image
image
image

St. Thomas Church
Verapandianpattnam

as

as

as

Parish Name : St. Thomas Church
Address : Virapandianpattanam. Tuticorin – 628 216
Patron Saint : St. Thomas
Mobile No : +91 80153 93856

A Brief History :
Virapandianpatnam was one of the seven important harbour villages of the famed Pearl Fishery Coast. When Virapandianpanam along with the other coastal villages of the Pearl Fishery Coast embraced the Catholic Faith, the Mass Conversion among them during the years 1535 - 1537 was a big historical turning point for the people of Pearl Fishery Coast.

The years 1542-52 witnessed innumerable visits of St. Francis Xavier to these fisher folks of the Pearl Fishery Coast. On February 12, 1649 an unprecedented aggression of the Reformists destroyed these villages and in 1656 the church in Virapandianpatnam was vandalised.

During the years 1708 and 1709 both Virapandianpatnam and Alanthalai were under the pastoral care of one Parish Priest. However in the year 1713 Virapandianpatnam became an independent parish with Rev. Fr. Antony De Souza taking charge of it as Parish Priest.

The Present day neighbouring parishes of Jeeva Nagar, Kombuthurai and Singithurai were once part of Virapandianpatnam parish whose northern boundary was in line with Kayalpatnam a big Islamic settlement and its southern boundary line was with Tiruchendur where one of the six Shrine temples of the Hindu God Murugan whose praises Tamil Literature extol.

The foundation for the present Gothic Structure of the parish church dedicated to St. Thomas was laid in the year 1882 by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Peyret S.J. In the year 1886 on August 15, Most Rev.Canoz S.J the then Bishop of Tiruchirappalli blessed the church and consecrated the Altar. From then on the people of God in Virapandianpatnam grew from strength to strength ever expanding the horizons of God's blessings.
Some Important Mile Stones in the History of the Parish of Virapandianpatnam.

1. 1535-1537 : The people of Virapandianpatnam by the grace of conversion embraced the Catholic Faith along with their compatriates of the famed Pearl Fishery Coast.
2. 1542 - 1552 : During the two years of his sojourn along the fishery coast, St. Francis Xavier stayed at Virapandianpatnam also.
3. 1863 : The Confraternity of Our Lady of Carmel was formed.
4. 1868 : The Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was formed.
5. 1886 : The present church in gothic structure dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle was consecrated
6. 1891 : St. Mary's Primary School and Convent of the Servites of Mary
7. 1893 : Holy Family Sodality, St. Aloysius Sodality, Sodality of the Immaculate Conception were formed
8. 1909 : Raising twin towers adorning the façade of the church was completed
9. 1911 : As an act of thanksgiving to St. Thomas' intercession that drove away the cholera pandemic, a Car procession to St. Thomas was dedicated.
10. 1913 : The Presbytery was built
11. 1914 : An Altar with the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was erected
12. 1918 : An Altar was raised at the Cemetery
13. 1921 : Transfer of power from the Jesuits to the Diocesan Clergy was effected
14. 1923 : Sacred Heart Clinic was commissioned
15. 1929: Chapel dedicated to Christ the King was built
16. 1934 :Iron Flag Mast was erected
17. 1935 : St. Francis Xavier side chapel was built
18. 1945 : St. Ann side chapel was built at Jeeva Nagar
19. 1946 : St. Thomas High School was started
20. 1948 : Holy Childhood and Eucharistic Crusaders Association were formed
21. 1949 : Legion of Mary was started
22. 1952 : Side chapel dedicated to our Lady of Fatima was erected
23. 1964 : Renovation of church twin towers
24. 1978 : Upgrading of St. Thomas High School to Higher Secondary School
25. 1979 : St. Vincent De Paul Society was formed
26. 1980 : St. Thomas Hospital came into operation
27. 1986 : Kolping Movement was started
28. 1988 : Visit of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to the Parish Church
29. 1992 : Punitha Thomaiyar Makkal Nala Sangam was started
30. 1997 : A stage in the church campus was erected in honor of the Eucharistic Lord
31. 1998 Meeting and Prayer Hall for Legion of Mary and St. Vincent De Paul Society was built
- Side chapel dedicated to St. Antony of Paduva was erected
- The side chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Veilankanni was erected
- Visit of Cardinal Lourdusamy to the Parish
32. 2004 : In honour of the 125th Jubilee of the parish. land to poor people were donated and it was named Jubilee Nagar
- A New block of two floors consisting of ten class rooms including Francis Sae Auditorium was built within St. Thomas Hr. Sec. School campus.
33.2006 : Renovation of St. Mary's Primary School, St. Thomas Parish Church with Choir loft on top of the main entrance
34.2006 : Annai Theresa Manitha Neya Movement was started
35. 2010 : A compound wall around the Parish Church was erected making the church campus gated and secured
36. 2014: St. John Paul II People Service Movement was started
37. 2016 : Thoma Arangam was built and dedicated to the parish
38. 2017 : The entire area of Parish Church Campus was beautified with paver blocks and Stations
of the Cross erected around the parish church
39.2018 : An exquisite Arch right across the Church main entrance was erected in honour of 150th Jubilee Celebration of the Confraternity of the Scared Heart of Jesus
40. 2019 : Sodality of the Franciscan Third Order was started
41. 2020 & 2021 : Three main blocks at St. Thomas Hr. Sec. School were renovated and dedicated to the school
42. 2021 : SCSM - Sisters of Charity of St. Mary - was started at St. Thomas Hospital for Primary Health Care and Pastoral Assistance.
43.2022 : The land extent of 42 cents adjacent to the present cemetery was attached to it in view of much needed extension

