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Little Flower Seminary
Innaciarpuram, Tuticorin
Little Flower Seminary
Innaciarpuram
Thoothukudi – 628 002
Phone : 0461-2360912
When the diocese of Tuticorin was bifurcated from Tiruchirappalli in 1923, it had very few priests native of Tuticorin Diocese. To increase the vocation and to get more priests, Most Rev. Bishop Francis Tiburtius Roche started Little Flower Seminary in Vadakankulam on June 21st 1938 in priests’ residence with four seminarians who were studying 9th standard.
In 1940 the seminary was shifted to Amalivanam, in Vadakankulam. From 1942 onwards, the seminarians were studying at St. Theresa’s High School, Vadakankulam. In 1942 the Little Flower Seminary was shifted to Innaciarpuram, Tuticorin. The seminarians were studying at St. Xavier’s High School. In January 1949 the seminary was shifted to the bishop’s house campus, and the seminary at Innaciarpuram became Bishop’s House.
From June 1951 onwards, the seminarians who were studying Latin were sent to St. Peter’s Seminary in Madurai. Those who were studying P.U.C. were sent to V.O.C. College in Tuticorin. During the tenure of Most Rev. Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu, in 1973, Little Flower Seminary started to function as a Minor Seminary. From 1968 to 1980 seminarians were sent to Kamaraj College for P.U.C. From 1974 onwards, seminarians were again sent to St. Peter’s Seminary in Madurai.
In October 1976 Little Flower Seminary was again shifted to Innaciarpuram but this time permanently. From 1981 onwards, seminarians were selected from 11th standard. From 1995 June onwards, seminarians were selected from 9th standard and for schooling, they were sent to the newly started diocesan run St. Ignatius Hr. Sec. School at Innaciarpuram. From 1996 onwards, students who have completed 10th standard or 12th standard were selected.
On 21st June 2004 Initiation Course was started by the then Bishop of Trichy Most Rev. Thomas Fernando. Seminarians from Palayamkottai Diocese also joined LFS. From 2006 onwards, those who completed 12th standard and under-graduate students were selected as seminarians. From 2009 onwards, seminarians from all dioceses of Madurai Arch-diocese were accepted.
In 2010-2011 the seminary was temporarily shifted to Good News Center, for repair work was going on at LFS. The renovated LFS building was blessed by Most Rev. Bishop Yvon Ambroise in October 2011.
On June 22nd 2012, Most Rev. Bishop Yvon Ambroise celebrated the inaugural Diamond Jubilee Mass in a grand scale. At this juncture, when the centennial celebration is going on at our diocese, Little Flower Seminary extends its warmest greetings and prayers to the bishop and fellow priests.
Succession of Rectors at Little Flower Seminary
1. |
Rev. Fr. Maria Gnanam |
1938 – 1946 |
2. |
Most Rev. Thomas Fernando |
1946 – 1950 |
3. |
Rev. Fr. Xavier Mel |
1950 – 1955 |
4. |
Rev. Fr. Gaspar Roche |
1955 – 1960 |
5. |
Rev. Fr. Antony Xavier |
1965 – 1961 |
6. |
Rev. Fr. Gabriel |
1961 – 1965 |
7. |
Rev. Fr. Joseph Xavier |
1965 – 1968 |
8. |
Rev. Fr. Stephen Gomez |
1968 – 1973 |
9. |
Rev. Fr. Antony Arulappa |
1973 - 1974 |
10. |
Rev. Fr. Joseph Xavier |
1974 – 1982 |
11. |
Rev. Fr. Rajareegam |
1982 - 1986 |
12. |
Rev. Fr. Paul Alangaram |
1989 – 1987 |
13. |
Rev. Fr. Stephen |
1987 – 1990 |
14. |
Rev. Fr. Hermas Muduthagam |
1990 – 1995 |
15. |
Rev. Fr. Jesu Arulappan |
1995 – 1996 |
16. |
Rev. Fr. C. Xavier |
1996 – 2001 |
17. |
Rev. Fr. Gerald |
2001 – 2002 |
18. |
Rev. Fr. Julians Marlan Joshi |
2002 – 2006 |
19. |
Rev. Fr. Kirupakaran |
2006 – 2011 |
20. |
Rev. Fr. Lorenzo |
2011 – 2013 |
21. |
Rev. Fr. Victor Devaraj |
2013 – 2016 |
22. |
Rev. Fr. Meris Stanly Leo |
2016 – 2021 |
23. |
Rev. Fr. Maria John Costa |
2021 - |
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New Text in Tamil prepared by : Rev. Fr. Maria John Costa
updated in English on May 28th 2023
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