Bond007 at 21:11, 15 July 2023

2023-07-15T21:11:46Z

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{{Infobox church
| name = St. Antony 's Church
| other name =
| coordinates = {{coord|11.9801|78.2486|display=inline,title}}
| fullname = St. Anthony of Padua Church
| native_name = கோடி அற்புதர் புனித அந்தோனியார் திருத்தம்
| native_name_lang = ta
| image = St. Antony's Church, Bommidi.jpg
| caption = Side View of this church

| location = [[Bommidi]], [[Dharmapuri district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| country = [[India]]

| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| religious institute = [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]]
| cult = [[Latin liturgical rites|Latin Rite]]
| founded date = 1900
| founder = Fr. Fernand Antonin Legion MEP

| status = [[Parish church]]
| functional status = Active
| former name =
| dedication = [[Jesus]]
| architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]
| style = Modern Architecture
| groundbreaking = 2001
| completed date = 2002

| parish = [[Bommidi]]
| deanery = [[Harur]]
| 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 = [[Antony Anandarayar]]
| bishop = Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
| priest = Fr. K. Arokiya James
}}
'''St. Antony's Church''' is a [[Roman Catholic]] church situated in [[Bommidi]], Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, India. This church holds great prominence among the Christians, leading to its elevation as a Shrine by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri Diocese]].

==History==

The history of Catholicism in Bommidi dates back to the late 19th century. During those days '''Mallapuram''' was a village presented next to the Bommidi village, Till now in government village revenue record the Mallapuram name is present. But Bommidi was expanded as town so the Mallapuram became one of an area of Bommidi and this name was no longer used. During the famine years between 1861 and 1864, Rev. Fr. Joseph Trione, a priest from [[Kovilur, Dharamapuri|Kovilur]], visited Bommidi and provided assistance to the people during the crisis. As a result, nearly 98 individuals in Mallapuram (Bommidi) received baptism.<ref>{{cite book |author=Staff writer(s) |title=Saritha Surukkam|url= |location=Salem, India |publisher= Salem Diocese|page=159 |isbn=}}</ref> In 1972, [[François-Jean-Marie Laouënan]] Bishop Laouënan of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry Archdiocese]] reported that there were around 80 Catholics residing in Malappuram.<ref>{{cite book |author=Staff writer(s) |title=Saritha Surukkam|url= |location=Salem, India |publisher= Salem Diocese|page=141-142 |isbn=}}</ref> In 1990, a chapel was constructed in Bommidi, which is also mentioned in the Salem Diocese records along with the building of chapels in Seliampatti and Gollapatti between 1899.<ref>{{cite book |author=Staff writer(s) |title=Saritha Surukkam|url= |location=Salem, India |publisher= Salem Diocese|page=134 |isbn=}}</ref> Until 1930, the Mallapuram Chapel was under the supervision of the [[St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur|Kovilur Parish]] priest. However, when [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, B Pallipatti |B.Pallipatti Church]] was established as a new parish in 1930, the Bommidi Chapel became a substation of [[B. Pallipatti]]. The history books also highlight the participation of two Indian freedom fighters named Arokiasami and Rayyappan from Bommidi, the "August Revolution" against British India in 1942. This shows the presence of Catholics in Bommidi.<ref>{{cite book |author=R. Ramakirutinan |title=Thagadoor Varalarum Panbadum|url= |location=Dharmapuri, India |language= ta |publisher= Ramaya Publishers|page= |isbn=}}</ref>

In 1956, during the tenure of B.Pallipatti Parish priest '''TC Joseph''' constructed a church in the name St. Antony's and also along with this he constructed a parish house in Bommidi.<ref>https://salemdiocese.org/necrology/</ref> In 1957 Bommidi became a parish church and '''Fr. Fernand Antonin Legion MEP''', who became the first parish priest of Bommidi. As per Salem Diocese records indicate that Bommidi became a parish in 1955, but as per the baptism record shows the parish started in 1957. Later next to the old church 3.25 acres of land were acquired in 1958. Fr. Legion, during his tenure in [[Attur, Salem|Attur]], he built a Dispensary there, which he later entrusted to the SMMI sisters. Similarly, a Dispensary named St. Teresa's was established in Bommidi, and he requested SMMI sisters to manage it. In response to the priest's request, the SMMI sisters (Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate) arrived in Bommidi on October 15, 1958, to provide their services to the villagers, including primary education for children.<ref>https://www.smmisalem.org/genesis-of-20-convents-in-salem-province.php?type=st-theresas-convent-bommid-1958</ref>

==Church==

In 2001, due to inadequate space of old church, plans were made to construct a new church (present church) in Bommidi under the guidance of parish priest Fr. Adiruban. Groundbreaking for the new church took place on February 4, 2001, then it completed and inaugurated on June 13, 2002, by Bishop [[Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj]] of the Dharmapuri Diocese. Additionally, a parish house was built in 2003, and an Oratory of [[Sermon of Saint Anthony to the Fish]] was established behind the church. Until 1997, '''St. Roch Church''' in K. Morur served as a substation of Bommidi. When the Dharmapuri Diocese was formed from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem|Salem Diocese]], the K. Morur Church was handed over to Kongrapatti Parish.<ref>{{cite book |author=Rev Fr. A Susairaj |title=Dharamapuri Marimavatta Varalaru |chapter=Bommidi Parish |url= |location=Dharmapuri, India |publisher= Dharamapuri Diocese|language= ta|page= |isbn=}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, B Pallipatti]]
* [[St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri}}

[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Churches in Dharmapuri district]]
[[Category:Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 2002]]

St. Antony's Church, Bommidi - Revision history

Bond007 at 21:11, 15 July 2023