Parish Name:
St. Ignatius Church
Address:
St. Ignatius Church, 119 Municipal Office Road, Virudhunagar – 626001.
Patron Saint:
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Telephone No:
04562-266781, 267063

 

HISTORY

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.

 

SUCCESSION OF PARISH PRIESTS

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-

 

SUBSTATIONS WITH CHAPELS

Soolakarai – At. Antony’s, Vellur- St. Francis Xavier’s, Moolipatti – St. Sebastin’s,
Burmacolony – St. Micheal’s, Kullursandai – Srilankan refugees’ camp.

 

PARTICIPATORY STRUCTURES / ASSOCIATIONS IN THE PARISH

Parish Council

 

ASSOCIATIONS

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.

 

RELIGIOUS IN THE PARISH

a) (Madurai blue) Sisters of Immaculate Conception; no. of
members : 4.
b) Sisters of Holy Cross (Kottyam). no. of members : 9,
Ph: 04562-252430

 

SECULAR INSTITUTE

Nil

 

INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE PARISH PRIEST

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)

 

INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE RELIGIOUS

a) Holy Cross Hospital and paramedical school for girls
b) Holy Cross Welfare Centre for women (Stabilizar making for girls)

 

KURUSADIS & GROTTOS IN THE PARISH

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