Saint: St. Antony of Padua

St. Antony’s devotion was started in kadachanendal 30 years back by the simple people, the frist converts of the kattunayakkan Community, Mr. Vedamuthu (Veilu muthu) and his family members kept St. Antony’s statue in the premises and started praying to St. Antony. When the Christians started settling in Kadachanendal area the devotion to St. Antony became popular. Earlier Kadachanendal was under the Salesians of Lourdes Shrine Parish, K. Pudur. A small chapel was built in 1980 and the novena to St. Antony was started in 1981. With the help of Schoenstatt fathers and Fr. S. Jesudasan of Irai Amaithi solai, spiritual needs of the people were met by the Salesians till may 2007. On 16th June 2007, Kadachanendal was erected as an independent parish by His Grace Most Rev. Peter Fernando and Fr. A. Iruthayaraj was appointed as the first Parish Priest.

The new parish of St. Antony’s church, Kadachanendal is covering an area of 15 kms, Surveyar Colony at the South; Alagarkoil village at the North; Mattuthavani – Melur Road at the East; Oomachikulam – vellichanathan villages at the West.

This parish is suburban. It has 7 sub-stations. The population of this area is around 20000 of which the Catholic population is around 1700 (280 families). They are partly government employees and partly daily wagers. The new church was built and consecrated on 17th July 2010.

SUBSTATIONS WITH CHAPELS:
Chinnapatty village, solaimaliyarpatti village, Pudupatti (camp) village

Contact:
St. Antony’s Church,
Kadachanendal,
Kathakinaru (post), Madurai – 625 107.
Tel: +91 452 2422089

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/st-antonys-church-kadachanendal/

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Fondly dedicated to Saint Joseph the worker, Church of Saint Joseph, stands as a lighthouse to the people of Madurai.

Located at Arapalaym Arasardi Road, this church draws thousands of devotees towards Saint Joseph. An imposing structure with exquisite architecture, Gnana Saint Joseph’s has an arresting facade with its domineering entrance.

The first church was built in 07.01.1956. On 06.08.1959 Archbishop Peter Leonard conferred the parochial status to the church and dedicated the church to the patronage of Saint Joseph the Worker.

Rev. Fr. T. Britto, SJ took charge as the first parish priest. Shifted and handed over the R. C. Mill School to Sacred Heart Brothers.

The parish continued to flourish under the able aegis of Rev. Fr. J. Dhanasamy, SJ, Rev. Fr. Motha, SJ, Rev. Fr. T. A. Soosai, Rev. Fr. V. M. Irudayam, Rev. Fr. M. Dhivyanandam, Rev. Fr. Arul Joseph, Rev. Fr. S. M. Selvaraj, Rev. Fr. Jude Vadakara, Rev. Fr. M. Gnanapragasam, Rev. Fr. Arul, Rev. Fr. Vimi Charlie, Rev. Fr. Jerome Eronimus. Today Rev. Fr. A. Louis takes her to the golden jubilee year.

Arriving at the 50th milestone of our journey, as we re-dedicate ourselves in the ministry of the Lord, in wiping every tear from the face of humanity, we continue to be a ray of faith, a beacon of hope, and a spark of love!

SUBSTATIONS WITH CHAPELS:
Karimedu – St. Antony chapel
Packianathapuram – St. Antony chapel
Milgate – Annai Veilankanni chapel

Worship:

Everyday
5:30 am Holy Mass
6:00 pm Holy Mass

Sundays
5:30 am Holy Mass
7:30 am Holy Mass
4:30 pm Holy Mass (English)
6:00 pm Holy Mass

Wednesdays
6:00 pm Novena to Saint Joseph

Saturdays
6:00 pm Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

First Thursday
6:00 pm Adoration, Benediction, Holy Mass

Catechism for Children
7:30 am Mass and Classes

Contact:
St. Joseph’s Church,
Gnanaolivupuram,
A.A. Road,
Madurai – 625016.
Tel: +91 452 2361717

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/st-josephs-church-gnanaolivupuram/
http://stjosephgnana.org/

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Ellis Nagar Parish is situated in the southern part of Madurai city. The parish church is adjacent to BSNL Tower, Ellisnagar. The parish was erected in 1988. It has no substation and the circumference of this area is 3 sqkm. The main occupation of the people is business and some are working in railways and BSNL. There are 850 Catholic families in the parish. And there are four religious communities in the parish.

