ThereseH43: Create Infant Jesus Church

2023-09-14T18:46:49Z

Create Infant Jesus Church

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{{Short description|Roman Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Infant Jesus Church
| other name =
| coordinates = {{coord|12.1844|78.1260|display=inline,title}}
| fullname =
| native_name = அற்புதர் குழந்தை இயேசு ஆலயம்
| native_name_lang = ta
| image = 
| caption = 
| location = [[Selliampatti, Dharamapuri|Selliampatti]], [[Dharamapuri district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| country = [[India]]
| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| religious institute =
| membership = 400 Families
| cult = [[Latin liturgical rites|Latin Rite]]
| founded date = 1935
| founder = Fr. George
| status = [[Parish]]
| functional status = Active
| former name =
| dedication = [[Our Lady of Lourdes|Saint Mary]]
| architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]
| style = Modern Architecture
| groundbreaking = 2017
| completed date = 2022

| parish = [[Selliampatti, Dharamapuri|Selliampatti]]
| deanery = [[Dharmapuri]]
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri]]
| episcopalarea = [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India|TNBC]]

| archbishop = [[Francis Kalist]]
| bishop = Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
| priest = Fr. Madhalaimuthu
}}
'''Infant Jesus Church''' is a Roman Catholic church situated in [[Selliampatti, Dharamapuri|Selliampatti]] village, located on the Dharmapuri Palacode highway in the Dharmapuri district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This church is a newly established parish, separate from the [[Kadagathur, Dharamapuri|Kadagathur]] parish, primarily serving the Catholic communities of Selliampatti and Gollapatti as its two main substations. The administration of this church falls under the jurisdiction of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri Diocese]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dharmapuridiocese.com/cms/public_view/list-parishes.html|title=Dharmapuri Diocese}}</ref>

==History==

During the riot in [[Pennagaram]] against the Catholics, many of them scattered to various places. Some of them found refuge in Gollapatti and Selliampatti. These resilient Catholics continued their religious practices with the assistance of [[St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur|Kovilur MEP missionaries]]. In 1840, the Kadagthur Sebastian Church was built, and villagers from Selliampatti and Gollapatti began attending Mass there. For over a century, they followed the traditions of the Kadagathur church. In 1930, a new church was erected in Kadagthur in honor of the Queen of Angels. Subsequently, Saint Francis Xavier Chapel was constructed in Selliampatti, and Mary Magdalene Chapel was built in Gollapatti. These chapels fell under the administration of the Kadagthur parish, with weekly Masses held in these two chapels and Sunday Masses conducted in the Kadagthur Parish Church.<ref>{{cite book |author=Staff writer(s) |title=Saritha Surukkam|url= |location=Salem, India |publisher= Salem Diocese|page=112 |isbn=}}</ref>

Despite the absence of a proper parish church in this village, in 1932, the Salem Diocese established a primary school in Selliampatti for the villagers, contributing significantly to the village's social development. From 1938 onwards, the villagers of Selliampatti began celebrating the feast of Saint Francis, a tradition that continues to this day. Then, in 1985, the Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School was inaugurated in Gollapatti. During this event, [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem|Salem Diocese]] Bishop [[Michael Bosco Duraisamy]] expressed a wish for a church dedicated to Infant Jesus in the area.<ref>{{cite book |author=Staff writer(s) |title=Salem Diocese Jublee Magazene|url= |location=Salem, India |publisher= Salem Diocese|page=33 |isbn=}}</ref>

In 1999, four acres of land were acquired on Palacode's main road for the construction of this church. Initially, a primary school was built on the premises. In 2004, construction of the church began under the guidance of Fr. Xavier, the parish priest of Kadagathur at the time. Subsequently, Fr. Susairaj, the succeeding Kadagthur Parish priest, resumed the construction of the church. However, construction was halted due to unsuitable soil conditions.<ref>History of Dharamapuri Diocese - Fr A. Susairaj</ref>

Recognizing that the [[Queen of Angels Church, Kadagathur|Kadagthur church]] lacked sufficient space for all its parishioners, Fr. George, Kadagthur Parish priest, advised the Diocese and the villagers of Selliampatti, Gollapatti, Valan Nagar, and Andhoniyar Nagar to construct a new church to overcome space limitations and the difficulties of traveling long distances. In 2017, the Seliampatti parish was established, separate from Karagathur parish, with Fr. George serving as its first parish priest. During this time, a temporary chapel was set up within the school building for Masses. In 2017, the incomplete church building was dismantled, and construction of the new church began on a stronger foundation. With the unwavering support of the community, the church construction was completed in 2022. On January 14, 2002, with a grand ceremony, the church was opened to the public and blessed by Bishop Lawrence Pius of the Dharmapuri Diocese.<ref>{{cite magazine| date = January 13, 2022| title = அற்புதர் குழந்தை இயேசு | trans-title = Infant Jesus| language = ta | magazine = செல்லியம்பட்டி பங்கு ஆலயம்| location = Selliampatti, Dharamapuri, Tamil Nadu, India | publisher = Dharamapur Diocese }}</ref>

==Convents==
* Congregation of the Immaculate Conception, Madurai (CIC)
* Missionary of Charity (Mother Theresa Convent)
* Cluny Sisters Convent
* Salesian Sisters Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SSMI) Convent

==Schools==
* R.C Primary School
* Sacred Heart Hr. Sec. School
* Arokiya Anni CBSC School

==See also==
* [[Christ the King Church, Palacode]]
* [[Queen of Angels Church, Kadagathur]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri}}

[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Churches in Krishnagiri District]]
[[Category:Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]

Infant Jesus Church, Selliampatti - Revision history

ThereseH43: Create Infant Jesus Church