Amala Annai Alayam
Thirumangalam, Nirmala Ashram, Madurai Dt. - 625 706.
Annai Church at Thirumangalam is located 20 kms south of Madurai on the way to Virudhunagar on the National Highway. In front of the church are the Taluk and Munsiff Courts, Prison, Taluk Office, Registrar’s Office and sub-treasury. Behind the church are the Government Hospital and Head Post Office. On the right side of the church lie the Municipal Office and Traveller’s Bungalow.
Archbishop Justin Diraviam invited the Capuchins to work in Madurai Archdiocese. The pioneers, Frs. Mark, ofm cap and Mathias, ofm cap., worked in Kalladithidal in Ramnad district before Fr. Mathias could find a suitable place for the Capuchin mission at Thirumangalam. The present site with a small chapel was given to the Capuchins, and they were asked to take up the mission parish of Usilampatti itself. The foundation in Thirumangalam was blessed by the Archbishop on 8 December 1970. The construction of the new chapel began in February 1974, and it was completed in December 1976. Thirumangalam was raised to the status of a parish in 1994, and Fr. Benjamin, ofm cap., was its first official parish priest.
The approximate population of Thirumangalam at present is 50200, among whom Catholics are around 600. Most people are self employed. The Capuchins take care of four substations namely, Sathangudi, T.Kallupatti, Odaipatty and Uchapatti Srilankan refugee’s camp. Fr. Arockiam, ofm cap., is the present parish priest.
This parish enjoys the services of the religious sisters of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM), CIC, FIHM and St. Joseph’s of Tarbes. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of Legion of Mary; Vincent de Paul Society, Golbe Society.
The following are the substations of this parish: Sathangudi, Odaipatti, Uchampatti Sri Lankan Refugees Camp and T. Kalluppati.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Mathias, ofm cap (1970-75), Fr. Joachim, ofm cap (1975-76), Fr. Pancras, ofm cap (1976-78), Fr. Irudaya Samy, ofm cap (1978-79), Fr. Bosco,ofm cap (1979-81), Fr. John Antony, ofm cap (1981-82), Fr. R. Charles, ofm cap (1982-84), Fr. Percy Joseph Raj, ofm cap (1984-87), Fr. Arockiam, ofm cap (1987-90), Fr. Mariaraj, ofm cap (1990-93), Fr. Benjamin, ofm cap (1993-96), Fr. Vedanayagam, ofm cap (1996-99), Fr. Theresnathan, ofm cap (1999-2002), Fr. Andrews,ofm cap (2002-05), Fr. Francis Peter Durai, ofm cap (2005-08), Fr. Jone Antony Raja, ofm cap (2008-10), Fr. J. Arockiam, ofm cap.(2010-12), Fr. K.J. Anbunathan, ofm cap. (2012))
Thirumangalam, Nirmala Ashram, Madurai Dt. - 625 706.
Annai Church at Thirumangalam is located 20 kms south of Madurai on the way to Virudhunagar on the National Highway. In front of the church are the Taluk and Munsiff Courts, Prison, Taluk Office, Registrar’s Office and sub-treasury. Behind the church are the Government Hospital and Head Post Office. On the right side of the church lie the Municipal Office and Traveller’s Bungalow.
Archbishop Justin Diraviam invited the Capuchins to work in Madurai Archdiocese. The pioneers, Frs. Mark, ofm cap and Mathias, ofm cap., worked in Kalladithidal in Ramnad district before Fr. Mathias could find a suitable place for the Capuchin mission at Thirumangalam. The present site with a small chapel was given to the Capuchins, and they were asked to take up the mission parish of Usilampatti itself. The foundation in Thirumangalam was blessed by the Archbishop on 8 December 1970. The construction of the new chapel began in February 1974, and it was completed in December 1976. Thirumangalam was raised to the status of a parish in 1994, and Fr. Benjamin, ofm cap., was its first official parish priest.
The approximate population of Thirumangalam at present is 50200, among whom Catholics are around 600. Most people are self employed. The Capuchins take care of four substations namely, Sathangudi, T.Kallupatti, Odaipatty and Uchapatti Srilankan refugee’s camp. Fr. Arockiam, ofm cap., is the present parish priest.
This parish enjoys the services of the religious sisters of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM), CIC, FIHM and St. Joseph’s of Tarbes. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of Legion of Mary; Vincent de Paul Society, Golbe Society.
The following are the substations of this parish: Sathangudi, Odaipatti, Uchampatti Sri Lankan Refugees Camp and T. Kalluppati.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. Mathias, ofm cap (1970-75), Fr. Joachim, ofm cap (1975-76), Fr. Pancras, ofm cap (1976-78), Fr. Irudaya Samy, ofm cap (1978-79), Fr. Bosco,ofm cap (1979-81), Fr. John Antony, ofm cap (1981-82), Fr. R. Charles, ofm cap (1982-84), Fr. Percy Joseph Raj, ofm cap (1984-87), Fr. Arockiam, ofm cap (1987-90), Fr. Mariaraj, ofm cap (1990-93), Fr. Benjamin, ofm cap (1993-96), Fr. Vedanayagam, ofm cap (1996-99), Fr. Theresnathan, ofm cap (1999-2002), Fr. Andrews,ofm cap (2002-05), Fr. Francis Peter Durai, ofm cap (2005-08), Fr. Jone Antony Raja, ofm cap (2008-10), Fr. J. Arockiam, ofm cap.(2010-12), Fr. K.J. Anbunathan, ofm cap. (2012))