Contact:
St. Sebastian’s Church,
Behind C3 S.S. Colony Police Station,
New Ellis Nagar,
Madurai -625010.
Tel: +91 452 2603480

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/st-sebastians-church-ellis-nagar/

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Saint: Mary Help of Christians

The parish of Bibikulam is a small and dynamic parish. It was bifurcated from the parish of K. Pudur. Since it was under the Salesian fathers their patroness, Mary Help of Christians, has been given a Patron to the church of Bibikulam. On 26.04.1987, the church was built and blessed by the Archbishop of Madurai, Most. Rev. Dr. Casimir Gnanathickam. It was still a substation. Perceiving the spiritual needs of the people of Bibikulam, Goripalayam, Chokkikulam, Sellur, Narimedu, Alangulam, Mahatma Gandhi Nagar and Thabal thanthi Nagar, the Archbishop of Madurai, Most Rev. Dr. Arockiasamy elevated this small substation into a parish in the year 1997. On that day it had around 200 families. Rev. Fr. P.V. Susai was appointed as a Parish Priest. In the year 2004 under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Angel, anbiams were started. Now it has 335 Catholic families. Elumbur, a little village is the substation which is 10 kms away from the parish.

SUBSTATIONS WITH CHAPELS:
St. Antony’s Chapel, Elumbur, Kulamangalam (Built in the year 1947)

Contact:
Sahaya Annai Church,
Bibikulam,
Madurai – 625002.
Tel: +91 452 2538910

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/sahaya-annai-church-bibikulam/

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In 1980, when Bastian Nagar was the substation of Gnanaolivupuram parish, the people of this area wanted to have a Grotto for worship. Afterwards they decided to have a Church and a new Parish in future. At that time, the local wealthy parishioner Mr. R. Sebastian was ready to offer 20 cents, a piece of land, for the construction of New Church.As it was not enough, the parish priest of Gnanaolilvupuram, Rev. Fr. M. Dhivyanandam and a group of local parishioners requested Archbishop, Most Rev. Justin Diraviam, to buy a land of 48 cents. The Archbishop accepted and the work was completed in 1986. Having been prepared by Fr. Arul Joseph V., The new parish Bastian Nagar was bifurcated from Gnanaolivupuram on 7th September 1986. The parish is situated in the following directions: Gnanaolivupuram parish (East); Nagamalai Pudukottai parish (West); New Ellis Nagar parish (South); Chirst the King parish (North). It has only one substation, namely Fatima Nagar. The total population of this area is 5000 families, of which the Catholics form 900 families. The parish church was constructed on 09.12.1984. On 24.11.1989, the presbytery was constructed. The Bell Fry was constructed at the time of Fr. S. Peter Kulandai on 15.08.1990. The renovated church was blessed by Most Rev. Peter Fernando, D.D., Ph. D., on 16.10.2005.

SUBSTATIONS WITH CHAPELS:
Fatima Nagar

Contact:
St. Paul’s Church,
Bastian Nagar, Madurai – 625 016.
Tel: +91 452 2389466

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/st-pauls-church-bastian-nagar/

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Saint: St. Antony of Padua

Ayravathanallur was under the parish of Our Lady of Dolours Cathedral Church, Madurai for more than 75 years which was administered by the Jesuits. The number of Christian families increased in 1990s. More than 200 Catholic families formed the community of Ayravathanallur and had regular celebration of Sacrements and Sacramentals. Looking at their strong faith and enthusiasm to form a parish community, the then Archbishop of Madurai, Most Rev. Dr. Arokiasamy erected the new parish on 11.06.1994. Rev. Fr. M. Maria Raj was the first parish priest. Ayravathanallur is in the Eastern outskirt of Madurai city. It is situated on the right side of Madurai to Rameswaram Road, at the 10th kilometer from Madurai Railway station. Most of the people are landless agricultural labourers and unorganized collie workers. Some are teachers and government employees.

