Claretian Missionaries served in Ettamadai Parish of Kottar Diocese for the past 17 years from 1987 to 2003. Thadikarankonam, the erstwhile substation of Ettamadai Parish was bifurcated and made into a Parish by Most Rev. Leon Dharmaraj D.D., the Bishop of Kottar on 18.10.2003. It was entrusted to the Claretians on the same day. Then the Claretians moved from Ettamadai to Thadikarankonam which is located 20Km north-west of Nagercoil the Headquarters of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. Thadikarankonam has 177 families. The Parish has five substations namely, Veerapuly, Surulacode, Keeriparai, Vazhayathuvayal and Paraliyar. A new Presbytery is being constructed at Thadikarankonam for our missionaries. Parish council and Basic Christian communities are organized in all the villages. Associations for youth, Children, Widows, Altar boys and girls along with Catholic Seva Sangam make the parish a lively one.

St. Claret Parish at Karumathur is the first Claretian Mission in India . It was raised to the status of Parish on 24 th October, 1978 . It was established through the pioneering work of Fr. Mathew Nyayarkulam the first Parish Priest. The territory of this parish consists of 91 villages, 9 substations. Today in Karumathur there are 20 catholic families, Chekkanurani 29 families, Chellampatti 25 families, University 6 families, Koilankulam 30 families, Ahzagusirai 8 families, Vadakkan Patti 7 families, Valandur 2 families, Ariyapatti 2 families, Vikramangalam 10 families, and Piraviampatti 15 families. There are 154 catholic families altogether in this parish. Lay leadership is initiated through the formation of Parish council. Pious associations like Vincent -de - Paul and Legion of Mary are working actively.

St. Sabastian's Parish, Villiavarambal belongs to the diocese of Kumbakonam and given to the care of the Claretians in 1997. The Parish has a Catholic population of 304 families living in the villages namely Villiavarambal, Sembiavarambal, Ayyawadi, Murukankudi, Kaduvetti, Thirumanapet, Nadar, Seenivasanallur, Thirunakeshwaram and Moontram Kattalai. Basic Christian communities are organized in most of the sub stations along with Vincent De Paul, Legion of Mary and associations for Youth, Women and Children. Tuition centers are run for the economically backward children in five villages. Medical treatment is offered for the suffering with the help of Reflexology and herbal medicines.

Vettri Murasu Kalaikuzhu

To develop and to give life to the culture of the people, the youth are motivated to form a cultural group called 'Vettri Murasu Kalaikuzhu'. This was formed on May 20, 2003 at Villiavarambal. The group is formed in order to promote local folk dances and other arts, as well as to use these arts as medium of giving the gospel values to the people. This group consists of 25 members of both boys and girls. Since most of them are school going students, we accept programs only on Sundays and Government holidays. Some of the activities of the group are very effective in bringing awareness and changes in the lives of the people. The group gives variety of programs like 'Oyle Attam'(dancing with kerchief), 'Kummi attam'(dancing with clapping the hands), 'Kole attam'(dancing with sticks), 'Tappu attam'(dancing with drum), 'Villupattu'(group folk song with stories) and awareness songs. We give this program on different themes like "Basic Christian Communities", "Drought", "Women Liberation", and "Great leaders". Numerous programs have been staged so far in Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Trichy, Perambalur and Villupuram Districts. The youth of the parish are very commited towards this great mission. This activity has not only developed the skills of the parish youth but also gives opportunities to display their talents. They have won the appreciation of a great number of people and priests.

Year of Foundation - 1996

Origin and Background :

An initiative of taking up a mission in the Arch Diocese of Madras-Mylapore bloomed in 1996. The Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Aruldhas James DD. invited Rev. Fr. S. Maria Arul, the Provincial Superior to take up Molasur Parish in the year 1996. Thus the Community of Claret Anbagam was established at Molasur. After two years of ministry there the community was shifted to Thiruninravur when the Claretians were offered with this new Mission Parish in 1998. The Parish of Thiruniravur was created on 7th June 1998 bifurcated from Pattabiram Parish. The Parish has two substations: Veppampattu and Sevapet. There are 8 BCC units in Thiruninravur, 4 in Veppampattu and 3 in Sevapet. There are 175 families in Thiruninravur, 60 families in Veppampattu and 65 families in Sevapet. New Churches were built in Thiruninravur and Veppampattu and were inaugurated in 2003.

Thiruninravur is situated in the sub-urb of Chennai city in the Madras - Thiruvallore high way, 30 Km from Chennai. The total area covered by the parish is around 2634 acres comprising 63 villages. Around 70% of the total population is dalits and the catholic dalit population is around 80%. More than 60% of the Catholics are daily labourers and 15% are unemployed.

The Claretians formed a new Parish council to animate participatory lay leadership in the Parish. Catechism classes are conducted regularly on Sundays. St. Claret Youth Association is formed and animated by the Parish Priest, Pious association like legion of Mary, Altar Boys Association, Catholic Association, Kolping Association are also functioning in the Parish. Basic Christian communities were formed and being animated by the Parish Priests. These activities are carried out after the Claretians has taken over. Each BCC unit and pious association takes care of Sunday liturgy.