St. Joseph Church
Cruzpuram

Parish Name : St. Joseph Church
Address : Cruzpuram, Tuticorin - 628 001
Patron Saint : St. Joseph
Telephone No :94423 02138
Email: st.josephtuticorin@gmail.com

A Brief History :
On 2nd February 1955 Cruzpuram parish was bifurcated from Cathedral parish and was formed into a separate parish. The first parish priest was Rev. Fr. Dason D’ Almaida. When Rev. Fr. Paul Alangaram was the parish priest, on the 14th August 1963, foundation stone was laid for a new Church by the Vicar General late Msgr. Mariadas. The construction of the Church was completed by Rev. Fr. John Xavier who was made parish priest on 3rd October 1968. The Church was blessed by Bishop Thomas Fernando, Bishop of Tiruchirappalli, on 18th August 1971. In 1994 the Mandapam infront of the Church was extended and the Church was enlarged and a new altar was setup when Rev. Fr. Antony Jegatheesan was the parish priest. On 26th August 1995 the Church was blessed opened. When Fr. Alangaram was the parish priest, the presbytery was built which was blessed by Bishop Thomas Fernando.

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Dasan Dalmeida - 1955 – 1960
2. Rev.Fr. Paul Alangaram - 1960 – 1968
3. Rev.Fr. John Xavier - 1968 – 1974
4. Rev.Fr. Amirtham - 1974 – 1976
5. Rev.Fr. Arulappa - 1976 – 1980
6. Rev.Fr. Alphonse - 1980 – 1981
7. Rev.Fr. Job De Rose - 1981 – 1984
8. Rev.Fr. Joseph Benzigar - 1984 – 1987
9. Rev.Fr. Hermas Moduthagam - 1987 –
10. Rev.Fr. Gabriel - 1987 – 1988
11. Rev.Fr. Alwin Villavarayer - 1988 – 1989
12. Rev.Fr. Gnanapragasam - 1989 – 1994
13. Rev.Fr. Antony Jegathesan - 1994 – 1999
14. Rev.Fr. Reniald Missier - 1999 – 2004
15. Rev.Fr. Loyola De Rose - 2004 – 2005
16. Rev.Fr. Dominic Arul Valan - 2005 - 2008
17. Rev.Fr. Karunaiya Xavier - 2008 – 2012
18. Rev.Fr. Pradeep - 2012 - 2017
19. Rev.Fr. Raja Rodrigo - 2017 - 2018 (Nov)
20. Rev.Fr.  Visenthi Sahaya Ubertus 2018 - 2023
21. Rev.Fr. Kishok V. 2023 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. Infant Jesus - Anna Colony
2. St. Joseph - Joseph Colony
3. St. Sebastin - S.M. Kovil Street,Cruzpuram
4. St.Antony - Cruzpuram
5. Infant Jesus - Cruzpuram
6. Annai Vailankanni - Cruzpuram
7. St. Antony - 3rd Street, Poobalarayarpuram
8. Annai Vailankanni - 4th Street, Poobalarayarpuram
9. St. Lourdues - 1st Street. Poobalarayarpuram

Catholic Population : 11,300

No. of Catholic Families : 1690

Sunday Mass – Timings : 5:30 a.m., 7:00. a.m. 9:30 a.m & 5:00 p.m.
Weekdays : 6:00 a.m & 6:00 p.m.
Eucharistic Chapel Timings : 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Side Chapel
1. Cruzpuram - St. Joseph
2. Police Line -Sinthathirai Matha

Participatory Structures
1. 34 Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Family Sodality
2. Legion of Mary (4 Presidiums)
3. Vincent de Paul
4. Our Lady of Mary Immaculate, Youth Girls Sodality
5. Liturgical Committee

Other Associations & Activities
1. Franciscan Family Movement
2. Valanar Youth Movement
3. Meenavar Mahalir Mantrams
4. Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam
5. Oondrukol Movement
6. St. Joseph Cleaing Movemnet
7. Kolping Movement

Institutions under the Parish
R.C. Primary School, Cruzpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 001

Religious
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann, Trichy (SAT) – 2 Houses
1. St. Ann’s Convent, R.C. Primary School, Cruzpuram, Thoothukkudi – 68 001. Tel : 0461 – 2331827
2. St. Ann’s Convent, St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Cruzpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 001. Tel : 0461 – 2323642

Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, St. Mary’s College, Thoothukkudi – 628 001 Tel: 0461 – 2321460

Institutions under the Religious
St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Cruzpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 001 (SAT) Tel : 0461 – 2322665
St. Mary’s College, Beach Road, Thoothukkudi – 628 001 (OSM) Tel : 0461 – 2321606, 3435400, 321460
St. Joseph’s Girls Orphanage, Cruzpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 001 (SAT)
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Corrections added to the existing content by : Rev. Fr. Visenthi Sahaya Ubertus
Previous file name : parish-cruzpuram0.htm
Updated on 29th, April 2023

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024