The parish community has at present around 270 Catholic families with the total Catholic population of 1650. The present Church was constructed on 16.12.1989. The present presbytery was constructed on 01.12.1992. The following are the substations:

Melavadakur – 15km
Silaimaan – 7km
Viraganur Teachers’ Colony – 2km
Tepakkulam mettutheru – 2km
Anupanadi teachers’ colony – 4km
Adaikalam colony – 1km
Babu nagar – 2 km
Manicka nagar – 1km
Satya nagar – 1km

Contact:
St. Joseph’s Church
Ayravathanallur parish,
Ayravathanallur,
Viraganur (P.O),
Madurai-625009.
0452-2311113

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/st-antonys-church-ayravathanllur/

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In the year 1968, the then Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr. P. Justin Diraviam invited the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) to the Archdiocese of Madurai. Initially the Redemptorists took up residence at Thirunagar, with Fr. A. J. Francis as the first Rector. The Redemptorists accepted the plans of the Archbishop to develop a parish on the Palamedu Road and purchased the property and established their Residence, named Arulaham, at Anjal Nagar in 1971.

A quasi parish began to function from 1972, using the Fatima College Chapel. Later a thatched shed was put up; and on 19th January 1975, the new parish under the title of Our Mother of Perpetual Help was erected and entrusted to the care of the Redemptorists. Fr. Kenneth Britto, CSSR was the first parish priest. The construction of the parish church began in February 1976. The perpetual novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help was inaugurated on 13 March 1976. The new church was blessed and opened on 26 January 1978.

The parish had, from its inception, the presence and the services of the Religious sisters of St. Joseph of Lyons and the sisters of Mary Immaculate. The Holy Cross sisters the Bon Secours and Sisters of Charity came into the parish later. The population of the parish increased steadily, necessitating the birth of a new parish, in the form of Christ the King Church at Sengol Nagar in May 1994.

The Silver Jubilee of the parish church was celebrated in the year 2003. At Present there are twenty seven ‘anbiyams’ actively participating and involving in the growth of the parish. The parish has nearly five hundred and fifty families. This parish is entrusted to the pastoral care of the Redemptorists as per the contract entered by them with the Archdiocese of Madurai.

Contact:
Church of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Redemptorists,
Arulaham,
5/1-6A, First Street,
Anjal Nagar,
Madurai – 625018.
Tel: +91 452 2661232

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/church-of-our-mother-of-perpetual-help-anjal-nagar/

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Anna Nagar is a newly formed suburb of Madurai city. In 1976, at the request of the residents of Vaigai Colony, Anna Nagar, Archbishop Diraviam built a small chapel just to cater to the needs of the few Catholics in the locality, who wanted it to be called Velankanny Church. The buying of the site and the building of the shrine within six months was nothing short of a miracle. The instrument was Fr. S. Jesudasan who as procurator of the Archdiocese for 18 years had become an expert in buying and building.

Within a year this small chapel attracted hundreds of people during the week days and thousands at the time of the titular feast. As the devotees increased, a bigger and better church was thought of . Archbishop Diraviam built the present one which was consecrated on 6th October 1979. It is one of the beautiful churches built in his time. Before being made into a parish Fr. N.P. Alphonse and Fr. Lawrence Xavier serving as care-takers in succession.
Since many Catholics were settling down in the colonies around the church, Anna Nagar parish was created, with Fr. S. Jesudasan as the first parish priest, on 31st May 1985. the parish has got K.K. Nagar, Vandiyur as substations with a catholic population of about 2000.

