St. Michael
Tharuvaikulam

Parish Name : St. Michael’s Church
Address : Tharuvaikulam, Tuticorin 628 105
Patron Saint : St.Michael’s
Telephone No : 0461 - 2277284

A Brief History :
From 1908 onwards Tharuvaikulam was one of the 16 substations of Cathedral parish, Thoothukkudi. Catholic families belonging to Nadar Community, who were mostly Palmyrah Climbers came to Tharuvaikulam. In 1826 they moved to the eastern side of Tharuvaikulam and got settled there. In 1868, they put up a small chapel built with stones. In 1871 a Church dedicated to St. Michael was built.
In the time of Fr. Swaminather in 1906 a catholic school was built. On 1918 Rev. Fr. J.S. Lourdu was appointed as the first parish priest and that very same year foundation was laid for a new Church. In 1920 the Church was blessed. But the construction work was fully completed only in 1932. The belfry was built in 1960 by Rev. Fr. P.M. Manickam and Rev. Fr. J.S. Lourdusamy blessed it. In 1984 Rev. Fr. Sengolemani renovated the Church. In the year 1990 Rev. Fr. Norbert Thomas renovated the presbytery. Fr. Edward J. Built a New Presbytery in 2019.

Before being a Parish:
1.Rev.Fr. Swaminathar 1906 - 1909
2. Rev.Fr. T. Michael - 16-1-1909
3.Rev.Fr. Thairiyanather -S.J. 28-7-1910

Succession of parish priests:
4. Rev.Fr. J.S. Lourdu 17-01-1913
5. Rev.Fr. T. Michael - 06-12-1922
6. Rev.Fr. Adaikalanather - 30-09-1931
7. Rev.Fr. P.M. Manickam -0 2-01-1934
8. Rev.Fr. M. Sathana Marian -26-05-1940
9. Rev.Fr. Richard Rodrigo - 11-04-1946
10. Rev.Fr. Amaladas Victoria - 29-06-1947
11. Rev.Fr. Paul Pandian - 02-01-1949
12. Rev.Fr. Maria Joseph -0 7-05-1950
13. Rev.Fr. Marianus -29-04-1951
14. Rev.Fr. P.M. Manickam - 20-02-1958
15. Rev.Fr. Aloy M. Navamani - 30-07-1965
16. Rev.Fr. T.M. Ambrose - 1975 – 1981
17. Rev.Fr. Deva Sahayam - 1981 – 1982
18. Rev.Fr. Sengole Mani - 1982 – 1985
19. Rev.Fr. N. Johnpaul - 1985 – 1987
20. Rev.Fr. Joseph Xavier - 1987 – 1988
21. Rev.Fr. Norbert - 1988 – 1993
22. Rev.Fr. Soosai Marian - 1993 – 1996
23. Rev.Fr. Benjamin Venoba - 1996 – 2001
24. Rev.Fr. Augustine - 2001 – 2006
25. Rev.Fr. Lazar - 2006 – 2011
26. Rev.Fr. Joseph Isidore - 2011 - 2016
27. Rev. Fr. Edward J. - 2016 - 2021
28. Rev.Fr. Antony Michael Vincent 2021 -

Grottos in the parish:
1. Our Lady of Lourdes – Tharuvaikulam

Catholic Population : 10540

No. of Catholic Families : 1437

Sunday Mass – Timings : 5.00 a.m; 7.00 a.m
Weekdays : 5.45 a.m; 6.30 p.m.

Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions

Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality
4. Holy Family Sodality
5. St. Dominic Savio Sodality
6. Vincent de Paul Society
7. St. Joseph Sodality
8. St. Aloysius Youth Sodality

Institutions under the Parish
St. Michael’s Primary School, Tharuvaikulam – 628 105.
St. Catherine Primary School, Tharuvaikulam – 628 105.

Religious
Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM)
Servite Convent, Tharuvaikulam – 628 105 Tel: 0461 – 2277226

Institutions under the Diocese
Lourdu Annai Hospital, Tharuvaikulam – 628 105 (TMSSS)

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Parish Priest List corrected according to Golden Jubili Malar on 09.03.2024

Updated on 12 Jully, 2024