Our Lady, Queen of Heaven Church
Uthamapalayam,, Theni Dt. – 625 533.
Origin and Geographical location of the parish
Uthamapalayam has got a very rich tradition of Christianity, culture, arts and music. As a now Uthamapalyam is the biggest parish in the Archdiocese of Madurai with more than 2000 families. The presence of Christians in Uthamapalayam is much older than the Madura Mission (1606) Even before the start of the mission in Hanumanthanpatti Mission speaks of only the ancient Christian of Uthamapalayam with more than 1000 of them, according to the writings of Jesuit Missionaries.
The majority of them were poor and simple Dalit Christians. In 1660 there were also found a few backward Christians and each of them had a small chapel with a catechist in Uthamapalayam. Later on they all game up their faith. Only Dalit christains continued to be stanch in their faith.
From the beginning of the mission till 1774 this place was attached to Malayadipatti parish from 1838 it become a part of the Mettupatty. It is also recorded that the missionaries from Madurai also had visited them occasionally. Labor it came under panjampatti and under Silukkuvarpatty. Even after the creation of Hanumanthanpatty parish it continued to be a big substation until 1986. It is a pity that a such a big substation with a catholic population of over two thousand a convert and two schools had not yet been made a separate parish. Yet then the Carmelite fathers of Hanumanthanpatty creadted a history by constructing a new chapel with artistic excellence at Uthamapalayam.
Fr. Thomas John as the parish priest bought five acres of land near the water tank to build a Carmel Ashram. When he could not succeed the land was sold to people around at a nominal rate and thus emaged “Thomas Colony”
In 1986, the much long wait came to an end as Uthamapalayam blossomed into a new independent parish with Chinnamanur of Rayappanpatti and Komabai of Sindalaicherry parishes as the substations. At that time there were about 3500 Catholics and St. Anne’s Sisters and Franciscan sisters run middle school and primary school respectively at Uthamapalayam and Chinnamanur.
Fr. V.M. Joseph S.J. was the first parish priest from 28 April 1986. He looked after the poor children through his orphanage where almost 200 orphans were staying. This orphanage was financed by the joy sewers Belgium.
Furthermore Fr. V.M. Joseph also purchased a land and sold the plots to people and constructed 12 hours for the poor with the aid of MMSSS. Hence it is known as “Joseph Colony” The youngmen were given self employment training and the young girls were trained in tailoring and type writing by MMSSS
Recently in the year 2008, MMSSS also sponsored 3 acres of land towards the development of the High School there.
With Fr. Rajendran S.J. Jesuits services came to a glorious end. In 1991 Fr. Antony Packiam constructed a shopping complex just apposite to parish church with the money be got by disposing 5 acres of land in Kombai. Moreso he built the belfry day borewell planted a number of coconut saplings and a small gotto at the enhance.
In 1995, Fr. Irudayaraj did make a provision for a borewell. Fr. Joachim during his tenure of 6 yrs built the extra class rooms in periya nayagi Middle school in the wake of its centenary celebration. Besides his pastoral ministry through borewells. He could successfully complete the construction of the chapel and the presbytery in Chinnamanur which was erected as a separate parish on 23 May 2004 by the Archbishop Peter Fernando.
Fr. David Dharmaraj (2004-2009) renovated the church flooring and built a beautiful grotto. By his stern and meticulous efforts be upgraded the St. Joseph Middle school into high School and constructed extra class rooms and other facilities.
Fr. Paul Raj the present parish priest with new vigor and enthusiasm brings about a steady growth in all walks of life. He could tap all the resumes possible from various quarters govt schemes and projects. Sanitation, bore wells, Drinking water facilities extra class rooms concert roofing’s. Balwadis compoundwalls library laboratory and other infrastructure were realized through his relentless efforts and projects.
In view of the silver justice celebration the parish church was extended and renovated with a beautiful altar with the aid of the diocese the presbytery was also extended with more rooms and office.
In Kombai also he could put up a new school building, Balwadys compound wall and kitchen. The 120 years old chapel was demolished and a new chapel is nearing completion. During his time this parish has scaled a great height.
There are good number of schools run by the Diocese
St. Joseph primary School
St. Joseph Hr. Sec. School
Periyanayagi Middle School
R.C. Primary School, Kombai in Uthamapalayam
People have a special devotion to our lady of ascension their patron saint. On all occasions people throng the chapel in good number as always. It is heartening to note that one can enjoy saying mass there, as the whole church campus in flooded heavily by the multitude of people.
Major vicariate meetings, rallies conventions feasts and led here considering the mass strength of the locality. As lightly talk and skillful artists they spread the gospel in art from also.
