St. Vincent Pallotti Church
Thirunagar, Madurai-625 006.
Thirunagar is a residential colony in the South of Madurai where a good many Catholics have settled. Fr. Montaud, sj established the Stella Mary Church at Thanakkankkulam near Thirunagar. In the year 1949 there were only two Catholic families at Thirunagar. They were looked after by the Holy Rosary Parish, with a weekly Mass and Catechism conducted in a private building.
The Catholics were so enthusiastic that they bought a plot for a church in 1972, but owing to legal difficulties they had to give it back. When the Redemptorists came to Thirunagar in 1968 the people thought their dream was going to be realized. But the Redemptorists who while staying in a rented house took a keen interest in visiting houses in Thirunagar and the neighbouring villages, were asked to take over Anjal Nagar, Madurai. It was still consoling for the Catholics that the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (who came in 1962) were teaching their children in a school of a private person and running Veera Mamunivar dispensary. They had greater consolation when sisters of St. Charles Borremeo came to Thirunagar in 1968 to open a dispensary, a home for the aged and a school. But this consolation was short lived when these sisters left in 1969 for Thiruvalluvar Nagar in Thanakkankulam area. About the same time the sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbs began their apostolate for the handicapped in Cheshire Home.
Meanwhile Msgr. Diraviam invited the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, popularly known as Pallotines, to work here. The parish was erected on 10 December 1978. They came in January 1978, took charge of the parish and opened a formation house. The pioneers were Frs. Manfred Hauck, SAC; Christudas SAC ; George Willam, SAC; and Bro. Francis Trikey, SAC. The parish church was blessed and opened on 19th march,1982 by Msgr. Justin Diravium. This new parish church combines the nuances of modern architecture with a prayer atmosphere, a presbytery and a catechetical centre. A shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus is on the National Highways. A bell tower was erected and blessed on November 11, 1989. The silver jubilee of the parish was celebrated in 2003. In memory of 25 years of Pallotine ministry in Tamilnadu, a grotto for our Lady was built in the church campus. Jude-Thaddeus prayer house and a grotto-church also have been built.
This parish which had only two Catholic families in 1950 has now 300 families with a population of 1500 Catholics, a good number of whom are repatriates from Burma and Sri Lanka. Besides Thirunagar settlement, this parish consists of the areas of Thiruparankundram, Burma colony, Vedarpuliankulam, Austinpatty and Thanakkankulam. The parish is growing fast.
A characteristic feature of this parish is the lay participation initiated and encouraged from the beginning. The parish council exists from 1979. Since 1985 the parish has been maintained by the parishioners. Through the parish council which consists of elected and nominated members and through the various commissions like the one for liturgy, sacred music, finance, arts, education, dialogue, social service, bible etc. The laity exercises their apostolate according to their taste and talent. The regular life of the parish is being nourished by the pious associations.
This parish enjoys the services of the religious sisters of CIC Sisters, St. Charles and Madavaram St. Anne. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of St. Vincent Pallotti Youth Movement, St. Cecilia Young Girls Movement, Alter Boys’ Association, Catechetical Association, Vincent De Paul Society, Legion of Mary and Indian Christian Renewal Movement, Choir group, Altar Servers Association, Educational Committee.
The following are the substations of this parish: Lourdhumatha Kebi - Thiruvalluvar Nagar; St. Antony’s Church – Thanakkankulam; St. Jude’s Shrine – Thirunagar; Infant Jesus Centre – Thirupparankuntram
Succession of parish priests
Fr. Manfred Hauck (1978-81), Fr. Susayan Sathyanesan (1981-83), Fr. Thomas Edathottyil (1983-85), Fr. Devaraj (1985-86),Fr. Emmanuel (1986-89), Fr. Devaraj (1989-91), Fr.Christhudhas (1991-92), Fr. Lourdhu Raj (1992-94), Fr. Antony Britto (1994-98), Fr. Leo Felix (1998-2003), Fr. Albert Leenus (2003-2008), Fr. Sahaya Stanly (2008-2011), Fr. John Paulraj (2011-2012), Fr. James Justin Dhiravium (2012-…)
Thirunagar, Madurai-625 006.
