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Arockia Annai Church
Karungadal
Parish Name : Arockia Annai Church
Address : Karungadal - 628 613, Tuticorin Dt
Patron Saint : Arockia Annai
Telephone No :
A Brief History:
The old thatched roof church of ‘Our Lady of Health’ in Karungkadal was formerly situated in a place called Maayakothaneri, whose inhabitants were involved in agriculture & palmyrah tree-climbing. The Englishmen who visited this place during rainy season, found that village was covered with black alluvial soil, surrounded with rain water appearing like sea and hence named it as ‘KARUNGKADAL’, which name stands true till today.
Most Rev. Bishop Francis Tiburtius Roche installed the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Good Health which was brought from abroad in 1920.
When Karungkadal was sub-station of Somanathaperi, it’s parish priest Rev. Fr. Gabriel (1924-1946) laid the foundation stone in 1942. His successor Rev. Fr. Gnanaprakasam (1946-1951) completed the construction of the church, which was consecrated by the Bishop of Tuticorin Most Rev. Francis Tiburtius Roche, S.J in 1949.
When Karungkadal was substation of Chinthamani and Sathankulam, the priests from there looked after the spiritual care and needs of the villagers.
The Flagpole of the church was renovated in 1993.
When Nochikulam was elevated as parish on September 2, 1995, Karungkadal became its substation. Rev.Fr. Soosai Raja, the first parish priest (1995-2001) of Nochikulam, on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee, developed Manimandapam in front of the church and laid the connecting roads.
The village saw various developments during the term of Rev.Fr. Amalan (2001-2006), Rev.Fr. Kishok (2006-2011), Rev.Fr. Michael Jegathees (2011-2013) & Rev.Fr. John Bosco (2013-2018). When Rev. Fr. John Paul Lobo was the parish priest of Nochikulam (2018-2021), Karungkadal was separated from Nochikulam and elevated as an independent parish by Most. Rev. Bishop Stephen on sept 8, 2021, on the feast of Our Lady of Health.
Kattarimangalam & Chinnamadan-kudiyurpu which were substations of C. Saveriarpuram were separated and attached as substations of Karungkadal parish. Rev.Fr. Packiya Joseph Raj was appointed as the first parish priest.
The feast of our lady of good health is grandly celebrated every year on 8th September by the people, who offer ‘Asanam’ on the following day of the feast from 1970 onwards.
On august 8, 2001, Antonyraj Arulmani erected a grotto in memory of his five-year old daughter who died in a fire accident. The three-tier grotto has Infant Jesus on the top, St. Antony in the middle, Our Lady of Good Health on the base. In the following year (in 2002), the grotto was expanded to its present view. The feast of the grotto is celebrated annually on March 24, with Asanam.
About Kattarimangalam sub-station:
The ancestors who went to Ceylon for palmyrah trade brought on their return, the statue of Sandhana Madha (In Latin – Sanctae Annae; St.Anne), which was worshipped in Ceylon. They installed the statue in 1914, in a thatched chapel, which then stood in the present location of the grotto.
When the 7 Catholic families at the origin, spiritually looked after by the priests of naanguneri parish, increased manifold to more than hundred, the need for bigger church arose. The expansion process commenced in 1962, and went on for many years till 1979, when the new church was consecrated by Most.Rev.Bishop M. Ambrose on September 16, 1979.
When Kattarimangalam was sub-station of C. Saveriarpuram, its first parish priest Rev.Fr. Edward.J (2000-2005) commenced the renovation work of Kattarimangalam church. The renovated church was consecrated by Most.Rev. Bishop Yuvon Ambrose on September 1, 2005.
Again in 2019, the church was renovated by Rev.Fr. Peter Bastian, and twin towers were erected with the cooperation of the parishioners.
On sept 8, 2021, Kattarimangalam became the substation of the newly formed Karungkadal parish.
About Chinnamadan-kudiyurupu sub-station:
In 1960, few families who embraced catholism, built a thatched-roof chapel in honour of St.Antony.
When this village was substation of chithamani, the then parish priest Rev.Fr.Ambrose (1961-1968) looked after the spiritual needs of the substation.
Rev. Fr.Senkolmani (1968-1970), built houses for the villagers without any discrimination of caste and religion. He also arranged for the distribution of wheat and food-grains during famine. With the cooperation of the villagers, he renovated the thatched-roof chapel into tile-roof chapel, which was consecrated by Most.Rev.Bishop M. Ambrose on august 27, 1978.
When C. Saveriarpuram was separated from Chinthamani and made an independent parish, Chinnamadan-kudiyurupu became its substation in 1999. Its first parish priest Rev.Fr. Edward J (2000-2005) renovated St. Antony’s chapel.
The cooperation of the villagers saw the construction of compound wall, digging of well, and planting of trees all around the chapel. Earlier, two reverend sisters stayed in the chapel and served the society.
Thereafter on sept 8, 2021, Chinnamadan-kudiyurupu became the sub-station of Karungkadal.
Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Packia Joseph Raj 2021 -
Grottos in the parish:
1. Arockia Matha, Karungadal : Every Thursday 6:300 Rosary & Mass
2.
Catholic Population :
No. of Catholic Families :
Sunday Mass – Timings Parish : Sunday 7.00 a.m. (Rosary & Mass)
Weekdays : 5.45 a.m (Rosary and Mass)
Sub – Stations
1. Kattarimangalam : Sundays 11:00 Rosary and Mass
2. Chinna Maadan Kudiyiruppu : Sundays 7:00 p.m. Rosary and Mass
Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
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New Info provided by : Rev.Fr. Packia Joseph Raj
Zip file received through whatsapp Messager Service Feb.14th 2023
File before English Translation : parish-karunkadal-arockiya-annai1.htm
Updated on 16th Feb. 2023, Final Correction on May 25th 2023.
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