St. Antony’s Shrine,
4 Roads,
Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur District,
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
Category: Churches in Tamilnadu
St. Antony’s Shrine, 4 Roads, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur
Our Lady of Divine Providence Church, Guanella nager, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur
Our Lady of Divine Providence Church,
Guanella nager,
Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur District,
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
St. Xavier Church, Sembodai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur
History of Sembodoi:
There was a stream flowing just behind the presbytery. People used the stream water for bathing and washing. A kind of Crop called sambu was cultirated in the area where people are living of present. This is how the parish ws named as sembodai.Sembodai was bifurcated from St. Mary’s Cathetral, Kumbakonam on 27 August 1977 by his Excellency Most Rev. Paul Arul samy D.D, until then it was a substation of cathefral Parish. There were only 800 Catholics at the time ob bifurcation. The thatched roof school at Sembodai was used as a place workship ans Dispensary. Due to the relentless effects of Rev. Msgr. AntonyDavid a new parish church and prebytery was constructed and blessed on 03.12.1970 and 27.08.1977 respectively.Pious associations like St. Vincent de Paul society, St. Xavier’s Youth and Legion of Mary actively perection in the parish. The present school called St. Xavier’s Middle School was started with 11 students in the year 1952. In 1955 the school was badly affected by flood. Fr. Rajamanickam was the first corespondent of the school. In 1958 fire broke out and the school records burned to ashes. Fr. Ganapragasam constructed a new concrete roof building for the school and Most.Rev. Paul Arulsamy blessed it on 19.08.1983. S.M.M.I Sisters after 12 years of their service in the parish and school, they left. Immaculate Sisters worked in the parish and school for 14 years. Afterwards they too left. Now Holy Cross Sisters of Trichy are actively doing the pastora and educational ministry in the parish.
Territory of the Parish:
- East-Uchipillaiyar Kovil
- West-Vazhapazha Kidai (Kathaperumal Koil)
- North- Cauvery River
- South-Arasalau, Amman Koil street, Thoppu, Theru, Sembodai, Singarattoppu, Ehemichangapalayam, Koil Pattu, Ammanpettai, Managudi and Valaipettai.
St.Xavier church,
Sembodai,
Kumbakonam South P O.,
Thanjavur District – 612 001
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
Tel:0435/432558
Source/Courtesy: http://www.dioceseofkumbakonam.org/parish_view.php?uid=58
Risen Christ Church, Nemilicherry, Chromepet, Chennai
The Risen Christ Church (Estd.2002) in Nemilicherry was bifurcated from the Parish of Chromepet. Risen Christ Church was blessed and laid by Rt. Rev. Dr. Neethinathan, Bishop of Chingleput on 3rd August 2004. The new church work was completed by Fr. C. Francis, the then Parish Priest and was blessed on 27th August 2006.
Risen Christ Church,
No. 3, Mettu Street, Nemilicherry,
Chromepet, Chennai – 600 044,
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
Ph: 044 – 226 50 829
For more information please visit: http://www.chengaidiocese.org/parishes/view/50
St.Thasnavis Matha Church, Nagercoil
During the pontificate of Pope Liberius, (352-366 A.D) the Roman Patrician John and his wife, who were without heirs, made a vow to donate their possessions to Our Lady. They prayed to her that she might make known to them in what manner they were to dispose of their property in her honour. It was the summer time on August 5, during the night, snow fell on the summit of Esquiline Hill and, in obedience to a vision which they had the same night, they built a basilica, in honour of Our Lady on the spot which was covered with snow. The church was originally built by Pope Liberius and was called after him Basilica Liberii or Liberiana.
Some sects were averse to this development so they raised an issue to argue that no importance shall be given to Our Lady.
In 428 AD, Nestorius the newly consecrated Bishop of Constantinople, from the pulpit, he attacked that Mary’s Title as Theotokos that is Mother of God and claimed that even though Mary is Christokos that is “Mother of Christ”, She cannot be the Mother of God. Shortly afterwards, the Bishop of Alexandria, Cyril, wrote a letter to Nestorius in order to correct the said error.
After receiving his reply, Cyril wrote a letter to Pope Celestine and forwarded Nestorius response. Cyril submitted both his writings and Nestorius response for papal judgement.
