Arockia Annai Shrine

Vadipatty a small town with only 5catholic families and the majority of Non-Christians, was unknown till 2001. It was the sisters of St. John the Baptist who started first their health and educational ministry in Vadipatty before it was erected as a parish. Then the Divine Word Centre of SVD fathers came. It was planned to erect a new parish bifurcating some area from the parish of Samayanallur. In 10th of October 1993, Vadipatty became a parish having Arockia Annai as its patron saint. In fact, it was the first SVD parish in Tamil Nadu. This parish is entrusted to the pastoral care of the SVD fathers as per the contract entered by them with the Archdiocese of Madurai. Fr. Vijay Amal Raj SVD was the first parish priest. The presbytery was constructed in 1994 and the parish church was completed and was blessed by Archbishop the Most Rev. Dr. Arokiasamy on 6 June 1999. The next parish priest was Fr. S.M. Mary John SVD, who developed the small church into a renowned pilgrim centre in Tamil Nadu by his tireless and zealous ministry. Rev. Fr. Blaise SVD is the parish priest at present. It was claimed by the parish priest Fr. Mary John SVD, that on 8 September 2001, there happened an oozing out of the water (the miraculous holy spring – Yesuvin Arumarunthu) from the tiled floor of the Church just below the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mother on the right side of the altar. Later this was considered miraculous holy water (pumped from this source) that brought healing and blessings. It was offered to the pilgrims who throng to the church in thousands every week. Even it attracts many Hindus and Muslims because of the powerful healing presence of Jesus in the liturgical services that are conducted with utmost pastoral care. Thus the small unknown town with 5 Catholic families has become a prominent pilgrim centre that attracts thousands of people every day today. This parish church had emerged as a very important church in South India. Taking the importance of the church that attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over south India, witnesses of miracles attributed and faith of the pilgrims into consideration, it was announced as Diocesan Shrine by archbishop the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Fernando on 18.12.2012. The annual feast of this Shrine is celebrated with pomp and glory every year from 29 August to 8 September. Alanganallur, Kuravankulam, Mariammalkulam and Saanampatti are the substations of this parish. Most of the parishioners belong to middle-class section working as agricultural coolies and some are working in sugar mills in Pandiarajapuram and Alanganallur. The population at the time bifurcation was only 5 families in Vadipatty and 100 families in village substations. Now the there are 60 families in Vadipatty proper. Though the total population of Vadipatty is 30,600, the faith of the existing 300 Catholics in Vadipatty, 600 Catholics in the substations and the pilgrims flooding every day to the shrine stands a live witness to Christ through our Mother Mary. Vadipatty is still a growing parish in which the Anbiams were started in 2005 and the parish council in 2013. The present parish priest Rev Fr. Blaise takes much effort to build up the parish community along with his ministry in the shrine. The church in Mariammalkulam was renovated, a land for the cemetery is bought in the parish and a new separate church in Alanganallur is being worked out. Various pious associations, movements and participatory structures are being formed in these days. There is a diocesan Primary School in Mariammalkulam. The parish is also being enriched by the spiritual, educational, medical and social ministries of SVD fathers, John the Baptist sisters, sacred heart brothers, Consaga Sisters and Pallotine Sisters. The succession of Parish Priests 1. Fr. Vijay Amal Raj, SVD. 1993-1999 2. Fr. S.M. Mary John, SVD. 1999-2010 3. Fr. Blaise, SVD. 2010 to till date

Vadimanagar - Vadipatti, Madurai - 625 218