Infant Jusus Church
Caldwell Colony, Tuticorin

Parish Name : Infant Jesus Church
Address : Caldwell Colony, Tuticorin 628 008
Patron Saint : Infant Jesus & Holy Family
Telephone No : 0461-2311664

A Brief History :
On 26th Nov. 1989 Caldwell Colony parish was bifurcated from the parish of Charles Borromeo, Subbaiah Muthaliarpuram, Thoothukkudi to be a model parish in implementing all that is taught and experimented in the near by Laity Centre. That is why in the beginning, the directors Rev. Frs. Lambert Miranda and Arthur James who were in charge of the laity centre were in charge of also the parish. In 1991 December foundation stone was laid for a spacious Church. According to the wish of the donor Mr. Dominico Medona of Chieti Diocese in Italy, the Church was dedicated to Holy Family. But slowly this Church came to be known as Infant Jesus Shrine. Rev. Fr. Arulmani who was a co-priest at Laity Centre, was made the first parish priest on 14th November 1993. In the beginning the Feast of Holy Family was the parochial feast. But now it is celebrated on the 14th January: the feast of Infant Jesus as well as the feasts of Pongal.

The Church was renovated and belfry was built when Rev. Fr. James Peter was the parish priest (2000- 2003). Rev. Fr. Arulmani built the presbytery (1993-1994).

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Arulmani - 1993 – 1999
2. Rev.Fr. James Peter - 1999 – 2003
3. Rev.Fr. D. Joseph Stalin - 2003
4. Rev.Fr. Irudayaraj - 2003 – 2008
5. Rev.Fr. Stan K Fdo - 2008-2013
6. Rev.Fr. Ceedric Peeris - 2013 -2017
7. Rev.Fr. William Santhanam 2017 - 2022
8. Rev.Fr. Pratheep R. - 2022 - 2024
9. Rev.Fr. John Selvam 2024 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. St. Antony - Ganesan Colony
2. St. Michael’s - Sathya Nagar
3. St. Lady of Assumption - Rajapandi Nagar

Catholic Population : 2450

No. of Catholic Families : 270

Sunday Mass – Timings & Language : 7.00 a.m. – Tamil & 9.30 a.m. - English
Weekdays : 6.00 p.m

Sub – Stations
1. Rajapandi Nagar – Our Lady of Assumption

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Amalorpava Matha Sodality
3. Holy Family Sodality
4. Legion of Mary
5. Voncent de Paul Society

Institutions under the Parish
Holy Family Tamil Middle School, Caldwell Colony, Thoothukkudi – 628 008

Institutions the Diocese
Laity Centre, Caldwell Colony, Thoothukkudi – 628 008. Tel : 0461 – 2375808
Sangamam, Laity Centre, Caldwell Colony, Thoothukkudi – 628 008
Tel : 0461 – 2375808

Religious
Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Bon Secours (FBS)
Bon Secours Convent, 5/277, Caldwell Colony, 4th Street, Thoothukkudi – 628 008
Tel : 0461 – 2375337

Institutions under the Religious
Holy Family English School, Caldwell Colony, Thoothukkudi – 628 008 (FBS)

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024