VINNARASI MISSION - MARANODAI History of this new Canonically Erected Community
Maranodai is a small village in Villupuram district of Tamilnadu, situated in Ulundurpet Taluk, 3 km away from the western side of the National Highway No.45, bound for Chennai from Trichy. Assumption Church, commonly known as Vinnarasi Mission, was bifurcated from the neighbouring Irundhai Parish, and erected into a parish on 7th October 1996. It was entrusted to the Salesian Society for a period of 5 years, with the possibility of handing it over in perpetuity. The parish consists of 12 villages with a Catholic population of about 3700, scattered in the 2 taluks, Ulundurpet and Panruti, within a radius of 25 km. The Province took charge of this new mission station for the development of the local SC/ST people here. The following villages form part of the parish jurisdiction: Maranodai, Orathur, Kalamaruthur, Senthamangalam, Manalur, Kedilam, Marudur, Semakottai, Elanthamedu, Semmanandal, Parikkal and Vanidpalayam. Almost all the substations and the main station are situated in so-called colonies, or settlements for Dalits. They are very poor, mostly landless farmers and work as daily labourers for the higher caste land owners. Agriculture is the main source of income for the people in this region. There is neither a factory nor a small-scale industry, which can generate employment for the people here. So, except a few, who migrate to nearby cities like Chennai, Bangalore seeking employment, all the others have to depend on agriculture. Ninety percent of the fertile lands is owned by high caste Hindus, who form only 10% of the total population. Among the Dalit Christians, only a few get employment. In May 2006, this presence was canonically erected with Rev. Fr. Arulanandam as its first Rector.
Church of the Assumption (Vinnarasi Mission)
Since this is a new mission station, new chapels and prayer halls were constructed in Manalur, Marudur, Deviyanandal Semmanandal and Parikkal. Once a week, Holy Eucharist is celebrated in every substation. Sunday Catechism classes are held regularly in the main station with more than 400 children attending. Weekly devotional services to the Sacred Heart (Friday), Our Lady (Saturday) and St. Anthony (Tuesday) are conducted. The First Saturday monthly devotion to Our Lady is also quite popular. The all-male Parish Council meets regularly. Associations like Legion of Mary, Sagodharma, altar servers, youth group and Magalir Mandrams are quite active. Some of the pastoral issues confronting the Parish are: the lack of support of the parish team by the people, irregular and broken marriages, and lack of concern for the plight of the aged. These issues need to be affronted in the Parish Pastoral Council and the various Associations.
Don Bosco High School
In the beginning, there was only a primary school in Maranodai village. It was a small school with 150 children and 4 teachers, under the management of the Diocesan Organization of Schools of the Archdiocese of Pondy and Cuddalore. The Primary School was formally handed over to the Salesians in 1998. A concrete building was created for the Primary School with 8 rooms in 1999. In the same year, the Primary School was upgraded to the Don Bosco Middle School and the 6th standard was opened. Subsequently, the 7th and 8th standards were started in the years 2000 and 2001. Due to the necessity of higher education for the students of this area, the Salesians upgraded this middle school to a high school, and in the year 2002, 9th standard was started, followed by the 10th standard in 2003. Today, the School has 251 students on rolls from Stds. VI to X, assisted by 9 teachers, all Catholics. Associations like the JRC Club (26 members), Tamil (15), English (25), Maths (52), Science (30), Environment (35) and the Football & Kho-Kho teams (52) are some of the main groups in the School. Morning assembly, Catechism and Moral Science classes are held daily in the School. Meetings with the parents and counselling for students are also done. First Friday Mass and confessions, annual retreats for teachers and students are organized. Animation programmes for teachers every semester, regular monthly staff meetings and animation by the Rector is also done. A special emphasis is given by the Rector to the learning of spoken English. Government requirements stipulate that a separate school building, a laboratory and a library are needed to get permanent recognition. For this purpose, 3 acres of land have been purchased near the railway track as a site for the High School.
Don Bosco Primary School
The Don Bosco government-aided Primary School has a total strength of about 186 students, (108 boys and 78 girls – 156 Catholics) from Stds. I to V, from the surrounding nearby villages. A lay person is the headmaster and 5 teachers assist the students. Quality academic education as well as personality development training through co-curricular activities is imparted.
