St. Ignatius Church
Innaciarpuram, Tuticorin

Parish Name : St. Ignatiis Church
Address : Innaciarpuram, Tuticorin 628 002
Patron Saint : St. Ignatius
Telephone No : 0461 - 2360966

A Brief History :
Way back in 1929-1930, The Most.Rev.Dr. Francis Tiburtius Roche S.J., the first Bishop of our diocese, established an Industrial School, along with a Home for poor boys, under the patronage of St. Ignatius of Loyola. A small Church, with tiled roof had also been constructed in honour of St Ignatius. That is how this area came to be known as “Innaciarpuram”. This area was part of the SS. Hearts Cathedral Parish.

In July 1964, Bishop Thomas Fernando created St. Ignatius Church Parish. It comprised of a small portion of the Cathedral Parish (north of Buckle Channel) and the four villages. T.Saveriarpuram, Siluvaipatti, Alangarathittu and Rajapalayam detached from Tharuvaikulam parish. Rev.Fr. Job De Rose was the first parish priest.

In 1984, these substations, were again detached and formed into a separate parish, Thalamuthu Nagar. In 2001, the State Bank Colony and the adjacent area were formed into a separate parish.

During the period 1970 – 1974 a bigger Church with asbestos roof was constructed and it was consecrated by Bishop M. Ambrose on 19th June 1974.

During the period (1974 – 1979) a grotto in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes was constructed on the southern side of the Church, and a grotto in honour of Our Lady of Velankanni was constructed at the Innaciarpram Junction. The tiled roof of the presbytery had been converted into R.C.C roof. During 2009 – 2012 a mandapam bell fry and two side wings were added and the sancturary was also renovated.

St. Ignatius Church parish at Innaciarpuram was created in July 1964 by Bishop Thomas Fernando. It comprised of a small portion of the Sacred Hearts’ Cathedral parish (north of Buckle Channel) and a few substations belonging to Tharuvaikulam Parish. And the first parish priest was Rev. Fr. Job De Rose. The presbytery was built by Rev. Fr. C. Xavier in 1974.
Way back in 1929, Bishop Tiburtius Roche had establised one industrial school and a home for poor boys in this area. A small Church had been built in honour of St. Ignatius of Loyola and had been blessed on 12th March 1930. That is how this area came to be known as Innaciarpuram.
In 1984, the substations were detauched and formed into a separate parish, Thalamuthunagar. In 2001, State Bank Colony was separated and formed into a parish.
In 1972 – 1974 a spacious Church was constructed and it was consecrated by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu on 19th June 1974. In 2009 – 2010 the Church was extended in the front and on either side adjacent to the sactuary Rev. Fr. Xavier S. Marian as parish priest. In the time of Rev. Fr. C. Xavier the tiled roof of the presbytery was converted into R.C. terrace (1975 – 1976).

Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Job De Rose - 1964 - 1967
2. Rev.Fr. Gabriel - 1967 - 1969
3. Rev.Fr. Pancras M Raja - 1969 - 1970
4. Rev.Fr. Antony Samy - 1970 - 1974
5. Rev.Fr. Alwin - 1974 - 1975
6. Rev.Fr. C. Xavier - 1975 - 1979
7. Rev.Fr. Antony Pitchai - 1979 - 1981
8. Rev.Fr. Joseph Benzigar - 1981 - 1983
9. Rev.Fr. Tibutius - 1983 - 1984
10. Rev.Fr. Siluvai Ignaci - 1984 - 1989
11. Rev.Fr. Gruz Antony - 1989 - 1992
12. Rev.Fr. Joseph Xavier - - 1992 - 1997
13. Rev.Fr. Benson - 1997 - 2002
14. Rev.Fr. M. Thomas - 2002 – 2007
15. Rev.Fr. Xavier S. Marian - 2007 – 2012
16. Rev.Fr. Sahayam S.M - 2012 – 2014
17. Rev.Fr. Antonydoss - 2014 -2019
18. Rev.Fr. Xavier Arulraj 2019 - 2024
19. Rev.Fr. John Britto 2024 -

Grottos in the pairsh:
1. Lourdu Matha - Innaciarpuram
2. Annaivailankanni - Innaciarpuram

Catholic Population : 5600

No. of Catholic Families : 950

Sunday Mass – Timings : 5.30 a.m., 7.15 a.m. & 5.15 p.m.
Weekdays : 6.00 a.m

Side Chapel
1. Krishnarajapuram – Christ the King Church

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
3. Parish Pastoral Council
4. Parish Finance Committee

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

Other Associations & Activities
1. Altar Boys Association
2. Inigo Youth Movement
3. Kolping Movement

Institutions under the Parish
St. Ignatius Primary School, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
R.C. Bethany Primary School, Kandasamypuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
St. Vincent De Paul Sewing Institute, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002

Institutions under the Diocese
Little Flower Seminary, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002 Tel : 0461 – 2360912
St. Francis Xavier Home for Priests, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
Pavalam T.V. Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002 Tel : 0461 – 2360750 (Cancel)
St. Thomas College of Education, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002 Tel: 0461 - 2361882
St. Thomas Matriculation Hr. Sec. School, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002. Ph. 0461-2361686
St. Ignatius Hr. Sec. School, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
Ignatius Industrial School, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
Tel : 0461 – 2361827
St. Inigo Non-formal Industrial Institute, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
St. Ignatius Home for Boys Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
Inigo Press, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002

Religious
Sacred Heart Sisters (SHS)
Sacred Heart Generalate, Assuntha House, 41, Innaciarpuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
Tel: 0461 – 2361627, 2360574
Society of Sisters of St. Ann (Luzern) (SAS)
St. Ann’s Convent, Sacred Heart Hospital, Kandasamypuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
Tel : 0461 2360478
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, Bethany House, Kandasamypuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002
Tel : 0461 – 2360909

Institutions under the Religious Congregations
Bethany R.C. Priamary School, Kandasamipuram
Sacred Heart Hospital, Kandasamypuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002 (SAS)
Tel : 0461 – 2360704
St. Ann’s Sewing Insitute, Sacred Heart Hospital, Kandasamypuram, Tuty – 628 002 (SAS) Tel : 0461 – 2361324
St. Ann’s Nursing School, Kandasamypuram, Thoothukkudi – 628 002 (SAS)
Tel : 0461 – 2361324
New Life Centre, Sacred Heart Hospital, Kandasamypuram, Tuty– 628 002 (SAS)