St. Rita's Church
Rithammalpuram, Tuticorin

Parish Name : St. Rita
Address : Rithammalpuram, Tuticorin - 628 003
Patron Saint : St. Rita

Brief History
The village “Pandarampatti” known as Rithammalpuram is situated 4 k.m. west of the New Bus stand. Among Hindus, before seventh generation few families got baptized and became Catholics. The Christians who were economically week were unable to construct a church to practice their faith, and there came to their help Mr. J.B. Roche who came forward to build a Church for them honoring St. Reeta. This church was blessed by the then Bishop Rt. Rev. Francis Tiburtius Roche S.J. in 1934.

This small community at Rithammalpuram and a cloistered convent run by Rosarian Sisters were attached to St. Charles parish, Boltonpuram. When St. Jude’s parish was newly erected Rithammalpuram became a substation of the new parish. After few years it was detached from St. Jude’s parish and again became a substation of St. Charles Parish.

When Anna Nager was bifurcated from St. Charles Parish in 1992, Ritamalpuram became a substation of Anna Nagar parish. When Rev. Fr. Bruno was the parish priest, he laid the foundation stone for a new church at Rithammalpuram and the started the work. The next parish priest Rev. Fr. Michael Jegathees continued the work and with the help of local people he competed the construction. The new church St. Reeta was blessed by Most. Rev. Bishop Yvon Ambroise on May 2nd 2006.

In these years, this community in Rithammalpuram were growing in their faith and when Rev. Fr. John Benson was the parish Priest of Anna Nagar, he proposed the diocese to bifurcate Anna Nagar parish and establish a new parish “Rithammalpuram”. After a thorough study by a team, Most Rev. Bishop Yvon Ambrose announced the new parish "Rithammalpuram" during a Solemn Mass held on 22nd May, 2018 with two substations namely Silverpuram, and Chinnakannupuram from Anna Nagar Parish.

The Community at Chinakannupuram originally came from Cilpadu Saveriyarpuram, Kadakulam, Mittatharkulam, and Kamanayakanpatti who were employed by the local land lords to tap the palmyra trees around the area in around 1950s. The church at dedicated to St. Antony was built by Rev. Fr. Leo Jeyaseelan when he was the parish priest of St. Charles Parish. Fr. Michael Jegathese built the Grotto of St. Antony. Fr. John Benson Renovated the church in 2016.

The community at Silverpuram originally came from Sayarpuram, Arulanandapuram, and Paramankurichi who were weavers and settled in Silverpuram some nine generation ago. The church in Silverpuram, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was blessed by the then Bishop Rt. Rev. Francis Tiburtius Roche S.J. On seeing the church in dilapidated condition Rev. Fr. Augustin the parish priest of Anna Nagar in 2010 laid foundation and the next priest Rev. Fr. Mariadas Lipton completed the church and was blessed by Most Rev. Bishop Yvon Ambrose on May 17th 2014.

Succession of parish priest:
1. Rev.Fr. Arockiaraj D. 2018 - 2019
2. Rev.Fr. Irudayaraj Fernando 2019 - 2020
3. Rev.Fr. Arockiya Lazar 2020 - 2023
4. Rev.Fr. Athnasius Joe 2023 -

Sub – Stations :
1. Silvarpuram - Sacred Heart of Jesus
2. Chinnakannupuram - St. Antony

Grottos in the parish
1. Annai Velankanni Matha - Rithammalpuram
2. St. Antony - Chinnakannupuram

Catholic Population : 750

No. of Catholic Families : 160

Sunday Mass – Timings : 9:30 a.m.
Weekdays : 7:00 p.m.

Silvarpuram : Sunday 7:30 a.m Friday 7:00 p.m
Cinnakannupuram : Sunday 6:30 a.m Tuesday 6:30 p.m.

Parish Feast : St. Reeta - May 22nd
Substations Feast:
1. Sacred Heart of Jesus - First Sunday of May (Silverpuram)
2. St. Antony - Month of Janurary (Chinnakannupuram)

Participatory Structures
1. 6 Anbiyams
2. 25 Pastoral Commissions
3. Parish Pastoral Council


Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Catechism Association
2. Altar boys & girls
3. Amalorpava Annai youth Sodality
4. Don Bosco Sodality for youth
5. Holy Family Sodality
6. Legion of Mary
7. St. Joseph's Sodality

Institutions:
Lucia Society for the Physically Challenged

Institiution under Religious:
Rosarian Sisters, Rosarian Convent, Rithammalpuram
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New Info provided by : Fr. Arockian L.
Scanned page: None.
Previous file name :parish-reethamalpuram-tuty0.htm
Original in Tamil before English Translation :parish-reethamalpuram-tuty1.htm
Updated on : 13th Oct. 2022, May 6th, 2023

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024