Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni

Anna Nagar is a suburb of Madurai city. In 1976, at the request of the residents of Vaigai Colony, Anna Nagar, Archbishop Diraviam built a small chapel just to cater to the needs of the few Catholics in the locality, who wanted it to be called Velankanny Church. The buying of the site and the building of the shrine within six months was nothing short of a miracle. The instrument was Fr. S. Jesudasan who as procurator of the Archdiocese for 18 years had become an expert in buying and building. Within a year this small chapel attracted hundreds of people during the weekdays and thousands at the time of the titular feast. As the devotees increased, a bigger and better church was thought of. Archbishop Diraviam built the present one which was consecrated on 6th October 1979. It is one of the beautiful churches built in his time. Before being made into a parish Fr. N.P. Alphonse and Fr. Lawrence Xavier serving as care-takers in succession. Since many Catholics were settling down in the colonies around the church, Anna Nagar parish was created, with Fr. S. Jesudasan as the first parish priest, on 31st May 1985. the parish has got K.K. Nagar, Vandiyur as substations with a catholic population of about 2000. With the co-operation of Rev. Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, of St. John the Baptist, of the Holy Cross and of the Seva Missionaries this parish is growing through associations like the Parish council, Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, Ilampengal Iyakkam and Eucharistic Crusade. In the line of option for the poor, a survey has been taken with the help of M.M. S.S.S. for developing the three slum areas. While the parish is growing, the church is fast becoming a famous place of God’s blessings. The whole day devotees are visiting the church. There should be a priest available to pray over the people, to console and counsel, and bless them. There is a possibility to create a spiritual sanatorium in this church. With this end in view, a small building is put up, called, Thiruthalapani Nilayam’ (Pilgrims’ Service Centre) Substations with Chapels St. Antony’s Church, K.K Nagar Sahaya Annai Church, LKB Nagar Lady Of Immaculate Conception, Pondi Kovil St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Jubilee Town Substations without Chapels Vandiyur Madhichiam Pandi Koil Karuppayoorani R. C. Cemetery LKB. Nagar Succession Of Parish Priests Rev. Fr. S. Jesudasan Rev. Fr. N. A. Manuel Rev. Fr. M. Dhivyanandam Rev. Fr. Mudiappan Rev. Fr. Y. Arockiam Rev. Fr. D. Gnanapragasam Rev. Fr. Appoline Claret Raj

Church Street, Anna Nagar Main Road, Madurai - 625 020