Thirunagar is a residential colony in the South of Madurai where a good many Catholics have settled. Fr. Montaud, sj established the Stella Mary Church at Thanakkankkulam near Thirunagar. In the year 1949 there were only two Catholic families at Thirunagar. They were looked after by the Holy Rosary Parish, with a weekly Mass and Catechism conducted in a private building.
The Catholics were so enthusiastic that they bought a plot for a church in 1972, but owing to legal difficulties they had to give it back. When the Redemptorists came to Thirunagar in 1968 the people thought their dream was going to be realized. But the Redemptorists who while staying in a rented house took a keen interest in visiting houses in Thirunagar and the neighbouring villages, were asked to take over Anjal Nagar, Madurai. It was still consoling for the Catholics that the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (who came in 1962) were teaching their children in a school of a private person and running Veera Mamunivar dispensary. They had greater consolation when sisters of St. Charles Borremeo came to Thirunagar in 1968 to open a dispensary, a home for the aged and a school. But this consolation was short lived when these sisters left in 1969 for Thiruvalluvar Nagar in Thanakkankulam area. About the same time the sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbs began their apostolate for the handicapped in Cheshire Home.
Meanwhile Msgr. Diraviam invited the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, popularly known as Pallotines, to work here. The parish was erected on 10 December 1978. They came in January 1978, took charge of the parish and opened a formation house. The pioneers were Frs. Manfred Hauck, SAC; Christudas SAC ; George Willam, SAC; and Bro. Francis Trikey, SAC. The parish church was blessed and opened on 19th march,1982 by Msgr. Justin Diravium. This new parish church combines the nuances of modern architecture with a prayer atmosphere, a presbytery and a catechetical centre. A shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus is on the National Highways. A bell tower was erected and blessed on November 11, 1989. The silver jubilee of the parish was celebrated in 2003. In memory of 25 years of Pallotine ministry in Tamilnadu, a grotto for our Lady was built in the church campus. Jude-Thaddeus prayer house and a grotto-church also have been built.
This parish which had only two Catholic families in 1950 has now 300 families with a population of 1500 Catholics, a good number of whom are repatriates from Burma and Sri Lanka. Besides Thirunagar settlement, this parish consists of the areas of Thiruparankundram, Burma colony, Vedarpuliankulam, Austinpatty and Thanakkankulam. The parish is growing fast.
A characteristic feature of this parish is the lay participation initiated and encouraged from the beginning. The parish council exists from 1979. Since 1985 the parish has been maintained by the parishioners. Through the parish council which consists of elected and nominated members and through the various commissions like the one for liturgy, sacred music, finance, arts, education, dialogue, social service, bible etc. The laity exercises their apostolate according to their taste and talent. The regular life of the parish is being nourished by the pious associations.
This parish enjoys the services of the religious sisters of CIC Sisters, St. Charles and Madavaram St. Anne. Moreover, this parish is being nourished by the activities of St. Vincent Pallotti Youth Movement, St. Cecilia Young Girls Movement, Alter Boys’ Association, Catechetical Association, Vincent De Paul Society, Legion of Mary and Indian Christian Renewal Movement, Choir group, Altar Servers Association, Educational Committee.
The following are the substations of this parish: Lourdhumatha Kebi - Thiruvalluvar Nagar; St. Antony’s Church – Thanakkankulam; St. Jude’s Shrine – Thirunagar; Infant Jesus Centre – Thirupparankuntram
Succession of parish priests
Fr. Manfred Hauck (1978-81), Fr. Susayan Sathyanesan (1981-83), Fr. Thomas Edathottyil (1983-85), Fr. Devaraj (1985-86),Fr. Emmanuel (1986-89), Fr. Devaraj (1989-91), Fr.Christhudhas (1991-92), Fr. Lourdhu Raj (1992-94), Fr. Antony Britto (1994-98), Fr. Leo Felix (1998-2003), Fr. Albert Leenus (2003-2008), Fr. Sahaya Stanly (2008-2011), Fr. John Paulraj (2011-2012), Fr. James Justin Dhiravium (2012-…)