St. Joseph’s Church,
R.C. Church, Madurai Road, Nilakottai -624 208, Dindigul Dt.
Telephone :04543-233155

For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org

The first church built in Kodaikanal was the church of Our Lady of La Salette, built by Fr. Saint Cyr S.J. in 1866 by the donation of a Belgian lady who wanted to thank Our Lady of La Salette for the cure of her daughter. As the Catholic population in Kodaikanal was growing apace, the need of a parish church

was felt. Fr. Sebasthier S.J. bought in 1909 a site in Munjikal where a large portion of those Indian Catholics who had come up as butlers or watchmen or peons of Westerners had settled down. The church was completed in 1910.

Foundation stone was laid on 15th May, 1910 for parish church by the Bishop Barthe S.J. and the artistic and exquisite present parish Church was consecrated on October 4, 1911 by the same Bishop. In 1983 on the occasion of Diamond Jubillee of the Church

Fr. Vedamanickam renovated the altar. Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus, the titular feast of the parish, is celebrated in the month of June every year. The feast of our Lady of La Saleth is celebrated on a very grand scale every August 15. On 15-08-2007, Kodaikanal parishes were carved out of Batlakundu Vicariate to form a new vicariate having Munjikkal as its centre.

In the beginning, the fathers and scholastics of Sacred Heart College, Shenbaganur went to minister to the needs of the parish. The first parish priest was Fr. Jolly S.J. who was succeeded by Frs. Froely S.J., Ketter S.J., Bonhoure S.J., Shembry S.J., Santiago S.J., A. Kulandaisamy S.J. D. Kulandairaj S.J., Amalraj S.J., Arul Joseph, and A. Vedamanickam

Fr. Bonhoure S.J., who had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart created the monument of the Sacred Heart appearing to Margaret Mary, in 1947 – 1949 Fr. D. Kulandairaj S.J. who was friendly with all and wanted friends, particularly to Fr. R. Croegeart and with their help built in 1973 the spacious and stately building called ‘Natpaham’ According to the wish of the donors the ground floor was meant to be a recreation hall for the youth, for which Fr. D. Kulandairaj S.J. managed to get from the Jesuit provincial a big Billiard Table- and the top floor to be a training centre for girls to learn stitching, embroidery and fibre work. However in course of time these intentions of the donors seem to have vanished into thin air.

Fr. Arul Joseph started a charismatic group which is active still.

Fr. A. Vedamanickam renovated the church changed the wooden altar into a stone altar, had it consecrated and celebrated fittingly the 75th year of the church.

The grand festival of the parish attended by a great concourse of people is the feast of Our Lady of La Salette, on 15th August. The chapel of La Salette is maintained by the Jesuits of La Providence, a holiday home of Madurai Jesuits, one of whom is a chaplain; at present it is Fr. V.K. George S.J., who looks after the needs of the Catholics around the chapel. Fr. Susai Michaelraj with his assistant Fr. A. Irudayaraj took initiative and formed pastors fellowship. Moved by the pitiable condition of Christians they have inspired laymen to form the Indian Christian Association. He formed Korshak. This aims at raising funds in order to facilitate mother – child welfare care, social welfare literacy programme; educational marriage and burial assistance. The following are the areas covered by the parish: Mannavanur, Gundupatti, Kavunji, La Saleth church, Call Seal Club Road, Sebastiar’s Church, St. Mary’s Road, Anandagiri 6 streets, Anna Nagar, Indira Nagar, Turnerpuram, Fernhill Road, Somasundaram Colony, Sivanadi Road, Kurinji Nagar, Keell Bhumi, M.M. Street, Observatory, Fatima Malai, Pamparpuram, Annai Teresa Nagar, Vattakanal, Thanthi Medu, Pudukkadu, Bliss villa, Antonyar’s street etc.

Sacred Heart Church,
Anandagiri (Post), Munjikkal,
Kodaikanal – 624 101, Dindigul Dist.

