imported>MohammadJeffreys at 13:43, 16 December 2025

2025-12-16T13:43:09Z

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{{Short description|Roman Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St. Antony's Church
| coordinates = {{coord|12.5364634|78.2694626|display=inline,title}}
| fullname = [[Anthony of Padua|St. Anthony's of Padua Church]]
| native_name = புனித அந்தோனியார் ஆலயம்
| native_name_lang = ta
| image = St. Antony Church, Sundampatti.jpg
| caption = Front View of the church

| location = [[Sundampatti, Krishnagiri district|Sundampatti]], Orappam, [[Krishnagiri district|Krishnagiri]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| country = [[India]]

| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| religious institute = [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]]
| cult = [[Catholic devotions]]
| founded date = 1929
| founder = Fr. Ignatius & Fr. Joachim

| status = [[Parish church]]
| functional status = Active
| architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]
| style = [[Medieval architecture|Medieval]]
| years built = 1979

| parish = [[Sundampatti, Krishnagiri district|Sundampatti]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dharmapuridiocese.com/cms/public_view/list-parishes.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825175657/http://www.dharmapuridiocese.com/cms/public_view/list-parishes.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 25, 2013|title=Dharmapuri Diocese}}</ref>
| 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]]
| deanery = [[Krishnagiri]]
| district = [[Krishnagiri district|Krishnagiri]]
| archbishop = [[Francis Kalist]]
| bishop = [[Lawrence Pius Dorairaj]]
| priest = Rev. Fr. R. Arockia Samy
}}

'''St. Antony Church, Sundampatti''' is a Catholic Church in [[Sundampatti, Krishnagiri district|Sundampatti]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/five-killed-in-accident-on-krishnagir-highway/article34692925.ece|title = Five killed in accident on Krishnagir highway|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 31 May 2021}}</ref> village, [[Krishnagiri district]] in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. This church is known for its Tuesday evening mass. This parish ministers to 194 families with the members of 628. Nine [[Basic ecclesial community|Ambiyams]] serve under this parish. This church has provided holy services for more than 80 years.

==History==

On 2 May 1937, Philip, the son of Susaiappan-Gnanamary who belonged to Sundampatti's family was baptized at [[Our Lady Of Refuge Church, Elathagiri|Elthagiri Adaikala Madha Church]]. Later, many Catholic settlements were established in Sundampatti. Catholics settled in Sundampatti between 1930 and 1940.

Parish priest Fr Mathew observed that the Catholic population increased in Sundampatti, so he purchased 0.45 acres on the village's north side. Villagers noted that open-air mass was conducted there by [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem|Salem]] bishop [[Venmani S. Selvanather|Rev. Venmani Selvanathan]] in 1963. The area became a graveyard, with a small chapel in the middle.

In 1969, [[Elathagiri]] parish priest Fr. Ignatius Kalathil purchased 0.92 cents of land in this village, where he built a chapel and conducted Sunday services. Fr. Joachim, Elathagiri's next parish priest, began construction of a church in 1978. On 16 January 1979 the church was completed and services began. Masses were conducted Tuesday evening and Sunday morning.

A [[Paul of Thebes|Vannathu Chinappar]] church was built by Elathagiri Parish priest Fr. Amalraj in nearby Soorankottai village during 1993 for the Catholics in that area. Fr. Amalraj, who built the St. Antony church tower in 1994, wanted to provide a good view from the road. This tower was demolished in 2004 to make way for a road expansion and was rebuilt in 2005.

On 2 June 1998 Sundampatti became a [[Parish]] and this church became the parish church. Meanwhile, Soorankottai became a sub-church for Sundampatti. A house for the priest was built behind this church in 1999. The [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin Fathers]] then began conducting services in this church. In 1999, Franciscan Sisters of St. Thomas (FST Sisters) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fsttrichy.com/milestones|title = Milestones – the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of St. Thomas}}</ref> began services in this church.

In 2013, the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit congregation]] of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri diocese]] took over the parish from the Capuchin's, and Rev. Fr. Xavier became the parish priest. During his tenure this church was expanded with the help of donations. The renovated church opened for services in 24 May 2015 with the blessing of Bishop Lawrence Pius of Dharmapuri diocese.

The [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin congregation]] operates in Sundampatti for The Fountain Capuchin Institute of Counseling, Psychotherapy and Research,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefountain.in/ |title=The Fountain |access-date=2022-07-22 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222130030/http://www.thefountain.in/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> located on the back side of the church. Capuchin priests support additional holy service by conducting masses in this church.

==List of Parish Priest==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Served Year!! Priest names
|-
| 1978-1979 || Rev. Fr. Ignatius Kalathil
|-
| 1983-1988 || Rev. Fr. Jegaraj
|-
| 1988-1992 || Rev. Fr. Savari Muthu
|-
| 1992-1995 || Rev. Fr. Amalraj
|-
| 1995-1998 || Rev. Fr. Arulsamy
|-
| 1998-1999 || Rev. Fr. M. Joseph OFM Cap
|-
| 1999-2003 || Rev. Fr. Augustin OFM Cap
|-
| 2003-2005|| Rev. Fr. Arulanantham OFM Cap
|-
| 2006-2008 || Rev. Fr. Arockiaraj OFM Cap
|-
| 2008-2009 || Rev. Fr. Arul Jaiker OFM Cap
|-
| 2009-2011 || Rev. Fr. Iruthaya Samy OFM Cap
|-
| 2011-2012 || Rev. Fr. Thresnathan OFM Cap
|-
| 2012-2013 || Rev. Fr. Divakar OFM Cap
|-
| 2013-2016 || Rev. Fr. P. Xavier
|-
| 2016-2021 || Rev. Fr. Lourdusamy
|-
| 2021-2023 || Rev. Fr. George
|-
| 2023 -2025 || Rev. Fr. Susai
|-
| 2025 - present || Rev. Fr. R. Arockia Samy
|}

==See also==
*[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri]]
*[[Vinnarasi Madha Church, Kandikuppam]]
*[[Our Lady Of Refuge Church, Elathagiri]]
*[[Sundampatti, Krishnagiri district]]
*[[Our Lady of Fatima Church, Krishnagiri]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri}}

[[Category:Churches in Krishnagiri district]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in the Diocese of Dharmapuri|A]]

St. Antony's Church, Sundampatti - Revision history

imported>MohammadJeffreys at 13:43, 16 December 2025