St. Joseph Church
Pudukottai

Parish Name : St. Joseph’s Church
Address : Pudukottai, Tuticorin Dt. 628 103
Patron Saint : St. Joseph

A Brief History :
Pudukottai was one of the ancient mission centres of Thoothukkudi. In 1890 Rev. Fr. Causanal built a chapel in the name of St. Joseph at Pudukottai. On 1st June 1970 it was marked to be a parish with 16 substations by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu.

In one of its substations called Koottampuli-Siluvaipuram already in 1870 there was a chapel, built by Rev. Fr. Rayappar, which was later renovated by Rev. Fr. Amirtham. People started naming it as Amirthanather (Ambrosiar) koil. The Church was not taken care of and slowly got dilapidated.

In 1984 Bishop S.T. Amalnather elevated Pudukottai into a parish. Rev. Fr. Joseph S. Leon was the first parish priest. The present Church at Pudukottai was built by Rev. Fr. C. Xavier and was blessed on 28th February 1988 by Bishop S.T. Amalnather. In the place where the old chapel was standing Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph have put up their convent. On 29th September 1984 a new presbytery was blessed by Bishop S.T. Amalnather.

Succession of parish priest:
27. Rev.Fr. Joseph S. Leon - 1984 – 1986
28. Rev.Fr. C. Xavier - 1986 – 1991
29. Rev.Fr. James Selvaraj - 1991 – 1996
30. Rev.Fr. U. Jesu William - 1996 – 2001
31. Rev.Fr. Vinoba - 2001 – 2006
32. Rev.Fr. Jeyaseelan - 2006 – 2007
33. Rev.Fr. Rubert - 2007 – 2011
34. Rev.Fr. Lazar - 2011 -2016
35. Rev.Fr. Amalan I -2016 - 2021
36. Rev.Fr. Benjamin De Souza 2021 - 2022
37. Rev. Fr. Antony Michael Lawrence M. - 2022

Grottos in the parish:
1. Vilankanni Matha and St. antony - Pudukottai
2. St. Antony - P. Saveriarpuram
3. Our Lady of Mary - Siluvaipuram
4. Our Lady of Mary - Soosaipandiapuram

Catholic Population : 3400

No. of Catholic Families : 500

Sunday Mass – Timings : 6.00 a.m; 8 a.m.; 7.00p.m
Weekdays : 5.45 a.m

Sub – Stations
1. Allikulam – St. Paul (Clossed - People migrated)
2. Mangalagiri – St. Sebastian (Clossed - People migrated)
3. Mudivaithanaenthal – Our Lady of Lourdes (Clossed - People migrated)
4. Siluvaipuram – Virgin Mary
5. Sirupadu Saveriarpuram – St. Xavier
6. Soosaipandiyapuram – St. Peter
7. Thimmarajapuram – St. Margret Mary
8. Azhagapuri – Our Lady of Health (Clossed - People migrated)

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

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

Other Associations & Activities
1. Little Way Association
2. Mahalir Mantrams
3. Youth Movement
4. Alchoholic Anonymous Group
5. Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam

Institutions under the Parish
R.C. Primary School, Siluvaipuram – 628 103 Kootampuli P.O
R.C. Primary School, Sirupadu – 628 103 Pudukottai P.O
R.C. Primary School, Soosaipandiapuram – 628 103 Mangalagiri P.O

Institutions under the Diocese
St. Joseph’s Matriculation School, Pudukottai – 628 103
Charismatic Renewal Centre, 1/87-1 Palayamkottai Road, Mangalagiri(Post), Tuticorin Dt. 628 103, Phone: 9442039024

Religious
1. Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ)
Assisi Illam, Pudukottai – 628 103 Tel : 0461 – 2271056
2. Congregation of De La Salle Brothers (FSE)
St. Joseph’s Community College, De Lasalle House, Mangalagiri Pudukottai Via – 628 103 Tel: 0461 -2271251
3. Carmelite Coistered Nuns (OCD)
Carmelites Monastery, Pudukottai Via Mangalagiri – 628 103
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Corrections added to the existing content by Rev. Fr. Antony Michael Lawrence M.
Final Correction done on May 23rd, 2023.

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