After examining the documents, Pope Celestine condemned Nestorius’ teaching and ordered him to recant in ten days. The pope also authorized Cyril to receive the recantation or else condemn and depose Nestorius from his See. Nestorius refused to recant and published a clearer condemnation against the title Theotokos. He wrote: A mother cannot bear a Son older than herself. If Mary is called Mother of God, she is made a Goddess. The man Jesus… is the temple, the vesture of the word…. God did not die. and so on. Nestorius refused to submit to Cyril and requested a General Council to discuss this issue.
A General Council in Ephesus was called and organized. It opened on 22nd June 429, but Nestorius refused to personally attend. The Council condemned Nestorius and his followers. The council’s decrees and definitions were approved by Pope Sixtus III in 431 since Pope Celestine had already died. Nestorius fled to Persia.
Pope sixtus III in 432 it was extended to celebrate on 5th August to commemorate the dedication of the church “Sancta Maria Maggiore” on the Esquiline Hill in Rome and dedicated to Our Lady that is Dedicatio Sanctae Mariae and it was extended to all the churches of Rome and finally it was made a universal feast. Sancta Maria Maggiore means that the church is the Major Church of all Marian churches in the world.
“Thasnavis’ means “snow falling“ in Portuguese Language
so it is called as “Sancta Maria Thasnavis” that is
‘Sancta’ means ‘Holy’,
‘Maria’ means ‘Mary’ and
‘Thasnavis’ means ‘Snow falling’.
St.Thasnavis Matha Church (Our Lady of Snows Church),
Kottar Diocese,
Maravankudieruppu Nagercoil,
Nagercoil Town 629002,
Kanyakumari District,
Tamil Nadu, INDIA.
Courtesy/Source: http://maravankudieruppu.com/stthasanavis.htm
St. Joseph’s Church, Mahalakshmi Nagar, Selaiyur, Chennai
On the western end of the Parish of Tambaram, a land with the building was bought by the efforts of Rev. Fr. Joseph Thyparampill, then Parish Priest of Tambaram. The first Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Devasia M.J converted the building which was used for a soap factory into a Church. The present existing Church was built by Rev. Fr. Cyriac Illimootil in the year 1997
Sub Stations with Chapel: Vengai Vasal, Arokia Annai Alayam, 6 kms. (Estd. 2007)
Catholic presence in other villages:
Santhosapuram (4 kms), Chittalapakkam (3 kms), Kamarajapuram (1km)
St. Joseph’s Church,
Mahalakshmi Nagar,
17, Church Cross Street,
Selaiyur, Chennai,
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
Pin : 600 073
Ph : 044 – 222 75 449
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Tiruvallur
This parish was established in 1965 by Msgr John Kottaram who did evangelization work in twenty villages. He started the devotions to St Jude at Kattur and Infant Jesus at Manali New Town. In 1965 the new parish of Minjur was erected in Honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In 2002 a new Church was built at Minjur. The Seva Missionary Sisters of Mary founded by Msgr John Kottaram are present in this Parish.
Mass Timings:
Sunday Mass / Timing: 7.15 am & 8.30 am (Kattur), 6.15 pm – Tamil
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church,
Minjur, Ponneri Tk,
Thiruvallur Dt – 601 203.
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
Tel 044 – 27 93 43 37.
Website: www.stjudekattur.com
For more information please visit: www.stjudekattur.com
Infant Jesus Shrine, Manali New Town, Chennai
The church, built for the Infant Jesus at Manali New Town, city of Chennai, is a well- known landmark to all. The church was built on 25th of December,1980. Innumerable miracles are said to have taken place in the past 28 years. The church was initiated by the efforts of Rev. Msgr. John Kottaram.
The functioning of the church activities for the past 16years is praiseworthy, (thus bringing it immeasurable fame). Today, thousands of devotees are seen flocking to this Shrine. Various Miracles and wonders are said to occur here, in particular the gift of the child is said to have been bosomed on many childless couple. Moreover devotees who pray fervently for various intentions such as Employment, Marriage, Jobs Abroad, Success in Exams, Good Health and so on have experienced the miraculous powers of Infant Jesus. The first Thursday of every month is celebrated in a very special way. People throng the church from dawn to disk to participate in the special prayers and the procession and thus return peaceful and content. On first Thursdays 7 masses with processions take place.
