in Sriniyapuram with the contribution of the people. Making use of the saving amount of people, he also created Xavier Nagar as an extension of Sriniyapuram for their residence.
Fr. Antony Raj who took charge as the parish priest in 2013 built churches at Indra Nagar and Kothankulam. He strived for the extension work of the Kurusadi of St. Paul the hermit. He has regularized the parish council and B.C.C. He has put up latrine facilities and furnished the infrastructural works of the school like physics and computer labs. He has newly started a system of mass for the catechism children on first Sunday of every month.
The following are the substations of this parish:Santhai petti - St. Antony’s Shrine; Seenia puram - St. Xavier’s Church; Ryttanpatti - St. Sebastin Church; Madha nagar - Infant Jesus Church; Mamsapuram - Our lady of Immaculate Conception; Pattakulam - St. Joseph’s Church; Mottamalai - Our Lady of Health Velankanni; Indira nagar - Our Lady of Health Velankanni; Kothankulam - Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Mage (1906-1919), Fr. Morier sj (1919-1926), Fr. E. Charroin, sj (1926-31), H. Audrain, sj (1931-38), Fr. A.M. Joly, sj (1938-44), Fr. G. Arnault, sj (1944-46), Fr. A. Allard, sj (1946-50), Fr. S. Manuel, sj (1950-55) and Fr. P. Montaud, sj (1955-67). Fr. Maria Soosai (1968-1971), Fr. Maria Das (1971-1976), Fr. Jacob Manala (1976-1984), Fr. Arul Rayan (1984-1987), Fr. Jerome Eronimus (1987-1988), Fr. Maria Diraviam (1988), Fr. V.M. Irudayam(1989-1996), Fr. Peter Sahayaraj (1995-2001), Fr. A. Amal Raj (2001-2003), Fr. S. Amal Raj (2003-2006), Fr. Antony John Kennedy (2006-2007), Msgr. Z. Joseph Selvaraj (2007-2008), Fr. S. Xavier Raj (2008-2013), Fr. G. Antony Raj (2013- )
Thiruvilliputhur, Virudhunagar Dt - 626 125
As of the Government documents, the pioneers of Catholic people of Srivilliputhur were serving as soldiers to the kings of Nayaka Dynasty. They obtained lands as rewards for their service. After the fall of the reign of Nayakas, these people happened to lose their lands gradually. Only a small portion of land in Sriniyapuram could be preserved. In 1875, when Fr. Trincal, who began his missionary ministry keeping W. Pudupatti as the centre, came here and saw a church being elegantly built by the people themselves at Ooranipatti. But he found them fighting among themselves claiming for ownership as to whom the church belongs. In 1880, he started a school in Srivilliputhur so to enable the poor study. After his demise, in 1892 the centre for missionary purpose was shifted from W. Pudupatti to Srivilliputhur for travelling conveniences. Fr. Berthur S.J, Fr. Thalan S.J, Fr. Jeganthar S.J were the missionaries then.
Having been created as a separate parish in 1906, Fr. Mage S.J was appointed as the first parish priest to Srivilliputhur. He served all around Thiruvilliputhur. He started building the structure of the church in Gothic pattern. In 1910 Sundaranachiyapuram parish was bifurcated from Srivilliputhur. In 1911 he called for the ICM sisters from Mulahumoodu to serve in this area. The sisters established a convent and besides the gospel ministry they worked for the development of women. Fr. Mage started about 22 schools on surrounding villages.
In 1919, Fr. Morair @ Chinnapa Swamy took charge of the parish and completed the tower building of the church. He changed the thatched roof of the school into a tiled (clay) roof. In 1926, W. Pudupatti was divided as a separated parish from Thiruvilliputhur. In 1938, Fr. Joly took charge as parish priest and sold the church (Kurusdi) land of Koonamkulam to ICM sisters for Rs 5000 in order that the sisters might establish a school for the development of the girl-children. He made use of the money for the extension work of the church building. The first floor of the presbytery was built by him. In 1953, Fr. Manuel erected a grotto of our lady of Lourdes inside the church campus with the hard work of the people. During his time Sivakasi was created as parish from Srivilliputhur. In 1955, having taken the charge of the parish, Fr. Peter Mondo undertook the extensive works and completed the church as is in the present model. From 1968, Fr. Maria Soosai served both as the first vicar forane and the parish priest.
