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