Prayer to the Infant Jesus, Manali New Town
(Say this prayer on Every day)
O Holy Infant Jesus, who shed your blessings on whoever invokes your name, look kindly on us who kneel humble before your image, and hear our prayers. We commend to your mercy the many poor and needy people who trust in your Divine Heart. Lay your all powerful hand upon them and help them in their needs. Lay your hand upon the sick, to cure them and sanctify their suffering; upon those in distresses, to console them; upon sinners, to draw them into the light of your divine grace; upon all those who, stricken with grief and suffering, turn trustingly to you for loving help. Lay your hand also upon all of us and give us your blessing. O little King, grant the treasures of your divine mercy to the entire world, and keep us now and always in the grace of your love! Amen…
INFANT JESUS SHRINE,
Manali New Town, Chennai -600103,
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
Tel: +91-044-25931387,
URL: www.infantjesusshrine.in
For more information please visit: www.infantjesusshrine.in
Our Lady of Snows Kallikulam, Tirunelveli
WELCOME TO PANIMATHA
Our Lady of Snows Kallikulam shrine is one of the prominent Marian shrines in India. It is located at Tirunelveli district in the state Tamilnadu of India. In the recent years, it became popular in India because of vision and apparition of Our Lady. A strong oral tradition attests to Our Lady’s apparition at Kallikulam. The tradition is built around the following few significant events:
On 1884, the villagers and Jesuits decided to build a new church at Kallikulam for Our Lady. They were undecided about the size and location of the church. They prayed to Our Lady and requested her intercession to choose the location and size of the church. At that time, on a hot summer morning, they found a piece of land wet with morning dew. They wondered about that unusual thing, and believed that that was a miraculous intercession of Our Lady to mark the location of the church. On 1885 they built a magnificent church on that location and consecrated to Our Lady of Snows.
On 29th March 1939, evening around 6.30 pm, Our Lady appeared on a hill near to the church. Six young people saw that apparition and informed that to parish priest and the village people.
Since then, thousands of people of all faiths, from all over India, have visited Kallikulam and have left spiritually strengthened and renewed. Countless unbelievers and physically or mentally afflicted, have been converted and healed. Not only do multitudes of Catholic travel there throughout the year but many non-Christians visit as well. Hundreds of miraculous cures are reported every year. Our Lady of the Snows devotions down through the centuries have proved the place to be of divine origin.
The shrine is a center of hospitality and spiritual growth, founded in Tamil tradition and culture. Here, Our Lady of the Snows, is popularly known as Panimatha. Panimatha is a Tamil word. In Tamil ‘Pani’ means ‘Snow’ and ‘Matha’ means ‘Mother’.
OUR LADY OF SNOWS CHURCH
People inhabited Kallikulam as early as 1700. They built a small temple to a Hindu deity for worship. The village leader performed religious service in that temple.
Sometime after, a lady with a child in her arm, frequently came in the dream of village leader and asked a particular portion of land at Kallikulam. That time Kallikulam village people were legally fighting for ownership of Kallikulam village land in the district court. That woman again came in the dream of village leader and assured her blessing to win their legal battle. On the next day, village leader and the people got final judgment in favour of them. So they decided to honor that lady. With help of a European Roman Catholic priest they came to know that that lady was Mary.
On 1770 AD, a thatched church was built in the name of Holy Mary by village people. Jesuits helped them to convert into Christianity and formed small Christian community. As catholic population increased, that church was enlarged, by Fathers Martin and Mossette on 1838.
On 1884, villagers and Jesuits decided to build a new church at Kallikulam for Our Lady. They were undecided about the size and location of the church. They prayed to Our Lady and requested her intercession to choose the location and size of church. At that time, on a hot summer morning, they found a piece of land wet with morning dew. They wondered about that unusual thing, and believed that that was a miraculous intercession of Our Lady to mark the location of proposed church.
On 5th September 1884, Rev.Father Cousanal laid foundation for new church. With donation and hard workmanship of people, church main building work was completed on 1886 and consecrated to Our Lady of Snows. The church tower work was started on 1941 and completed on 1942.
The church architecture is based on Roman architecture. It has three towers, one main tower and two sub towers. The main tower height is 160 feet and sub tower height is 68 feet. The church building height is 55 feet. The total length of church is 151 feet and width is 56 feet. The main tower has internal spiral steps for 143 feet. The main statue of “Our lady of Snows” and church bell were brought from France.
Our Lady of Snows church has religious significance for Christian community in India. It also has historical significance, as it is nearly 125 years old.
Contact:
Our Lady of Snow Church,
Kallikulam, Tirunelveli District,
Tamilnadu, India – 627113.
Tel No.: 04637 235161.
For more information please visit: http://www.panimatha.com/
Emmaus Spirituality Centre, Villupuram
Emmaus Spirituality Centre,
Aruljyothi Trust,
Sithanangur Post,
Villupuram District – 607107,
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