A good number of shops lands and coconut grove in the church and enable this parish to attain self sustainability.
In any liturgical celebration children occupy half of the church and there are a good number youth also. Hence there is a great scope for youth and children animation. As most of the people are unorganized MMSSS has formed a number of self help groups. Yet then for the integral and holistic development of all the sections of people.
Uthamapalayam which was a substation of Hanumanthanpatty till 1986 has a Christian community older than that of Hanumanthanpatty. The Dalit Christians here seem to have been converted by missionaries from Kerala even before the beginning of the Jesuit Madurai Mission of De Nobili in 1606. During the 17th and 18th centuries this place had been ministered by the Jesuit fathers coming from Madurai residence.
Fr. V.M. Joseph, sj was the first parish priest from 28 April 1986. There were two substations, namely, Chinnamanur (from Rayappanpatti parish) and Kombai (from Sindalechery parish). There were about 3500 Catholics. At present St. Anne’s Sisters and Franciscan sisters run Middle school and Primary School respectively at Uthamapalayam and Kombai.
During the ministry of the Carmelite fathers in Hanumanthanpatty, a beautiful church was built by the Archbishop Diraviam in 1979. Steps were taken to upgrade the Middle School run by the Management into a High School, but it could not be achieved then. When Fr. Thomas was the parish priest he bought a five acre plot to construct Carmelite ashram. As that plan did not materialize, the plot was sold out at a cheap rate for house construction and the colony that came up is called ‘Thomas Colony.’ Vincent de Paul Society was started in this period.
Fr. V.M. Joseph, sj looked after the poor children through his orphanage where 200 orphans were staying. This orphanage is financed by Joy Sowers, Belgium. He constructed 12 houses for the poor, with the aid of MMSSS. The young men were given self-employment training by the MMSSS and the young girls in the parish were trained in tailoring and typewriting.
This parish enjoys the services of the religious sisters of St. Anne’s of Trichy.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. V.M. Joseph, sj (1986-89), Fr. Rajendran, sj (1990-91), Fr. Antony Packiam (1991-95), Fr. Irudayaraj (1995-98), Fr. Joachim (1998-2004), Fr. David Dharmaraj (2004-2009), Fr. I. Paulraj (2009- ).
Uthamapalayam,, Theni Dt. – 625 533.
Origin and Geographical location of the parish
Uthamapalayam has got a very rich tradition of Christianity, culture, arts and music. As a now Uthamapalyam is the biggest parish in the Archdiocese of Madurai with more than 2000 families. The presence of Christians in Uthamapalayam is much older than the Madura Mission (1606) Even before the start of the mission in Hanumanthanpatti Mission speaks of only the ancient Christian of Uthamapalayam with more than 1000 of them, according to the writings of Jesuit Missionaries.
The majority of them were poor and simple Dalit Christians. In 1660 there were also found a few backward Christians and each of them had a small chapel with a catechist in Uthamapalayam. Later on they all game up their faith. Only Dalit christains continued to be stanch in their faith.
From the beginning of the mission till 1774 this place was attached to Malayadipatti parish from 1838 it become a part of the Mettupatty. It is also recorded that the missionaries from Madurai also had visited them occasionally. Labor it came under panjampatti and under Silukkuvarpatty. Even after the creation of Hanumanthanpatty parish it continued to be a big substation until 1986. It is a pity that a such a big substation with a catholic population of over two thousand a convert and two schools had not yet been made a separate parish. Yet then the Carmelite fathers of Hanumanthanpatty creadted a history by constructing a new chapel with artistic excellence at Uthamapalayam.
Fr. Thomas John as the parish priest bought five acres of land near the water tank to build a Carmel Ashram. When he could not succeed the land was sold to people around at a nominal rate and thus emaged “Thomas Colony”
In 1986, the much long wait came to an end as Uthamapalayam blossomed into a new independent parish with Chinnamanur of Rayappanpatti and Komabai of Sindalaicherry parishes as the substations. At that time there were about 3500 Catholics and St. Anne’s Sisters and Franciscan sisters run middle school and primary school respectively at Uthamapalayam and Chinnamanur.
Fr. V.M. Joseph S.J. was the first parish priest from 28 April 1986. He looked after the poor children through his orphanage where almost 200 orphans were staying. This orphanage was financed by the joy sewers Belgium.
Furthermore Fr. V.M. Joseph also purchased a land and sold the plots to people and constructed 12 hours for the poor with the aid of MMSSS. Hence it is known as “Joseph Colony” The youngmen were given self employment training and the young girls were trained in tailoring and type writing by MMSSS
Recently in the year 2008, MMSSS also sponsored 3 acres of land towards the development of the High School there.
