St. Antony’s Church

The village is known now as Anthoniarpuram came to exist in 1890. Antoniarpuram, which was a substation to Pudukottai, was made into the separate parish in June 2001. Before Pudukottai, it had been a substation to Tharuvaikulam, Gnanapragasiarpatnam, Kombady and Millerpuram. The people of Antoniarpuram were originally living the leadership of Mr. Siluvaimuthu Nadar in the western side, half a kilometre away from where the village is actually situated now. There they had built a small thatched shed in which a Crucifix and a statue of St. Antony were kept and venerator for many years. Later, in 1860 the people shifted their residence to present place and put up to small thatched sheds, one for worship and another for school with 13 children in 1900. A small Church dedicated to St. Antony was built in 1925. Since a statue of St. Catherine of Siena was sent by some donor from abroad to this Church, she is venerated as the second patroness of Antoniarpuram. Construction of the new spacious Church was done by Rev. Jesu William the parish priest of Pudukottai, and it was completed blessed in 2003 and a presbytery was built in 2004 during the time of Rev. Fr. Selva George. Maravanmadam and Madathur were ancient missions. In 1877 Rev. Fr. Pouget built a chapel at Madathur. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Diaz who was staying at Mangalagiri looked after the spiritual needs of the people of Madathur. In 1979 it was entrusted to the Capuchins who were serving from St. Jude’s Shrine, Millerpuram. Madathur Church was renovated by Rev. Fr. C. Xavier and was blessed by Bishop Amalnather. A belfry was built the time of Rev. Fr. Selva George. The Succession of parish priests: 1. Rev. Fr. Selva George (2001-2006) 2. Rev. Fr. Amaladoss (2006-2011) 3. Rev. Fr. Augustine J.B (2011-2016) 4. Rev. Fr. Albin Leon (2016 -) Substations: 1. Diraviapuram - Holy Cross 2. Indiaranagar - Infant Jesus 3. Korampallam - Rosa Mystica 4. Madathur - St. Joseph 5. Maravanmadam - Sacred Heart 6. Ramanatchiarpuram - St. Theresa of Child Jesus

Antoniyarpuram, Korampallam S.O. - Tuticorin Dt. Tamil Nadu - 628 101 - India