In 1976, taking charge as the parish priest Fr. Manala built the churches at Alangulam, Mamsapuram and Indra Nagar. He also built 16 shops for the development of the parish. He renovated the church in Pattakulam. He rejuvenated the parish church and the altar. In 1984, Fr. Arul Rayan served as the parish priest and Rector of the vicariate. The school building was renovated. Functioning of vicariate centre was shifted from Srivilliputhur to the district centre of Virudunagar. Fr. Eronimus who was the assistant parish priest assumed as parish priest in 1989. He focused on the youth to get them actively involved in the liturgical and parish activities. He began Sunday Catechism in order to edify the children with Christian values.
In 1990, Fr. Irudaya Raj became the priest. He renovated the parish church and built new one in Kothankulam. In 1995, Fr. Peter Sahaya Raj implemented a system of Sunday mass in all the substations. He began mass on the first Friday of every month at St. Paul the Hermit Kurusadi. It was during his time that the diocese constructed a shopping complex at Sivakasi road to meet the needs of the diocese. St. Antony’s Church at Chandai Pettai and St. Sebastian’s Church at Raitam Patti were renovated by him. In 2000, he laid stone slabs on the floor both inside and outside the church.
Fr. Amal Raj, who took charge as parish priest in 2004, furnished the altar with a new tabernacle. He customized the acoustic system in the church. In 2006, Srivilliputhur was elevated as a Vicariate Centre of the diocese. Fr. Kennedy assumed as the first vicar forane. Infant Jesus Church was completed and opened by him at Matha Nagar. He changed the tiled roof and laid concrete roof to the school. In order to bring all the parish people together, he introduced a system of Sunday Eucharist celebration only in the parish church on first Sunday of every month. The back side building of St. Paul the hermit kurusadi was extended by him.
In 2008, Fr. Xavier Raj became the parish priest. He laid marble floor inside the church. He painted the church white. He established parish council and Basic Christian Communities in the parish. He upgraded the middle school into high school in 2009 and higher secondary school in 2002. He reconstructed the repaired complex shops built for the development of the parish. He rescued the kurusadi of St. Antony the hermit from private ownership and brought it under the diocesan administration. He regularized the festival celebration. He constructed St. Xavier’s church in Sriniyapuram with the contribution of the people. Making use of the saving amount of people, he also created Xavier Nagar as an extension of Sriniyapuram for their residence.
Fr. Antony Raj who took charge as the parish priest in 2013 built churches at Indra Nagar and Kothankulam. He strived for the extension work of the Kurusadi of St. Paul the hermit. He has regularized the parish council and B.C.C. He has put up latrine facilities and furnished the infrastructural works of the school like physics and computer labs. He has newly started a system of mass for the catechism children on first Sunday of every month.
The following are the substations of this parish:Santhai petti - St. Antony’s Shrine; Seenia puram - St. Xavier’s Church; Ryttanpatti - St. Sebastin Church; Madha nagar - Infant Jesus Church; Mamsapuram - Our lady of Immaculate Conception; Pattakulam - St. Joseph’s Church; Mottamalai - Our Lady of Health Velankanni; Indira nagar - Our Lady of Health Velankanni; Kothankulam - Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Mage (1906-1919), Fr. Morier sj (1919-1926), Fr. E. Charroin, sj (1926-31), H. Audrain, sj (1931-38), Fr. A.M. Joly, sj (1938-44), Fr. G. Arnault, sj (1944-46), Fr. A. Allard, sj (1946-50), Fr. S. Manuel, sj (1950-55) and Fr. P. Montaud, sj (1955-67). Fr. Maria Soosai (1968-1971), Fr. Maria Das (1971-1976), Fr. Jacob Manala (1976-1984), Fr. Arul Rayan (1984-1987), Fr. Jerome Eronimus (1987-1988), Fr. Maria Diraviam (1988), Fr. V.M. Irudayam(1989-1996), Fr. Peter Sahayaraj (1995-2001), Fr. A. Amal Raj (2001-2003), Fr. S. Amal Raj (2003-2006), Fr. Antony John Kennedy (2006-2007), Msgr. Z. Joseph Selvaraj (2007-2008), Fr. S. Xavier Raj (2008-2013), Fr. G. Antony Raj (2013- )