With Fr. Rajendran S.J. Jesuits services came to a glorious end. In 1991 Fr. Antony Packiam constructed a shopping complex just apposite to parish church with the money be got by disposing 5 acres of land in Kombai. Moreso he built the belfry day borewell planted a number of coconut saplings and a small gotto at the enhance.
In 1995, Fr. Irudayaraj did make a provision for a borewell. Fr. Joachim during his tenure of 6 yrs built the extra class rooms in periya nayagi Middle school in the wake of its centenary celebration. Besides his pastoral ministry through borewells. He could successfully complete the construction of the chapel and the presbytery in Chinnamanur which was erected as a separate parish on 23 May 2004 by the Archbishop Peter Fernando.
Fr. David Dharmaraj (2004-2009) renovated the church flooring and built a beautiful grotto. By his stern and meticulous efforts be upgraded the St. Joseph Middle school into high School and constructed extra class rooms and other facilities.
Fr. Paul Raj the present parish priest with new vigor and enthusiasm brings about a steady growth in all walks of life. He could tap all the resumes possible from various quarters govt schemes and projects. Sanitation, bore wells, Drinking water facilities extra class rooms concert roofing’s. Balwadis compoundwalls library laboratory and other infrastructure were realized through his relentless efforts and projects.
In view of the silver justice celebration the parish church was extended and renovated with a beautiful altar with the aid of the diocese the presbytery was also extended with more rooms and office.
In Kombai also he could put up a new school building, Balwadys compound wall and kitchen. The 120 years old chapel was demolished and a new chapel is nearing completion. During his time this parish has scaled a great height.
There are good number of schools run by the Diocese
St. Joseph primary School
St. Joseph Hr. Sec. School
Periyanayagi Middle School
R.C. Primary School, Kombai in Uthamapalayam
People have a special devotion to our lady of ascension their patron saint. On all occasions people throng the chapel in good number as always. It is heartening to note that one can enjoy saying mass there, as the whole church campus in flooded heavily by the multitude of people.
Major vicariate meetings, rallies conventions feasts and led here considering the mass strength of the locality. As lightly talk and skillful artists they spread the gospel in art from also.
A good number of shops lands and coconut grove in the church and enable this parish to attain self sustainability.
In any liturgical celebration children occupy half of the church and there are a good number youth also. Hence there is a great scope for youth and children animation. As most of the people are unorganized MMSSS has formed a number of self help groups. Yet then for the integral and holistic development of all the sections of people.
Uthamapalayam which was a substation of Hanumanthanpatty till 1986 has a Christian community older than that of Hanumanthanpatty. The Dalit Christians here seem to have been converted by missionaries from Kerala even before the beginning of the Jesuit Madurai Mission of De Nobili in 1606. During the 17th and 18th centuries this place had been ministered by the Jesuit fathers coming from Madurai residence.
Fr. V.M. Joseph, sj was the first parish priest from 28 April 1986. There were two substations, namely, Chinnamanur (from Rayappanpatti parish) and Kombai (from Sindalechery parish). There were about 3500 Catholics. At present St. Anne’s Sisters and Franciscan sisters run Middle school and Primary School respectively at Uthamapalayam and Kombai.
During the ministry of the Carmelite fathers in Hanumanthanpatty, a beautiful church was built by the Archbishop Diraviam in 1979. Steps were taken to upgrade the Middle School run by the Management into a High School, but it could not be achieved then. When Fr. Thomas was the parish priest he bought a five acre plot to construct Carmelite ashram. As that plan did not materialize, the plot was sold out at a cheap rate for house construction and the colony that came up is called ‘Thomas Colony.’ Vincent de Paul Society was started in this period.
Fr. V.M. Joseph, sj looked after the poor children through his orphanage where 200 orphans were staying. This orphanage is financed by Joy Sowers, Belgium. He constructed 12 houses for the poor, with the aid of MMSSS. The young men were given self-employment training by the MMSSS and the young girls in the parish were trained in tailoring and typewriting.
This parish enjoys the services of the religious sisters of St. Anne’s of Trichy.
Succession of Parish Priests
Fr. V.M. Joseph, sj (1986-89), Fr. Rajendran, sj (1990-91), Fr. Antony Packiam (1991-95), Fr. Irudayaraj (1995-98), Fr. Joachim (1998-2004), Fr. David Dharmaraj (2004-2009), Fr. I. Paulraj (2009- ).