Succession of Parish Priests:
After Jesuits between 1775 and 1830, 16 Parish Priests contributed their noble service to Patnam. Between 1838 and 1921, 28 Parish Priests contributed their noble service to Patnam. During this period, the first Parish Priest was Rev. Fr. Petrant and the last Parish priest was Rev. Fr. Dyon Danat
Succession of parish priests:
1. Rev.Fr. J. Jeganathar - 1921 – 1923
2. Rev.Fr. Periya Nayagam - 1923 – 1928
3. Rev.Fr. Gasper Roche - 1928 – 1933
4. Rev.Fr. Remigius Missier - 1933 – 1946
5. Rev.Fr. J.S. Lobo - 1946 - 1954
6. Rev.Fr. J.S. Joseph Fdo - 1954 – 1957
7. Rev.Fr. Gabriel Devotto - 1957 – 1959
8. Rev.Fr. Emmanuvel Diaz - 1959 – 1962
9. Rev.Fr. Rosario Fdo - 1962 – 1965
10. Rev.Fr. S. Gabriel - 1965 – 1967
11. Rev.Fr. Job De Rose - 1967 – 1971
12. Rev.Fr. Charles Fdo - 1971 – 1978
13. Rev.Fr. Joseph Rathinaraj - 1978 – 1982
14. Rev.Fr. Rosario Fdo - 1982 – 1984
15. Rev.Fr. D.J.C Amirtham - 1984 – 1988
16. Rev.Fr. Oswald - 1988 – 1991
17. Rev.Fr. C. Xavier - 1991 – 1996
18. Rev.Fr. Sahaya Joseph - 1996 – 2000
19. Rev.Fr. Xavier George - 2000 – 2004
20. Rev.Fr. Stephen Gomez - 2004
21. Rev.Fr. John Benson - 2004 – 2007
22. Rev.Fr. S.M. Sahayam - 2007 – 2009
23. Rev.Fr. Cedric Peeris - 2009 – 2010
24. Rev.Fr. G. Joseph - 2010 – 2014
25. Rev.Fr. Andrew De Rose 2014 - 2019
26. Rev.Fr. A.S. Kirupakaran 2019 - 2024
27. Rev.Fr. Aloysius 2024 -

I. Side Chapels in the Parish:
1. Sts. Peter and Paul
2. St. Francis Xavier
3. Christ the King
4. St. Antony of Padua
5. Our Lady of Veilankanni
6. St. George

II. Grottos in the Parish:
1. Our Lady of Lourdes
2. Our Lady of Fatima

III. Catholic Population: 8950
1. No. of Catholic Families: 1,450

IV. Sunday Mass Timings: 5.15 am, 7.00 am & 5.00 pm
Week day: 5.15 am, 6.30 am

V. Participatory Structures
1. Anbiyams (Base Christian Communities)
2. 15 Pastoral Commissions
3. Parish Pastoral Council
4. Parish Finance Committee

VI. Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations)
1. Holy Childhood
2. Eucharistic Crusaders
3. Amalorpava Madha Sodality (Young Women)
4. Holy Family Sodality
5. St. Aloysius Sodality (Young Men)
6. Sacred Heart Confraternity
7. Carmel Madha Confraternitys
8. Legion of Mary
9. Vincent de Paul Society
10. The Society of Franciscan Third Order

VII. Other Associations & Activities
1. Little Way Movement (St. Don Bosco Altar Boys)
2. Annai Theresa Manitha Neeya Iyakkam
3. St. Thomas People Welfare Association
4. St. Joseph's Mantram (DCW Workers in the Parish)
5. St. Francis Xavier Thuraimuha Committee
6. St. John Paul II Makkal Sevai Iyakkam
7. St. Mary's and St. Thomas Old Students Association (OSA)

VIII. Institutions Under the Parish
1. St. Thomas Hr. Sec. School, Virapandianpatnam - 628 216, Tel.: 04639 246461
2. St. Mary's Primary School, Virapandianpatnam - 628 216
3. St. Thomas Hospital, Virapandianpatnam - 628 216

IX. Religious
1. Congregation of the Mother of Sorrows, Servants of Mary (OSM), Servite Convent
2. Sisters of St. Joseph of the Appariation (SJA)
3. Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary (SCSM)

Institutions under the Religious
St. Joseph's CBSE School, Virapandianpatnam - 628 216 (SJA)

X. Monthly parish bulletin: "Santhome Chaaral" is published XI. Other Institutions

XI. Other Institutions
1. Parava Nala Peravai - Carmel Mahal
2. Valampurinatham : Institute for Religions and Society Research and Documentation of Pearl Fishery Coast

======================
New Info provided by : Rev.Fr. A.S. Kirupakaran
Pages Scanned : 6
Previous file name : parish-veerapandianpattnam-st-thomas0.htm
Updated on 23rd March, 2023. Final Correction done on May 16th 2023.

Updated July 12th, 2024.


 


image
image
 image