St. Lucia Church, Seydhunganallur

St. Lucia R. C. Mission in Seydunganallur is as anciant as Seithunganallur.

According to the Mission catalogue of 1914 Seithunganallur is marked as one of the substations of Palayamkottai. In 1644 a church was built and was dedicated to St. Lucia. In 1923 when the diocese of Thoothukudi was erected, Seithunganallur was attached to ThoothuKkudi Diocese. In 1942 Seithunganallur became a separate parish with 14 substations. Villages such as Karungulam, Kaliyavoor and Manakarai had ancient catholics and churches were built in these villages already in 1896. Rev. Fr. D. Gnanapragasam who worked in Seithunganallur around 1936 – 1946, was a zealous and tireless Missionary. A new church was built by Rev. Fr. S. Francis in 1982 on the foundation that was laid many years ago. In the year 2010 two parishes called Nattarkulam and Jesurajapuram were bifurcated from Seithunganallur. The existing presbytery at Seithunganallur was built by the diocese and it was blessed on 20th September 2009 by Bishop YvonAmbroise.

In 2018, then Parish Priest Rev. Fr. L. Arockiam took a bold initiative to build a new church. The parishioners and people who live outside or abroad but have long-standing connections with Seythunganallur pitched in with great enthusiasm and financial assistance started pouring in; as a result of people’s generosity, a beautiful new church was consecrated by Bishop Yvon Ambroise on 9th February 2019.

கண் நோய் தீர்க்கும் புனித பிரகாசியம்மாள் ஆலயக் கோடியேற்றம் 22.09.2023 - ஆலயத்திருவிழா - 01.10.2023
Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation - every corner of our day.

-Amen

Our Saint

Lucy's name means "light", Lucy's name means "light", with the same root as "lucid" which means "clear, radiant, understandable." Unfortunately for us, Lucy's history does not match her name. Shrouded in the darkness of time, all we really know for certain is that this brave woman who lived in Syracuse lost her life in the persecution of Christians in the early fourth century. Her veneration spread to Rome so that by sixth century the whole Church recognized her courage in defense of the faith.

Because people wanted to shed light on Lucy's bravery, legends grew up. The one that is passed down to us tells the story of a young Christian woman who had vowed her life to the service of Christ. Her mother tried to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan. Lucy apparently knew that her mother would not be convinced by a young girl's vow so she devised a plan to convince her mother that Christ was a much more powerful partner for life. Through prayers at the tomb of Saint Agatha, her mother's long illness was cured miraculously. The grateful mother was now ready to listen to Lucy's desire to give her money to the poor and commit her life to God.

Unfortunately, legend has it, the rejected bridegroom did not see the same light and he betrayed Lucy to the governor as a Christian. This governor tried to send her into prostitution but the guards who came to take her way found her stiff and heavy as a mountain. Finally she was killed. As much as the facts of Lucy's specific case are unknown, we know that many Christians suffered incredible torture and painful deaths for their faith during Diocletian's reign. Lucy may not have been burned or had a sword thrust through her throat but many Christians did and we can be sure her faith withstood tests we can barely imagine.

Lucy's name is probably also connected to statues of Lucy holding a dish with two eyes on it. This refers to another legend in which Lucy's eyes were pulled out by Diocletian as part of his torture. The legend concludes with God restoring Lucy's eyes.

Lucy's name also played a large part in naming Lucy as a patron saint of the blind and those with eye-trouble.

Whatever the fact to the legends surrounding Lucy, the truth is that her courage to stand up and be counted a Christian in spite of torture and death is the light that should lead us on our own journeythrough life.

Grottos in the parish


Our Lady of Velankanni (Seydunganallur)


St. Antony (Seydunganallur)

Sub – Stations


Karungulam - St. Joseph Church


Thathankulam - Holy Redeemer Church

Institutions under the Parish

St. Lucia Middle School, Seithunganallur – 628 809

St. Joseph’s Primary School, Karungulam – 628 215

Parish Priests

  • Parish Priest
  • Rev. Fr. Jackson Arul
  • St. Lucia's Church
  • Seydhunganallur, Tuticorin - Dist. Pincode: 628809
  • Phone: +91(0)4630 263 207
  • Whatsapp 17059887968

  • Succession of parish priests

  • 1. Rev.Fr. D. Gnanapragasam 1939 - 1946
  • 2. Rev.Fr. A. Victoria 1946 - 1947
  • 3. Rev.Fr. Richard Rodrigo 1947 - 1948
  • 4. Rev.Fr. F.X. Singarayer 1948 - 1950
  • 5. Rev.Fr. Richard Rodrigo 1950 - 1957
  • 6. Rev.Fr. Xavier Ignatius 1957 - 1960
  • 7. Rev.Fr.G.Soosai Nather&Joseph Arul 1960 - 1961
  • 8. Rev.Fr. D. Mascarengas 1961 - 1965
  • 9. Rev.Fr. Francis &Paul Pandian 1965 - 1966
  • 10. Rev.Fr. A. Antony 1966 - 1968
  • 11. Rev.Fr. Rabinston 1968 - 1970
  • 12. Rev.Fr. M.S. Antony 1970 - 1972
  • 13. Rev.Fr. Methodius Fdo 1972 - 1979

  • cont...

  • 14. Rev.Fr. S. Fancis 1979 - 1982
  • 15. Rev.Fr. M. Jebanathan 1982 - 1986
  • 16. Rev.Fr. Joseph S. Leon 1986 - 1989
  • 17. Rev.Fr. Joseph Ravi Balan 1989 - 1994
  • 18. Rev.Fr. Jerosin A Kattar 1994 - 1995
  • 19. Rev.Fr. J. JeyaJothi 1995 - 1998
  • 20. Rev.Fr. Camilus 1998 - 2003
  • 21. Rev.Fr. Karunaya Xavier 2003 - 2008
  • 22. Rev.Fr. Franklin 2008 - 2009
  • 23. Rev.Fr. Irudayaraja 2009 - 2010
  • 24. Rev.Fr. Remigius S. Leon 2010 - 2015
  • 25. Rev.Fr. L. Arockiam 2015 -2020
  • 26. Rev.Fr. Arockiadoss 2020 - 2021
Invitation

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வங்கி மூலம் நன்கொடை வழங்க

Name of the Account: Parish Priest

Account No. : 6395302247

IFSC Code : IDIB 000S206

Name of the Bank: INDIAN BANK

Branch : Seydunganallur Branch

(தயவு செய்து வங்கி இரசீதை Whatsapp நம்பருக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கவும்)

























contact info

  • Parish Priest
  • St. Lucia’s Church,
  • Seydhunganallur, Tuticorin - Dist
  • Pincode: 628809
  • Mobile: 979001 9735
  • Whatsapp : 17059887968

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