With the co-operation of Rev. Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, of St. John the Baptist, of the Holy Cross and of the Seva Missionaries this parish is growing through associations like the Parish council, Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, Ilampengal Iyakkam and Eucharistic Crusade.

In the line of option for the poor, a survey has been taken with the help of M.M. S.S.S. for developing the three slum areas.

While the parish is growing, the church is fast becoming a famous place of God’s blessings. The whole day devotees are visiting the church. There should be a priest available to pray over the people, to console and counsel, and bless them. There is a possibility to create a spiritual sanatorium in this church. With this end in view, a small building is put up, called, Thiruthalapani Nilayam’ (Pilgrims’ Service Centre)

SUBSTATIONS WITH CHAPELS:
St. Antony’s Church, K.K Nagar – 3 km
Sahaya Annai Church, LKB Nagar – 10 km
St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Jubilee Town – 3 km

PARISH ANNUAL FEAST:
The Birthday of Our Lady : Flag Hoisting – Aug 29th Feast – Sept 8th

Contact:
Church of Our Lady of Velankanni,
Anna Nagar,
Madurai – 625 020.
Tel: 0452 – 2534371

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/church-of-our-lady-of-veilankanni-anna-nagar/

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Saint: Our Lady of Dolours

Fr. Bertrend SJ, bought a piece of land in 1840 and a mini chapel dedicated to our Lady of Dolours was constructed in 1841 by Fr. Garnier. He settled down nearly 30 families of Saliers who were persecuted and driven out from W. Pudupatti church. During the period of Fr. Trincal, (1855) the number of Catholics in this area rose from 600 to 2500. To accommodate the Catholics, the Church was expanded by Fr. Hibolite sj and Br. Lemothe, sj who built two bell towers in Roman style about 1972. The Church was extended to the present Gothic style in three parts. Due to lack of fund from Europe caused by World War I in 1914, Fr. Planchard had to sell the land (the present Mission Hospital opposite to the Cathedral) and continue the construction. The work was over in 1916 and Msgr. Faisandier blessed the church on 15th of August. Mr. Savarimuthu, who built St. Joseph’s College buildings was the architect of the Cathedral. When Madurai was created as a new diocese, Msgr. Leonard sj. announced Our Lady of Dolours as Pro-Cathedral. After Fr. Gomez sj,

Fr. Adaikalam sj. executed the plan of the present bigger church and the taller towers. At the time of Msgr. Justin Diraviam, Our Lady of Dolours attained the status of a Cathedral and was handed over to the Archdiocese in virtue of the Decree given by the Sacred congregation for Religious and seular institutes in 1969.

The Cathedral church stands as a unique symbol of beauty and spirituality with a blend of various forms of European, Roman and continental architecture. The spiritual aura of the agony of Jesus and Mary inspires pathos and passion.

From the beginning, this Church is one of the attractions of Madurai. This parish is more than 150 years old. The parish is full of traditional Catholics and some settled Catholics. The parish comprises of fifteen sub stations and 1600 Catholic Families.

SUBSTATIONS WITH CHAPELS:
Saveriayar Savadi
Palayakuyavar palayam – St. Anthony’s church
Sandai Pettai – St. Anthony’s church
Anupanadi – St. Joseph’s church
Susaiyapperpuram – St. Anthony’s church
Sebastiyar puram – St. Sebastian’s church
Kamarajapuram – Veilankanni’s church
Pokkuvarathu Nagar – Veilankanni’s church
Keeraithurai – Fathima’s church

Contact:
St. Mary’s Cathedral Church,
Keela Veli Street,
Madurai – 625001.

For more information please visit:
http://www.archdioceseofmadurai.org/cathedral/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Marys-Cathedral-Church-Madurai/121399134648589

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