St. John's Church

Christianity in Uthumalai is of recent origin, i.e. the Latin part of the 19th century. Fr. Joseph Ignacy S.J, parish priest of Sendamaram sowed the Christian faith. People were attracted to Christianity by his exemplary way of life. He plunged himself with great zeal joy and enthusiasm in missionary work. One fine day almost 50 families of Marava embraced Christianity. Following these families many other also joined with then do 1892 Fr. Joseph Ignacy SJ, after long preparation on sacraments baptized 225 members. Fr. Joseph Ignacy put up a small thatched shed named after the patron of John the Evangelist for almost 10 years, people were using this as a chapel. When the faithful increased in number and fervour day by day, the father felt the to need of constructing a big church. In 1903, a new church was built up 329 Christian members generously contributed Rs. 1,000 for this purpose. The presbytery and the school were put up near the church. In 1938 Fr. S. Irudayam became the parish priest of Sendamaram. During his period, the people of Uthumalai grew stronger in faith. By his efforts, Uthumalai was carved out of Sendamaram in the year 1946. It was economically erected, as a parish on 1.10.1946 by Most Rev. Archbishop Peter Leonard SJ and Fr. A.S. Durairaj became its first parish priest. This parish comprised a major part of the Alangulam Panchayat union and a small portion of the Keelapavoor union. Many thatched chapels were constructed social works were carried out during his time. The Jesuit parish priests like Rev. Frs. J. Arulanandam SJ, J. Kuruvila SJ, John Meempillaikavil SJ, and Masillamani SJ have laboured hard to improve the life of the catholic and non-Catholics of this parish. When Fr. T. A. Soosai was a parish priest, people were well brought up in catholic faith he constructed two chapels one in Reddiarpatti and another in Duraisamipuram. The successors also were successful in the administration of the Parish Fr. Soosai Manickam S.J., Fr. F. Joachim, Fr. S. Jeyabalan, Fr. A. Joseph Raj, Fr. Amirtha Raja Sundar, Fr. Aloysius Durai Raj, Fr. Vianney Raj, & Fr. R.J.L. Antony Rai were parish priests in Uthumalai. Though the village of this parish was rural and remote areas, the parish can feel proud for having an esteemed educational Institution up to the 8th standard. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who put their food in their soil on 25th April 1975 are giving their helping hands for the overall development of the parish. Many of the big substations like Vadiyur. Mariathaipuram and VK Puthur were separated from this parish and added to the parish of Surandai from its inception on 07.06.1994. Some of the other big substations like Nettur, Kavalakkurichi, Kidarakkaulam, Reddiyarpatti etc. were separated from this parish. When Nettur was formed into a separate parish. With substations fallen as the parish priests on 26th June 2002. Hence at present Uthumalai is a smaller parish than it was earlier. The catholic community at Uthumalai remains a most backward one both educationally and economically. The Succession of the Priests 1. Rev. Fr. Durairaj 2. Rev. Fr. Manuvel 3. Rev. Fr. R.S. Peter 4. Rev. Fr. Arulanandam SJ. 5. Rev. Fr. S. Savariraj 6. Rev. Fr. J. Arulanandam SJ. 7. Rev. Fr. J. Kuruvilla SJ. 8. Rev. Fr. T.A. Susai 9. Rev. Fr. M. Susaimanickam 10. Rev. Fr. John Meembillikavil SJ. 11. Rev. Fr. Saleth Jeyabalan 12. Rev. Fr. Masilamani 13. Rev. Fr. Joachim 14. Rev. Fr. Josephraj 15. Rev. Fr. Amirtharaja Sundar 16. Rev. Fr. Alocius Durairaj 17. Rev. Fr. Vianney 18. Rev. Fr. R.J.L. Antonyraj 19. Rev. Fr. T.A. Berchmans 20. Rev. Fr. V.S. Antonyraj 21. Rev. Fr. James 22. Rev. Fr. S.L. Stephen 23. Rev. Fr. Arul Antony Susai Substations with Churches Karuvantha Veeranam Melakalangal Keelakalangal Periyasamyapuram Substations without Churches Rukkumaniammalpuram Periyakovilankulam

Uthumalai - Tirunelveli Dt. Tamil Nadu - 627 714 - India