ST. JOSEPH’S MATRICULATION HR. SEC. SCHOOL
MANGALAGIRI, THOOTHUKUDI

St. Joseph’s Matriculation Hr. Sec. school is run by the Tuticorin Diocesan Association (Registered). The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Antony, who is the President of the Association, is also the patron and Manager of the school. The diocese runs more than 250 educational institutions and St. Joseph’s Matriculation Hr. sec. School is one of them.

The initial educational works of Rev. Fr. C. Xavier as Parish Priest & Correspondent (1986 – 1991)
Rev. Fr. C. Xavier started St. Joseph English medium school in 1986. By his effort Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph were brought to this campus in 1987 for making better learning possible for the children. During his period L.K.G, U.K.G and first three standards were started. The class rooms were thatched shed, later they were converted into the tiled class rooms. The student’s strength was approximately 100. The sisters were Rev. Mother Boniface, Rev. Sr. Berna, Headmistress, Rev. Sr. Asuntha and Rev. Sr. Rose. These sisters worked hard in the initial years of the school. Rev. Fr. C. Xavier struggled hard to start the school and gave the basic facilities like, sanitation, infrastructure and drinking water. He built the compound wall for the school campus. His commitment and endeavor paved the path for better education for the children of Pudukottai area.

During the period of Rev. Fr. James Selvaraj as Parish Priest & Correspondent (1991 – 1996)
Rev. Fr. James Selvaraj served as a Parish Priest & correspondent from the year 1991. The number of teachers were eight. He hired van to bring children from different areas around Pudukottai and the strength of the school was raised in 180. During his period IV and V standards were started and the school became a primary. Rev. Sr. Himelda Boniface came as the Principal to assist Rev. Fr. James Selvaraj for uplifting the standard of the school. He later bought a new school van. The presence of new Rev. Sisters like Rev. Sr. Arul Mary in 1994, Rev. Sr. Celina in 1995 and Rev. Sr. Thangam in 1996 added new favors and vigor in the minds and hearts of the pupils and the name of the school was known to every nook and corner of Pudukottai mini town.

During the period of Rev. Fr. Jesu William as Parish Priest & Correspondent (1996 – 2001)
Rev. Fr. Jesu William took charge of school as Parish Priest & correspondent in 1996. By the able administration and novelty in implementation of education the pupil’s strength rose up to 450. The raise of the total strength of the school forced the management to go for another new school van and a trucker. He came forward to use his personal car to fetch pupils from Sillukkanpatti. He built a main building for Matric School as class rooms. During his period Rev. Sr. Thangam served as a Principal and VI and VII standards were started. The parents and people of Pudukottai area appreciated Rev. Fr. Jesu William for his educational service, human approach and social work.

During the period of Rev. Fr. Benjamin S. Vinoba as Correspndent & Principal (2001 – 2006)
Rev. Fr. Benjamin S. Vinoba served as Correspondent and Principal from 2001. He played a prominent and imperative role to upgrade Primary school into Middle School in the same year. In the year 2003, the school was elevated as St. Joseph’s matric high school. He worked hard and bought a new bus. He built the first floor in the main building and the main building was named as Fr. William memorial block. He built a double storied building with the help of the Most Rev. Dr. Yvon Ambroise. The blend of Rev. Fr. Leo Jeyaseelan as Correspondent and Msgr. Oswald as Principal hoisted the school pupils strength to 800 in the academic year 2006 – 2007. During this period the mini bus was bought.

During the period of Rev. Fr. S. Rubert as Parish Priest, Correspondent & Principal (2007 – 2012)
Rev. Fr. Rubert wanted to standardize the level of education. His holistic approach and integrated training programmes had given a good face value for the school. He tried the level best to provide drinking water facilities, maintaining the transport system, beautifying the campus with trees and plants and giving new life to sports. One academic year (2009 – 2010) Msgr. V. P. Oswald served as a Principal and during the same academic year Rev. Fr. S. Rubert served as a Correspondent. New class rooms were constructed in Pudukottai school campus and Mangalagiri school campus. The first school building (Three class rooms) was constructed in the Mangalagiri school campus. It was blessed and opened by the Most Rev. Dr. Yvon Ambroise on 27.07.2010 and it was named as St. Mary’s block. And the compound wall work from St. Mary’s block to the main gate was completed on 2010. And on 23.09.2011 the foundation stone was laid on by the most Rev. Dr. Yvon Amroise for the construction of St. Joseph’s block (Ground floor: 12 class rooms with a stage) and the construction work was completed on May 2012. And a lot of money was invested in Mangalagiri school campus for sports and games. The Mangalagiri school campus was beautified with plants and trees. He gives importance to curricular activities and Extra curricular. All these efforts and activities enhance the children to grow in holistic human personality development.

During the period of Rev. Fr. K. Selva Rayer as Correspondent & Principal (2012 – 2017)
Rev. Fr. K. Selva Rayer was appointed as Correspondent & Principal on June 2012. He constructed 3 laboratories in the upstairs of St. Mary’s block and it was blessed and inaugurated on 10.06.2013 by the most Rev. Dr. Yvon Ambroise. The school was upgraded in to a higher secondary school in the year 01.06.2014 by Rev. Fr. K. Selva Rayer. During his period from main gate to the boys toilet compound wall work was completed. He built up the K.G. block for kids with 10 class rooms which was used as a multipurpose hall and it was blessed and inaugurated by Most Rev. Dr. Yvon Ambroise on 02.06.2014. He also constructed 8 more class rooms with a seminar hall in the upstairs of the K.G. block which was used as a girls wing for the standards VI to X. St. Joseph’s block first floor consisting of 12 class rooms with a library was blessed and inaugurated on 31.10.2015 by the Most Rev. Dr. Yvon Ambroise. Rev. Fr. K. Selva Rayer developed infrastructural facilities to the school and promoted quality education for the students.

During the period of Rev. Fr. S. Antony Micheal as Correspondent & Principal (June 2017 – Nov. 2017)
Rev. Fr. S. Antony Micheal served as a Correspondent & Principal from June 2017 to November 2017. During his period 2 buses were bought in order to fulfill the transport needs of the students. And he completed audio visual hall renovation work and main stage renovation and elevation works.

During the period of Rev. Fr. Dr. S. Rubert as Correspondent & Principal (Dec. 2017 – Continues)
On 04.12.2017 Rev. Fr. S. Rubert was appointed as Correspondent & Principal. He had taken important initiatives for the integrated personality development education of the students and the wholistic development of the school. 11.10.2018 Bishop Yvon Ambroise IAS Academy (Resource Center) was blessed and inaugurated by the most Rev. Dr. Yvon Ambroise for the promotion of Civil Service and Professional Courses among students. 30.03.2019 Bishop Stephen Antony Sports Academy (Resource Center) was blessed and inaugurated by the most Rev. Dr. Stephen Antony for the development of Sports and Games among students. On 11.08.2022 Bishop Stephen Antony Block (Ground floor with Auditorium and first floor with 10 class rooms) was blessed and inaugurated by the most Rev. Dr. Stephen Antony. Paver block work was completed inside St. Joseph’s campus during the year 2018 to 2023. 2 small sports galleries were constructed and Madha Garden was developed during the years 2020 to 2023. Sports and games are given importance and school playground is maintained well. Green environment initiatives are taken and many plants and trees are planted and maintained well. He wanted to give the students value based education, quality education, wholistic education and integrated personality development. Now the school is blessed with 1130 students, 65 staff members.

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Text updated on May 11th 2023