St. Joseph’s Church

Pudukottai was one of the ancient mission centres of Thoothukkudi. In 1890 Rev. Fr. Causanal built a chapel in the name of St. Joseph at Pudukottai. On 1st June 1970 it was marked to be a parish with 16 substations by Bishop Ambrose Mathalaimuthu. In one of its substations called Koottampuli-Siluvaipuram already in 1870 there was a chapel, built by Rev. Fr. Rayappar, which was later renovated by Rev. Fr. Amirtham. People started naming it as Amirthanather (Ambrosiar) koil. The Church was not taken care of and slowly got dilapidated. In 1984 Bishop S.T. Amalnather elevated Pudukottai into a parish. Rev. Fr. Joseph S. Leon was the first parish priest. The present Church at Pudukottai was built by Rev. Fr. C. Xavier and was blessed on 28th February 1988 by Bishop S.T. Amalnather. In the place where the old chapel was standing Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph have put up their convent. On 29th September 1984 a new presbytery was blessed by Bishop S.T. Amalnather. Succession of parish priest: 27. Rev.Fr. Joseph S. Leon - 1984 – 1986 28. Rev.Fr. C. Xavier - 1986 – 1991 29. Rev.Fr. James Selvaraj - 1991 – 1996 30. Rev.Fr. U. Jesu William - 1996 – 2001 31. Rev.Fr. Vinoba - 2001 – 2006 32. Rev.Fr. Jeyaseelan - 2006 – 2007 33. Rev.Fr. Rubert - 2007 – 2011 34. Rev.Fr. Lazar - 2011 -2016 35. Rev.Fr. Amalan I -2016 - 2021 36. Rev.Fr. Benjamin De Souza 2021 - Grottos in the parish: 1. Vilankanni Matha and St. antony - Pudukottai 2. St. Antony - P. Saveriarpuram 3. Our Lady of Mary - Siluvaipuram 4. Our Lady of Mary - Soosaipandiapuram Catholic Population : 3200 No. of Catholic Families : 481 Sunday Mass – Timings : 6.00 a.m; 8 a.m.; 7.00p.m Weekdays : 5.45 a.m Sub – Stations 1. Allikulam – St. Paul 2. Mangalagiri – St. Sebastian 3. Mudivaithanaenthal – Our Lady of Lourdes 4. Siluvaipuram – Virgin Mary 5. Sirupadu Saveriarpuram – St. Xavier 6. Soosaipandiyapuram – St. Peter 7. Thimmarajapuram – St. Margret Mary 8. Azhagapuri – Our Lady of Health Participatory Structures 1. Anbiyams 2. 15 Pastoral Commissions 3. Parish Pastoral Council Christian Life Societies (Pious Associations) 1. Holy Childhood 2. Eucharistic Crusaders 3. Amalorpava Matha Sodality 4. Holy Family Sodality 5. Legion of Mary Other Associations & Activities 1. Little Way Association 2. Mahalir Mantrams 3. Youth Movement 4. Alchoholic Anonymous Group 5. Krithavar Vazhvurimai Iyyakkam Institutions under the Parish St. Joseph’s Girl’s High School, Pudukottai – 628 103 Tel : 0461 – 2271256 R.C. Primary School, Siluvaipuram – 628 103 Kootampuli P.O R.C. Primary School, Sirupadu – 628 103 Pudukottai P.O R.C. Primary School, Soosaipandiapuram – 628 103 Mangalagiri P.O Religious Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSJ) Assisi Illam, Pudukottai – 628 103 Tel : 0461 – 2271056 Congregation of De La Salle Brothers (FSE) St. Joseph’s Community College, De Lasalle House, Mangalagiri Pudukottai Via – 628 103 Tel: 0461 -2271251 Carmelite Coistered Nuns (OCD) Carmelites Monastery, Pudukottai Via Mangalagiri – 628 103

Pudukottai, Tuticorin Dt. 628 103