Fr. J. B. Trincal SJ in one of his hunting expeditions of souls, met some at Virudhunagar, made them catechumens and baptized them in 1862. This is the origin of Christianity in Virudhunagar. The parish is situated in the southern side of Madurai, 48 kilometers away. This is the headquarters of Virudhunagar district. The Catholic population amounts to 1363 families. Most of them are daily wagers and load men who earn meager wage for a heavy toil everyday. Virudhunagar was bifurcated from Sattur parish and was made an independent parish in the year 1944; and in the year 1989 it became a Vicariate centre. Presently Virudunagar has five substations namely Vellur, Moolipatti, Soolakarai, Burmacolony and Kullursandai.
Fr. S, Savariraj (1944-1954)
Fr. Y. X. Arulanandam SJ (1954-55)
Fr. Ponnaiah (1955 July – 55 December)
Fr. Maria Dhiraviam (1955-64)
Fr. Miranda SJ (1964-70)
Fr. Arulrayan (1970-76)
Fr. A.S. Kulandaisamy (1976-83)
Fr. D. Gnanapragasam and Fr. Alexis Diamondraj (1983-84)
Fr. M. Gnanapragasam (1984-88)
Fr. Aruldass and Fr. S. Arulrayan as VF (1988-90)
Fr. N.A. Manuel (1990-93)
Fr. N. P. Alphonse (1993-98)
Fr. D. Gnanapragasam (1998-2003)
Fr. M. Dhiviyanandam (2003-2004)
Fr. A. Antony Packiam (2004-2009)
Fr. Y. Arockiam (Present Parish Priest and VF) (2009-
Soolakarai – At. Antony’s, Vellur- St. Francis Xavier’s, Moolipatti – St. Sebastin’s,
Burmacolony – St. Micheal’s, Kullursandai – Srilankan refugees’ camp.
Parish Council
Vincent De Paul, Legion of Mary, Inigo Narpani Iyakkam (for Married
men), Magalir Iyakkam (for married women), Teachers and
Government employees association, Kirithavar vazhurimai Iyakkam,
Youth association, Elanthalir Iyakkam (for teenage boys and girls),
Altar boys and girls association etc.
a) (Madurai blue) Sisters of Immaculate Conception; no. of
members : 4.
b) Sisters of Holy Cross (Kottyam). no. of members : 9,
Ph: 04562-252430
Nil
a) R.C. Primary School; 10 teachers and 342 students (boys and
girls)
b) R.C. Higher secondary School; 22 staffs and 560 students
(boys and girls)
a) Holy Cross Hospital and paramedical school for girls
b) Holy Cross Welfare Centre for women (Stabilizar making for girls)
a) Infant Jesus grotto (near higher secondary school)
b) Kattutheru St. Antony’s grotto at Sivanthipuram Aathumedu
c) Allampatti St. Antony’s grotto
d) Fatima Annai grotto at Fatimanagar