Parish Name : St. Antony’s Church Address : Kootapanai, Tirunelveli Dt. 627 651 Patron Saint : St. Antony Telephone No : 7708308983
Youtube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCev7la-S9m0Ntz0tdLP3UYg/featured
e-mail ID : kpchurch1944@gmail.com
Parish e-News Bulletin : Thonyin Thoni
Family Handbook :
A Brief History :
In the Mission Catalogue of Madurai Mission, Koottappanai is named “Chinnathazhai”. In 1910 when Uvari became a separate parish, Koottappanai became Uvari’s substation. In the same year foundation stone was laid for a Church at Koottappanai. When Rev. Fr. Antony Soosainathar, was the Parish priest of Uvari, who later became a Rosarian, built the Parish Church and it was blessed by Bishop Tiburtius Roche in 1927. In 1944 Koottappanai was bifurcated from Uvari and established as a new Parish. Fr. T. Villavarayer became the first Parish Priest. At that time, Thisayanvilai, Uulagamathapuram, Rochma Nagar, Puthur and Karambadu were the substations of Koottappanai. For some years Kadakulam was a substation of Koottappanai. The already existing presbytery was renovated by Rev. Fr. Rubert Arul Valan and was blessed on 30th May 1976. He invited the congregation of the Sisters of St. Anns of Trichy to run the school and do pastoral ministry in the parish. Rev. Fr. P.L. Ephrem built a grotto in honour of Sacred Heart of Jesus and was blessed on 29.08.1982. During the period of Rev. Fr. C. Xavier, the grotto of St. Lourdes was built in memory of the Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of Rev. Fr. Job De Rose, the first priest from Koottappanai and was blessed on 13.05.2005. He also built new pilgrim center with rooms and a Hall. He also purchased new land for the construction new middle school. Rev. Fr. Bensicar succeeded him and built the middle school and was blessed by Most Rev. Bishop Yvon Ambroise in memory of the centenary celebration of the School on 29.04.2010. He also constructed a new grotto in honour of Our Lady Of Veilankanni and was blessed on 14.10.2008. New Concrete flagstaff was erected in the premises of the Parish Church on 22.08.2006. Fr. Cedric Peeris succeeded him, and built the Church tower and it was blessed on 01.05.2012 by Rev. Fr. Andrew De Rose the then Vicar General of Tuticorin Diocese. During the period of Rev. Fr. Bright Machado the old presbytery was completely destroyed and a new one was built. It was blessed on 10.01.2021 by Most Rev. Stephen the bishop of Tuticorin.
Grottos in the parish:
1. Our Lady of Velankanni - Koottapanai
2. Sacred Heart of Jesus - Koottapanai
3. Our Lady of Lourdes - Koottapanai
4. St. Michael - Koottapana
5. St. Xavier - Koottapanai
6. Agathammal - Koottapanai
Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality for Young Women
4. Legion of Mary
5. Vincent De Paul Society
6. St. Antony’s Youth Association
7. Kolping Association
8. Sacred Heart Sodality for women
9. Lourdu Mada Mathuvilakku Sabai
Other Associations & Activities
1. Don Bosco Altar Boys Association
2.Irrakanthin Aandavar Marai Kalvi Mandram
3. St. Antony’s Fishermen Society
4. Sahaya Annai Fishermen Society
Institutions under the Parish
St. Antony’s Middle School, Kootapanai – 627 651
Religious
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann, Trichy (SAT)
St. Anne’s Convent, Kootapanai – 627 651 Tel 04637 – 277346
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Corrections added to the existing content by : Rev.Fr. Benzigar Lution
Scanned pages: None. Previous file name : parish-koottappanai0.htm
Updated on 18th Oct. 2022
