Our Lady of Lourdes Church, (Gandhinagar) Madurantakam
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Gandhinagar
Christianity in this region of Gandhinagar and surrounding villages sprouted with the coming of the zealous French Foreign missionary priests (MEP), from Puducherry in the year 1901. Pudur and Valayaputtur became the substations to this centre of missionary activities. Madurantakam is nearly 80 kms from Chennai city on the way to Puducherry via Tindivanam. Gandhinagar is one of the old parishes established by Rev. Fr. S. Paul. The Church was constructed in the year 1904 and the priest in charge was taking care of the spiritual needs of 50 families. Until 1970, the parish belonged to the Archdiocese of Pondicherry. After that, it was under the jurisdiction of Madras-Mylapore Archdiocese, and at present with the Diocese of Chingleput. The present Church in Gandhinagar was built by Rev. Fr. Nilappana. Later on, a piece of land was bought and was named as Lourdupuram. The Dalit Catholics lived together here. The number gradually grew up from 50 families to the current population of 150 Catholic families. Lourdes Church, Gandhinagar, was a parish till 1982. In the same year, a piece of land was bought in the town Madurantakam, Madapam Street, by Rev. Fr. K. M. Thomas, who constructed the present Church. It became the Parish Church and Gandhinagar became one of the major substations. On the 24th of June 2006, at the request of the Bishop of Chingleput, Fr. John Louis SDB, appointed by the Provincial, took charge as Parish Priest of Gandhi Nagar on a temporary basis. A Deacon from the Diocese presently resides in the presbytery for his diaconate ministry. Apostolic activities such as Sunday mass, masses at all the sub-stations, weekly prayer meetings and anbiams, youth meetings, visits to families, the annual parish retreat, etc., are regularly done.
Parish : Gandhi Nagar - Our Lady of Lourdes Church (150 families)
Substations : 1. Nethapakkam - No Chapel (10 families)
2. Puliyarankottai - Our Lady of Velankanni Chapel (15 families)
3. Devathur - Our Lord of Mercy Chapel (10 families)
The R.C. Primary School
Due to poverty and ignorance of the people the percentage of literacy in this area is only 30% to 35%. The R.C. Primary School was started in the year 1910 and upgraded to a Middle School in the year 1964, and then to a High School in 1999. This is the only school in this area for all the children covering about 15 kms radius. Presently, it caters to the education of 750 children, mainly Dalits. Seven teachers in the Primary School and 4 in the Middle School are paid by the Government, while 5 teachers of the High School are paid by the Management with the help of the Diocesean Administration. All Catholic children are taken into the school. Though Catechism and Moral Science classes are taught daily, children who come from remote villages don’t get much spiritual assistance. First Friday Mass, confession every First Thursday of the month, monthly commemorations of Mary Help of Christians and of St. John Bosco, annual retreats for teachers, are conducted. The following groups are active in the School: Scouts and Guides, Junior Red Cross Society (J.R.C), Red Ribbon Club, Green Corps Cadets, and the Arts Club. The School buildings are in a rather dilapidated and precarious condition, and need to be urgently attended to.
Archbishop Casimir Technical Institute, a non-formal technical institute, specially started for drop-outs and the youth of vicariate, no longer functions for lack of finances. It needs to be revived.
History of Our Lady of Good Health Church, Thatchoor
Due to serious problems between the Telegu and the Tamil communities in Thatchoor with an underline caste basis, the Church had been closed for a period of 13 years. To reopen the Church, a dire need was felt for a neutral priest, and on the 29th of July 2006, the Salesian Provincial was requested to supply one. On the 30th July 2006, in the presence of the Bishop, the District Collector and Superintendent of Police, together with the Revenue Department officials, Fr. John Louis, Parish Priest of Gandhinagar, was appointed by the Bishop with the approval of the Provincial, to look after the parish, and a diocesan priest as his Assistant.
Parish : Thatchoor - Our Lady of Good Health Church (200 families)
Substations : 1. Chettimedu - St. Mary’s Chapel (50 families)
2. L.N. Puram - St. Antony’s Chapel (15 families)
3. Sagaya Nagar - No Chapel ( 50 familes)
4. Boodur - Infant Jesus Chapel (50 families)
5. Vizhudumangalam - St. Mary’s Chapel (20 families)
6. Padalam (Kolampakkam) - St. Pius X Chapel (10 families)
7. Veeranakunnam - Our Lady of Velankanni Chapel (15 families)
The R.C. Middle School
It is believed that before official recognition in 1898, this school was maintained by the village people and later was handed over to the Diocese. From then onwards, the R. C. School has been rendering service to about 10 villages. Because of the Telegu minorities in the area, the school has been officially given a Telegu status. Hence, the medium of instruction is in Tamil with Telegu and English as compulsory for all. It was raised to a middle school in the year 1957. The School has 396 students on rolls (199 boys and 197 girls – 151 Catholics). Ten teachers are employed, and the Headmaster is a layman.
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine
MADURANTAKAM – 603 306
Kancheepuram Dist.
Cell – 98423 72630
