Ugarthe Nagar Infant Jesus Church parish was bifurcated from Shenbaganur on 30.08.2009. It is situated in the district of Dindigul and in the Taluk of Kodaikanal. It is the 8th parish in the Kodaikanal hills.

This parish has three substations namely Utcot, Srinivasapuram, Carmelpuram. The total circumference of this parish is around 8kms, and its territories are srinivasapuram, Anandagiri 7th street, Utcot, Ugarthe Nagar and Carmelpuram. There are around 4000 people in this area and among them 400 families are Catholics. 2000 is the Catholic population.

The main work of the people is cultivation; some work as drivers and guides. There are also good numbers of teachers and government workers. But, most of the people are petty shop owners or work in hotels as servers and attendants.
The new presbytery was built in 2009. Worship at this place began in 1975 with a small Arockia Annai “Kurusadi”. Since people were increasing in number, again it was renovated and rebuilt as a small church in 2003 by Fr. Xavier Raj, the then parish priest of Munjikkal. Another chapel of the Carmelite Cloistered Sisters is also used for public liturgy and worship for the convenience of the people at Carmelpuram. This area ‘Ugarthe Nagar’ is named after a Jesuit priest called Fr. Emile Ugarthe, a priest from Spain. Out of his love for the people, he made all arrangements to distribute lands freely and to build houses for the poor Christian labourers. There are six religious Congregations ministering in this parish. The Parish church is to be built yet.

Infant Jesus Church,
St. John Maria Vianney Illam,
Ugarthe Nagar,
Shenbaganur,
Kodaidanal,
Dindigul dt- 624104.

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