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St. Anne's Church
Jeeva Nagar
Parish Name : St. Anne Church
Address : Jeeva Nagar, Thiruchendur - 628 215
Patron Saint : St. Anne
A Brief History :
On 24.05.2012 the St. Anne's Church at the Temple Town of Tiruchendur, Jeeva Nagar was raised to the honour of a parish church. Originally a church dedicated to St. Anne was donated by the family of Mr.Soosaiappa Kagoo of Virapandianpatnam.
As per the direction and keen interest of Rev. Fr. Remigius Missier the then parish priest at Virapandianpatnam to build the new church right next to the KURUSADI at Jeeva Nagar which was believed to have been erected by St. Francis Xavier himself during his sojourn to the coastal hamlets around Tiruchendur, Mr. Soosaiappa Kagoo laid foundation for the church in 1945. Due to his untimely death his wife Mrs. Siluvaiammal Kagoo completed the church in 1947 during the time of Rev. Fr. J.S.Lobo, the Parish Priest at Virapandianpatnam. Subsequently on 26 July 1947 Most Rev. Francis Tiburtius Roche, Bishop of Tuticorin consecrated the church and declared it open for public worship. As the St. Anne Church was under the pastoral care of the Virapandianpatnam parish, every year thereafter the people of Virapandianpatnam joyously celebrated the Feast of St. Anne on the last week of the month of July.
However from the year 1990 groups of fisher folks from Keezha Vaipar, Sippikulam and Tuticorin came to Jeeva Nagar as settlers. Because of proximity Rev. Fr. Pancras Fernando the Parish Priest of Amali Nagar was taking care of their pastoral needs. Over the course of time, the settlers willingly came forward to take care of the church themselves. Accordingly Most Rev.S.T.Amalanather, the Bishop of Tuticorin entrusted the care of St. Anne's Church to the Parish Priest of Amali Nagar parish with the willing consent of Soosaiappa Kagoo family. From the year 1995 all the Catholics in Jeeva Nagar celebrated the Feast of St. Anne.
Apart from being a place of worship, Jeeva Nagar church also had been a home of refuge at the times of natural disaster. During the time of Tsunami in December 2004, the church at Jeeva Nagar bustled with Tsunami Relief Services in January 2005. No sooner the activities were over and all the people had vacated the church premises than the sixty year old roof caved in miraculously causing no damage to the statue of St. Anne and the altar. Believing this event to be a miracle, people were drawn to their faith. More people started to get interested in rebuilding the church. With funds raised by Rev. Fr. Pancras Fernando, and his successor Rev. Fr. Valdimir Dixon and with the cooperation of the Catholics of Jeeva Nagar and benefactors of Tiruchendur it was planned to build a new church dedicated to St. Anne facing the east in the place of the damaged old church that was facing south. Foundation was laid on 13.02.2008 for the new church and on 17.07.2009 it was consecrated for worship by Most Rev. Yvon Ambroise the Bishop of Tuticorin.
After making a thorough pastoral study of the Catholics in Tiruchendur and suburbs, Bishop Yvon Ambroise raised the Church at Jeeva Nagar to the honour of Tiruchendur Parish - 109th parish of the Diocese of Tuticorin on 24th May 2012 by appointing Rev. Fr. Gracis Michael as the first parish priest. The new Parish includes Jeeva Nagar, Kumarapuram, Kurinji Nagar, Thoppur and Paramankurichi - Singarayarpuram - a
substation.
Thanks to the ardent efforts of Rev. Fr. Gracis Michael and Rev. Fr. Sagesh Santhia with cooperation of all the Catholics of Tiruchendur, vibrant sodalities, Basic Christian Communities and Parish Pastoral Council structures amply bear witness to the Gospel values by the parish community. The touching everyday reality in the church of St. Anne is that people and families of other religions freely come to make their votive prayers.
Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev. Fr. Gracis Michael - 24.05.2012 - 30.05.2016
2. Rev. Fr. Sagesh Santhia - 30.05.2016 30.05.2021
3. Rev. Fr. Irudayaraj Fernando F. - 30.05.2021 -
The substation Paramankurichi - Singarayarpuram merits our special attention among all the territories attached to Tiruchendur - Jeva Nagar Parish.
Ever since 1924, the church dedicated to St. Joseph was at Paramankurichi - Singarayapuram. Thanks to the efforts of Rev. Fr. Singarayer, the parish priest at Sathankulam the Christian Community consisting of 18 families was making its vibrant presence there. The miracles of St. Joseph came to be known to people far and near and the church of St. Joseph drew crowds. At present the substations consist of 33 families.
Following is the list of parishes this substation was in:
1932 Alanthalai
1940-1942-Virapandianpatnam
1943 - Udangudi
1949 - Virapandianpatnam
1953 - Manapad
1971-1973- Functioned as Independent Parish
1974 Amali Nagar
2013-Tiruchendur
The substation Paramankurichi - Singarayarpuram merits our special attention among all the territories attached to Tiruchendur - Jeeva Nagar Parish.
Ever since 1924, the church dedicated to St. Joseph was at Paramankurichi - Singarayarpuram. Thanks to the efforts of Rev. Fr. Singarayar, Parish Priest at Santhankulam the Christian Community consisting of 18 families was making its vibrant presence there. The miracles of St. Joseph came to be known to people far and near and the church of St. Joseph drew crowds.
Catholic Population : Around 500
No. of Catholic Families : 142
Sunday Mass – Timings : 7:15 a.m.
Weekdays : 6:00 p.m.
Sub – Stations
1. Paramankurichi (Singarayarpuram) - St. Joseph Church
Grottos in the parish:
1. Lourdu Annai Grotto
2. St. Francis
Xavier Curusadi
3. St. Michael Curusadi
Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
1. St. Thomaiyar
2. St. Alphonsa
3. St. Don Bosco
4. St. Antony
5. St. Anne's
6. St. Valanar (Singarayarpuram)
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
3. Parish Pastoral council
Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Legion of Mary
2. Sodality of De-Addiction
Other Associations & Activities
1. St. Xavier Youth Movement
2. Maduvilakku Sabai
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New content given by : Rev. Fr. Irudayaraj Fernando F.
Previous file name : parish-jeeva-nagar-st-ann0.htm
Updated on 5th May 2023, Final correction done on May 25th, 2023
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