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Irudaya Annai Church
Periyasamypuram
Parish Name : Irudaya Annai Church
Address : Periasamipuram, Tuticorin Dt. 628 706
Patron Saint : Irudaya Annai
Telephone No : 04638–290519
A Brief History :
The village has a long history and tradition. The earliest of the village in history dates back to 16th century AD. One Fr.Hentricus who had recorded the history and growth of Christianity in the southernmost region of Tamilnadu mentions the historical name of this village in his writings. Periasamypuram had long been known as Kataapaadu. Fr.Hentricus speaks of a village called Chetupar and situates it between Vaippar and Vembar. He also says that the inhabitants of this village were mostly chiristians and that they went to Vembar Church to satiate their spiritual needs. It is a conjecture – but a believable one – that the name Chetupar should have graduated into Katapaadu. Rev.Fr.Suramar establishes it to be the fact. According to him, the name Katapadu is only a graduation of the name Chetupar as the name Mananapadu is just the graduation of the name Manapaar. (St.Francis Xavier calls Manapadu as Manapaar and his letters bear witness to this fact) Anyhow today Katapaadu is known as Periasamypuram.
Periasamipuram was one of the 25 substations of Holy Ghost parish, Vembar, from 1843 onwards. The oldest Church at Periasamipuram was built around 1869. The parish of Periasamypuram was bifurcated from the parish of Vembar in the year 1900 with Kalaignanapuram as its substation. Rev. Fr. D. Saminather was made the first parish Priest. The old Church was rebuilt by Rev. Fr. D. Saminaather (1900-1940). Rev. Msg. Aloy Navamani, who was the second parish priest from 1940 to 1947, rejuvanated the parish. Up until now 31 priests including the present one have served in this parish. The parish Church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Mary (Irudhaya Matha). Fr.Lourdumony and Fr.Karunakaran Gomez have done remarkable service for the social and cultural uplift of the people. Fr.Peter Paul built a new school building for the Middle School and it was blessed on 24.3.2008. The existing new Parish Church was built by Fr. Xavier George and was blessed on 2.9.2012. He also upgraded the middle school into High School from June 2011. Fr.Selva George who succeeded him started the construction of the new building for the Primary School which was completed by Fr.Martin the present parish priest and was blessed on 3.9.2019.
The parish has a miraculous shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary at the outskirts of the village in the palm grove. It was built by Fr.Swaminathar in 1873. It attracts lot of pilgrims from the nearby parishes of our diocese and Sivagangai Diocese. First Saturday Devotion was inaugurated by Fr.Xavier George in this Shrine. Fr.Selva George developed the Shrine by acquiring extensive lands for the Shrine and planted many trees and built small Grottos in the precinct.
The parish has one Shrine at Kalaignanapuram around 10 kms. away dedicated to St.Antony. Lot of pilgrims visit this shrine regularly.
Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. Swaminather - 1900 – 1940
2. Rev.Fr. Aloy Novamani - 1940 – 1947
3. Rev.Fr. Cruzmarian - 1947 – 1948
4. Rev.Fr. Xavier Fdo - 1948 – 1951
5. Rev.Fr. Augustine Fdo - 1951 – 1953
6. Rev.Fr. Antony Arakkal - 1953 – 1954
7. Rev.Fr.M.R. Augustine - 1954 – 1955
8. Rev.Fr. Rosario Corera - 1955 – 1956
9. Rev.Fr. Xavier Ignaci - 1956 – 1957
10. Rev.Fr. Arul Swami - 1957 – 1958
11. Rev.Fr. Marianus G. - 1958 – 1960
12. Rev.Fr. T.P. Alangaram - 1960 – 1961
13. Rev.Fr. P.L. Ephrem - 1961 – 1964
14. Rev.Fr. Arsa Rathinam - 1964 – 1965
15. Rev.Fr. P.M. Manickam - 1965 – 1970
16. Rev.Fr. M. Lourdu Mani - 1970 – 1976
17. Rev.Fr. Karunakaran Gomez - 1976 – 1981
18. Rev.Fr. Julian Fdo - 1981 – 1982
19. Rev.Fr. T.K. Dasan Dalmeida- 1982
20. Rev.Fr. S. Mariadas - 1982 – 1984
21. Rev.Fr. Devasahayam Fdo - 1984 – 1985
22. Rev.Fr. S. Antonydoss - 1985 – 1986
23. Rev.Fr. S. Amaladas - 1986 – 1990
24. Rev.Fr. S. Jesu Arulappan - 1990 – 1995
25. Rev.Fr. M. Deva Navamani - 1995 – 1997
26. Rev.Fr. Bancras M. Raja - 1999 – 2002
27. Rev.Fr. Alis - 2002 - 2003
28. Rev.Fr. Peter Paul - 2003 – 2008
29. Rev.Fr. Xavier George A - 2008 – 2013
30. Rev.Fr. Selva George - 2013 - 2018
31. Rev.Fr. Martin Manuel 2018 - 2023
32. Rev.Fr. Antony Michael Rayappan 2023 - Jan 2024
33. Rev.Fr. Jesu Nazarene - Jan 2024 -
Grottos in the parish:
1. Our Lady of Lourdus - Periyasamipuram
2. Our Lady of Rosary - Periyasamipuram
Catholic Population : 2410
No. of Catholic Families : 296
Sunday Mass – Timings : 5.00 a.m; 7.30 a.m.
Weekdays : 5.30 a.m
Sub – Stations
Kalaignanapuram – St. Antony
Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality for Young Girls
4. "Punitha Gnanapragasiar Sodality for Young Boys
5. Holy Family Sodality for Married Women
6. Sacred Heart of Mary Sodality for Married Men
Other Associations & Activities
1. Little Way Association
2. Altar Boys Association
3. Village Welfare Asscciation
4. Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam
Institutions under the Parish
St. Antony's Primary School
St. Antony’s High School, Periasamipuram – 628 906
Sacred Heart Dispensary (Run by Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Vellore))
Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM) (Populary known as Servite Sisters) established in 12.8.1941 at Periasamypuram, left the parish in May 2018.
From June 2018, Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Vellore)
Sacredt Heart Convent, Periasamipuram - 628 906.
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Corrections added to the existing content by : Rev.Fr. Martin Manuvel
Scanned pages: None. Previous file name : parish-periyasamypuram-irudaya-annai0.htm
Updated on 14th Oct. 2022
Corrections updated again on Feb 25th, 2023, file sent through whatsapp messeger service.
Updated on 12 Jully, 2024
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