Church of Sts. Peter & Paul

First Sendamaram had only a small thatched church as its possession. Once the Maravar Lord of Chokkanpatti was saved from imminent danger by the freely bestowed blessings of our Lord. His heart sprang up on gratitude and he built up a chapel with the stones of a dilapidated Hindu Temple. In 1798 this new Chapel was blessed by a Goan Priest, as the Society of Jesus was suppressed and oppressed in 1773. Now, this sanctuary serves as a sacristy for the new Church built by Rev. Fr. J. Ignatius, S.J. in 1887. The Parish of Sendamaram has created on the 1st January 1878 with Rev. Fr. J. Ignatius as its first Parish Priest. Previously it was under the Jurisdiction of the vast area, including Pettai, Viravanallur, Cheranmahadevi, Tenkasi, Karuthapillaiyur, Uthumalai, Chidambarapuram, Velayudapuram and Sundarnachiapuram. Rev. Fr. J. Ignatius served here from 1878 to 1917. He dedicated himself completely and rendered his countless service in this parish. That’s why countless Hindus enter into the Catholic community to seek eternal life. In Chief centres, stone chapels were built in small villages Cheap Palmyra leaves covered the prayer houses. In 1908 a fine presbytery was built and the old one was handed over to the Seven Dolores Convent which was established in the same year. During the auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Rev. Fr. J. Ignatius, S.J., a memorial and the immortal memorable monument was built up, a church in honour of our lady of Lourdes was built on Sendamaram. This Church has become a famous pilgrim centre. Rest houses for priests, nuns and pilgrims were built Mount of Calvary and the grotto of our Lady of Lourdes have been added. Fourteen on the top of the hill. During the Mariyan year, people visited here in large numbers and got numerous material and spiritual gifts. In 1987 the Parish Centenary Celebration was celebrated grandly by then Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Joemics. Rt. Rev. Edward Francis, the first Bishop of Sivagangai Diocese hails from Vellalankulam, a substation in this parish. Many priests are here. All of them carried out than work with missionary zeal. People were well brought up in spiritual life. One of the pilgrim centres of the diocese, Our Lady of Lourdes situated near the substation of Thirumalapuram. This centre attracts all the people regardless of caste or religion. The Succession of the Priests 1. Rev. Fr. Ignatius SJ. 2. Rev. Fr. Mureirre SJ. 3. Rev. Fr. Alphonse Courturier SJ. 4. Rev. Fr. Ivano SJ. 5. Rev. Fr. Thomas Fernando SJ. 6. Rev. Fr. S. Iruthayam 7. Rev. Fr. V.D. Arulanandam SJ. 8. Rev. Fr. Michael 9. Rev. Fr. Manuel SJ. 10. Rev. Fr. J. Arulanandam SJ. 11. Rev. Fr. Mariadoss 12. Rev. Fr. S. Durairaj 13. Rev. Fr. S.L. Arulappan 14. Rev. Fr. M. Berchmans 15. Rev. Fr. T.A. Berchmans 16. Rev. Fr. S. Jeyabalan 17. Rev. Fr. Joe Michael Selvaraj 18. Rev. Fr. I. Lourduraj 19. Rev. Fr. M. Arul Ambrose 20. Rev. Fr. S. Santiago 21. Rev. Fr. R.J.L. Antonyraj(Ooty Dio.) 22. Rev. Fr. Amalanathan (Udaipur Dio.) 23. Rev. Fr. Josephraj 24. Rev. Fr. Antony Viagappan 25. Rev. Fr. M.S. Antonysamy 26. Rev. Fr. S.A. Antonysamy 27. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Jegan Raja Substations With Churches Thirumalapuram Kovilandanor Anayarkulam Vellalankulam Thannothu Renganathapuram Dharmathurani Pattadaikatti Puthur Substations Without Churches Kallampuli Veppankulam Innacinadarur

Sendamaram, Sankarankovil Tk. - Tirunelveli Dt. Tamil Nadu - 627 857 - India