| A Brief History |
| The independent existence of St. Joseph’s Cathedral dates back to 1895; till then it was a Sub Station of Pallavaram Parish. The congregation of Franciscans took charge when it was bifurcated as a separate parish in 1895 with Fr. Arokia Nathan as the first Parish Priest. Then the Salesians rendered relentless service in the parish. Now the pastoral care is being continued by the Diocesan clergy |
| |
It is worth mentioning of the service of Rev. Fr. Coupe a convert from Nazism and
Rev. Fr. Calouges towards the upliftment of the people in and around Chingleput. Due to the untiring efforts of the Parish Priests over the years, the Parish has grown tremendously. Various Sub Stations like Maraimalai Nagar, Melrosapuram, Reddipalayam, Mambakkam, Vallam, Karumbakkam, Thirukazhukundram and Oragadam are now functioning as independent parishes. Moreover there are many Chapels in and around the Parish of Chingleput - St. Antony’s Chapels at School street and Railway colony, Our lady of Good Health chapels at Thattarmalai and Guntur and a Meditation centre at Mount Calvary of Chingleput - that spread the Word of God. |
| |
The former pastors of this Parish Rev. Fr. Antony Devotta and Rev. Fr. Neethinathan are chosen by God as Bishops of Trichy and Chingleput respectively. This parish has been elevated as the Cathedral of the New Diocese of Chingleput in 2002.
Rev. Fr. A. Arulraj, the then Parish priest was appointed as the first Parish Priest of the Cathedral and the First Vicar General of the Diocese of Chingleput. At present Rev. Fr. P. Ambrose serves as the Parish Priest and Vicar General of the Diocese. |
| Catholic Population: 2500 |
| Succession of Parish Priests |
| S. No. |
Names |
Year |
Diocesan/religious |
|
1.
|
Rev. Fr. Arockiya Nathan |
1895 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
2.
|
Franciscan Priests |
till 1922 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
3.
|
Rev. Fr. Peter Aloysius |
1922-1934 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
4.
|
Rev. Fr. Hilamon Lourdu |
1934-1935 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
5.
|
Rev. Fr. Irudayasamy S. |
1936-1937 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
6.
|
Rev. Fr. Sanetus S.R. |
1938-1939 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
7
|
Rev. Fr. Rodriguez I.N. |
1939-1941 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
8
|
Rev. Fr. Joseph Rock M. |
1942-1947 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
9
|
Rev.Fr.Jaganathan P.L. |
1947-1951 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
10
|
Rev. Fr. Stanisclas A.J. |
1951-1954 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
11
|
Rev. Fr. Schup A. |
1954-1955 |
SDB |
|
12
|
Rev. Fr. Schlooz |
1955-1957 |
SDB |
|
13
|
Rev. Fr. Antonysamy |
1957-1958 |
SDB |
|
14
|
Rev. Fr. John Nedumparam |
1958-1963 |
SDB |
|
15
|
Rev. Fr. Adikalasamy |
1963-1966 |
SDB |
|
16
|
Rev. Fr. Gnanam |
1966-1970 |
SDB |
|
17
|
Rev. Fr. Jacob |
1970-1971 |
SDB |
|
18
|
Rev. Fr. George |
1971-1976 |
SDB |
|
19
|
Rev. Fr. Jacob |
1976-1977 |
SDB |
|
20
|
Rev. Fr. Adikalasamy |
1977-1980 |
SDB |
|
21
|
Rev. Fr. Augustine Nathan |
1980-1982 |
SDB |
|
22
|
Rt. Rev. Dr. Antony Devotta |
1982-1984 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
23
|
Rev. Fr. Amalraj |
1984-1988 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
24
|
Rev. Fr. Balasamy |
1988-1992 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
25
|
Rt. Rev. Dr. Neethinathan.A |
1992-1995 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
26
|
Rev. Fr. Antony Raj |
1995-2001 |
Madras -Mylapore |
|
27
|
Rev. Fr. Arulraj A. |
2001-2008 |
Chingleput |
|
28
|
Rev. Fr. Ambrose P. |
2008- |
Chingleput |
|
|
| |
| Sub Station with Chapel |
| 01 Pulipakkam, St. Gnanaprakasam Chapel, 3 kms. |
| Other Chapels |
01 Railway Colony, St. Antony’s Chapel, 1 km.
02 School Street, St. Antony’s Chapel, 0.5 km.
03 Thattaramalai , Calvary Malai Meditation Centre, 1.5 kms. |
| Participatory Structures |
01 Parish Council
02 Parish Finance Committee
03 Anpiam |
| Associations |
01 Legion of Mary
02 St. Vincent de Paul
03 Catholic Workers’ Movement
04 Charismatic Renewal
05 Altar Servers
06 St. Joseph’s Teachers Association |
| Religious |
01 St. Mary’s Convent (SAP). (Estd. 1935) Tel: 044 - 274 24 686
02 Montfort Brothers (SG). (Estd. 1966) Tel: 044 - 274 23 486/ 274 22 610 |
| Secular Institute |
| 01 Hearts’ Home Sisters Tel: 044 - 274 20 072 |
| Institutions under the Religious |
01 St. Joseph’s Primary Tamil Medium School (GST). (Estd. 1855) Tel: 044 - 274 23 540
02 St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School. (Estd. 1877) Tel: 044 - 274 23 486
03 St. Mary’s Primary School (Tamil Medium). (Estd. 1935) Tel: 044 - 274 24 145
04 St. Mary’s Girls’ Home. (Estd. 1936) Tel: 044 - 274 24 686
05 St. Mary’s Girls Hr. Sec. School. (Estd. 1939) Tel: 044 - 274 23 207
06 St. Joseph’s Primary Tamil Medium School (V. Nagar). (Estd. 1957) Tel: 044 - 274 32 810
07 St. Joseph’s Matriculation Hr. Sec. School (V. Nagar). (Estd. 1969) Tel: 044 - 274 31 768
08 St. Joseph’s Boys’ Home. Tel: 044 - 274 23 486
09 St. Mary’s Matriculation School. (Estd.1974) Tel: 044 - 274 28 037
10 St. Mary’s Social Service Centre (Girls). (Estd. 1980) Tel: 044 - 274 24 686
11 St. Mary’s Teacher Training Institute. (Estd. 2007) Tel: 044 - 274 23 707
12 St. Mary’s B.Ed., College. (Estd. 2007) Tel: 044 - 274 23 507 |