Boarding Houses
Started in 1999 with only 5 orphans, the total number of inmates in this home is now 86: 56 boys in Savio Illam and 28 girls in Laura Illam. This home is for orphans studying in the school, from the Parish of Maranodai and its substations, and for destitute children or those from broken families. The boys are taken care of by the Salesians and the girls by the MSMHC Sisters. They have daily mass, rosary, morning, evening and night prayer followed by goodnight talk. The opportunity for confession is also offered. They have around 4 hours per day for study, perform regular morning jobs, 4 hours of manual work per week, and are given daily English coaching and reading practice by the Rector. The boys are divided into 4 pious associations namely: Vinnarasi, Velankanni, Lourdu and Fatima, which help them to work together and to develop their talents. Twice a month they have good manners and liturgy classes, and regular entertainments such as walks, family circle, films, etc. are also provided them. The Rector meets the boarders often both as groups and as individuals.
Neighbourhood Apostolate Night Study Centres
Through the Christian Formation for Children and Aged (CFCA), project work is being carried out for the educational and cultural development of children. Eighty-two children and their families are being helped. There are 3 evening study centers, where more than 400 children attend regularly and are given special coaching and tuition. All the children in the main centre are also provided with a night meal.
Dispensary
The Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, who form part of the mission, render health services to the poor, irrespective of caste and religion, by giving health education through preventive and curative measures to be taken by the people for their health and hygiene along with medical help through the dispensary.
Don Bosco Entrepreneurship Development Institute (DBEDI) - Kedilam
Nine acres of land were acquired in November 1999 and plans for the building were started in December 2005. At the moment, construction is underway and the official inauguration of DBEDI is scheduled for the 8th of December 2006. In the meantime, the following courses have already commenced: 1. Computer Training (Duration: 10 months) There are 29 students from various Vazhikaatti centres, who were 4 months at Ennore and from August 15th here at DBEDI, Kedilam. The trainers are from Yellagiri BICS and the Course ends by December 15th 2006. 2. Masonry Training (Duration: 3 months) Initially the response from the local youth was very poor. Hence, Sagayathottam students were given this training with 6 other local youth. This course too ends by December 15th 2006. 3. Tailoring Training (Duration: 3 months) Thirty young girls from rural areas are enrolled with a well-qualified trainer for the course which started on October 1st 2006 and ends on January 15th 2007. 4. Spiritual Formation Two 1 day Retreats have been conducted at Emmaus Spirituality Center, Sithanangur, while Yoga, Meditation and Bible Classes are held daily. 5. Entrepreneurship Seminars Ten days’ Entrepreneur Seminars were conducted for the youth and Higher Secondary students at Maranodai, Sagayathottam, Pannur, Tirupattur, Dharmapuri, Katpadi and other centres at Chennai. 6. Training Courses still to be undertaken 1. Food Processing 2. Arts and Crafts 3. One day Seminar for Competitive Exams.
Vazhikaatti
Don Bosco Vazhikaatti has been functioning for the last six years for the youth in Pondy. It has conducted numerous seminars in Career Guidance as well as faith-formation retreats and motivation programmes, exhibitions, job orientation programmes, etc., not only for Catholics, but for non-Catholics as well. A network database of employers in the manufacturing and services sector is maintained. Through this, job placement is done. Vazhikaatti also gives particular training for job-fetching trades. Counselling services offered by Vazhikaatti have benefited many youngsters. Many parishes, schools and institutions have availed of varied services offered by Vazhikaatti.
SURABI The Surabi Project covers the following parishes: Kedilam, Pondy, Pavunjur, Thirukazkundram, Ulendurpet, Alampondi and Karaikkal. Its target is to uplift the marginalized in society, namely the Thurumbar (Dhobi community) women and youth, physically challenged, abandoned married women, gypsies, and the Arunthathiar community women. There are more than 48 groups in the above-mentioned 6 parishes. All the groups have about 15 to 20 members. They have many profit-based and income-generating schemes. Special training programmes were conducted for these groups: agricultural, herbal medicine, computer, masala powder making, mosquito coil making, entrepreneurship, tailoring, electrician, book binding, domestic skills, and driving licence. Several of them who attended these training programmes are now self-employed. In Maranodai and Manalur, a successful herbal camp was conducted and a flour mill is being run well in Maranodai. Greeting-card making is also a very profitable business done here, while a General Provision Store has been opened in Kedilam.
Ministry to the Thurumbars Two and a half acres of land behind DBEDI have been purchased for a housing scheme for Thurumbars. A Salesian priest follows this up.
Vinnarasi Parish
Maranodai, Thirunavalur P.O
Villupuram Dt - 607 204
Cell – 94430 85090