For more information please visit: www.lasalette.in

Michaelpalayam was erected in the year 1964 at the time of Rev. Fr. Maria Soosai. It is situated in between Nilakkottai and Sempatti road – 5km away from Nilakkottai and 10 kms away from Sempatty. There are 10 sub-stations with a total Catholic population of 5000 in this parish. The circumference of this parish marks 5 kms. Most of the catholic people are farmers. The parish church was built and blessed by the first Archbishop of Madurai Most Rev. Peter Leonard in the year April 29th 1967.

St. Michael’s Church,
Michaelpalayam (P.O),
Nilakkottai (T.K)
Dindigul (dt.), Pin – 624215
Telephone: 04543-291404

For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org\

This parish was established in the year 2004 in honour of St. Antony of Padua. It was bifurcated from the parish of Perumalmalai on 22.5.2004 by His Grace Dr. Peter Fernando. There was a small church here for about 50 years. It was built and blessed by His Grace Dr. M. Arockiasamy on 8.3.1996. Again it was renovated by Fr. Britto Raja Suresh, the first parish priest and was blessed by His Grace Dr. Peter Fernando on 26.3.2007; the presbytery was built by Fr.
Antonysamy the then parish priest of perumalmalai parish and completed by Fr. Britto Raja Suresh. It was blessed on 3.12 .2004.Mangalamkombu is situated 100 km North West of Madurai and 40 km North East of Kodaikanal in palani hills. It belongs to kamanur panchayat of Kodaikkanal Taluk, Dindigul district. There are five substations. The people are daily wage employees working in estates. There are three religious congregations working in this parish (HFB at Mangalamkombu, FSJ at pannaikadu, Cluny at Resiur)

St. Antony’s Church,
Mangalamkombu – 624216
Kodaikanal T. K., Dindigul Dist
Telephone :04542-266666

For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org

Kavirayapuram was once under Silukuvarpatti parish for a very long time. This village is formed by Catholics in 1854. Rev. Fr. Barthiere s.j., the Jesuit missionary constructed a small chapel when he was in charge of this mission. In 1952, Rev. Fr. Ernest Glas demolished that small chapel and constructed another church. But in 1984 Rev. Fr. Vedamanickam, then Silukuvarpatti P.P built the present Infant Jesus Church. Kavirayapuram is in Dindigul dt., East of Nilakottai. In 1989 Kavirayapuram was erected as a new parish.

Infant Jesus Church,
Kavirayapuram- 624216,
Silukuvarpatti (Via) Dindigul dt.

For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org

Kalladipatty, a substation of Silukkuvarpatty parish was bifurcated and erected into a new parish in 1989. It is 6 kms away from Vadipatty and it is situated next to pallapatty on the Dindigul – Sholavandan highways road. Total population of this area is 1500, of which the Catholic population is 850. Most of them are agricultural and coolie workers. The parochial church and presbytery were constructed in 1990.

St. John De Britto Church,
Kalladipatty, Ammaianayakanur (via), Dindigul Dt.- 624201.
Telephone No :04543-291150

For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org

Ayyampalyam is a small quasi parish with 40 Catholic families, scattered in sub stations. Most of them are daily coolie workers. The church and presbytery are at the northern side of Maratha Nathi Dam. Ganesapuram and Pattiveeranpatty are the substations of this parish. The area of Ayyampalayam is 4288.13 hectare. The population is about 45,000. The Catholic population of this parish is about 200. The main occupation of people are coconut grove and beatel leaves growing. The parochial church was built on 8.12.1989. The presbytery was built about 70 years before.

Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church,
Fr. Parish Priest, R. C. Church, Ayyampalayam 624204, Dindigul Dt.
Telephone No :04543 – 268690.

For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org

The Parish of Ammapatti was divided from the parish of Silukkuvarpatti on June 11, 1997. It was entrusted to the pastoral care of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS). The first parish priest was Fr. A. Santiagu. The presbytery was constructed in 1998 and the parochial church was constructed in 2004. This parish is given to the pastoral care of the Fransalians as directed by the contract entered by both the parties, i.e., the Archdiocese and the MSFS.

St. Antony’s Church,
Ammapatti, Kodai Road, Ammapatti (PO), Dindigul (dt.) – 624206
Telephone No :04543-238566

For more information please visit: http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org