St. Aloysius Church
Gnanapragasiyar Pattanam

Parish Name : St. Aloysius Church
Address : Gnanapragasiarpattanam, Subramaniyapuram - 628 251, Tuticorin District
Patron Saint : St Aloysius

A Brief History :
200 years ago, the ancestors of this parish people begin to mingle with the Paravas from Pazhayakayal through buying fish and dry-fish. Inspired by their Christian faith, the people of Subramaniyapuram were converted to Roman Catholicism by the initiative of Mr. Yesuvadian along with his relatives.

Gnanapragasiarpatanam was once a substation to Pazhayakayal and was made into a separate Parish in 1936. The Church was built with the generous help of Philomigan Sisters of America and was consecrated on 27th April 1958, when Rev. Fr. Antony S. Fernando was the Parish priest. In 1976, Rev. Fr. Susai Marian established the 'Presbytery street'. He also constructed a new bulding for the Middle School. In 1986, Rev. Fr. Jesu William built a new presbytery, renovated the Church, installed drinking water facility to the Children home, offered a land for few poor people, besides the Presbytery to build their won houses. In 1993, Rev. Fr. Segaran renovated the School buildings. Rev. Fr. Irudaya Raj renovated the presbytery, updated the roof, built portico for the Church in 2000. Rev. Fr. Jeyakumar renovated the church in 2005. Due to the Poor condition of the church building, the new Church was constructed by the generous financial assistance of the Parishioners, especially the family of Mr. Amuthen, Mrs. Lelin and was consecrated on 29-12-2019. During the period of Rev. Fr. S.M. Amaladass, Our Lady of Lourdes grotto was built besides the church. Rev. Fr. Sahaya Justin renovated the presbytery in 2021. The special feature of the Parish is that Hindus, C.S.I and Roman Catholics are living together as one family.

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Xavier Mel : 1936 – 1937
2. Rev.Fr. Venantius Fdo : 1937 – 1938
3. Rev.Fr. Aloysius Fdo : 1938 – 1952
4. Rev.Fr. Gnanapragasam : 1952 – 1954
5. Rev.Fr. Rosaria Corera : 1954 – 1955
6. Rev.Fr. Antony S. Fdo : 1955 – 1958
7. Rev.Fr. Charles Fdo : 1958
8. Rev.Fr. John Xavier : 1958 – 1959
9. Rev.Fr. Devasahayam : 1959 – 1960
10. Rev.Fr. Aloy Navamani : 1960 – 1965
11. Rev.Fr. Arthur James : 1965 – 1969
12. Rev.Fr. J.S. Lobo : 1969 – 1970
13. Rev.Fr. Methodius : 1970 –
14. Rev.Fr. Cruz Marian : 1970 – 1972
15. Rev.Fr. Ligouri Fdo : 1972 – 1976
16. Rev.Fr. S. Soosai Marian : 1976 – 1981
17. Rev.Fr. Karunakaran Gomez : 1981 – 1983
18. Rev.Fr. S. Jesu Arulappan S. : 1983 – 1986
19. Rev.Fr. U. William : 1986 – 1991
20. Rev.Fr. A.J. Christian : 1991 – 1993
21. Rev.Fr. G. Sekaran : 1993 – 1998
22. Rev.Fr. M. Irudayaraj : 1998 – 2003
23. Rev.Fr. Antony Pitchai : 2003 – 2005
24. Rev.Fr.Jeyakumar : 2005 – 2010
25. Rev.Fr. Heniston : 2010 – 2011
26. Rev.Fr. Mahizhan : 2011- 2014
27. Rev.Fr. Bright Machado : 2014 – 2016
28. Rev.Fr. Amaladas S.M. : 2016 - 2021
29 Rev. Fr. Sahaya Justin 2021 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. St. Antony , Our Lady of Lourdes, in Gnanapragsiarpattanam
2. Infant Jesus, Our Lady of Lourdes, in Naduvaikurichi
3. Our Lady of Good Healh in Sebathaiyapuram

Catholic Population : 2320

No. of Catholic Families : 420

Sunday Mass – Timings: Parish – 7.30 A.M
Substations : 6.00 A.M, 9.30 A.M, 6.00 P.M
Weekdays – Timings: Parish – 6.00 A.M
Substations: Everyday at 7.00 P.M

Sub - Stations:
1. Kothalarivilai – St. Antony
2. Manaloor – Our Lady of Rosary
3. Naduvaikurichi – Our Lady of Bon Secours
4. Royappapuram – St. Anne’s
5. Sebathaiapuram – St. Dominic
6. Kannandivillai – St. Joseph

Participatory Structures:
1. Anbiyams (BCC)
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
3. Parish Pastoral Council
4. Parish Finance Committee

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations):
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Matha Sodality
4. Legion of Mary
5. Holy Family Pious Associations

Other Associations & Activities:
1. YCS, YSM – Gnanapragasiarpatnam
2. YCS, YSM – Naduvaikurichi
3. YCS, YSM – Sebathaiapuram
4. Youth Movement
5. Cristhavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam
6. Golpe Movement

Institutions under the Parish:
1. R.C. Middle School, Gnanaprasiarpatnam – 628 251
2. R.C. Middle School, Naduvaikuruchi – 628 251
3 R.C. Middle School, Sebathaiapuram – 628 251

Religious:
1. Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Bon Secours (FBS)
Bon Secours Convent, St. Aloysius Church, G. patanam – 628 25
Tel: 04630 – 273036

2. Bon Secours Convent, Naduvaikuruchi, Sawyerpuram P.O – 628 251
Tel: 04630 – 273560

Institutions under the Religious:
1. St. Dominic Home for Children, (Cottage) Gnanapragasiarpatnam – 628 251 (FBS)
2. St. Dominic Orphanage, Naduvaikurichi, Sawyerpuram – 628 251 (FBS).

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New Info provided by : Rev. Fr. Sahaya Justin
Scanned pages 2, Previous file name : parish-gnanapragasiyar-pattnam0.htm
Updated on 18th Oct. 2022. Final correction done on May 24th 2023.