Diocese of Ootacamund
Sixteen parish communities serve Coonoor and its surrounding estates and villages.
Kullakambay and surrounding areas were part of Selas parish. In 1975, a property was bought by the diocese at Kullakambay and a church was built in it by Rev. Fr A.J. Joseph and it was blessed in 1976. Thus Kullakambay became a new parish in 1976. Rev. Fr A.J. Joseph was its first parish priest.
In 1967, Antony Cardinal Padiyara established a diocesan Catechetical, Audio-visual Centre at Aruvankadu that was inaugurated by the Pro-Nuncio, Most Rev J. Caprio, in 1968. It was elevated as a parish in 1968 with Rev. Fr Joseph Antonysamy as its first parish priest. The oval shape church was built and blessed in 2008 by Rev. Fr M.T. Sebastian. This is the only church dedicated to the Holy Spirit in the diocese.
Attadi was part of the parish of St Antony, Coonoor in the beginning. A small prayer hall was built in 1953. In the year 1964, Alwarpet was made as a parish and Attadi was attached to it. The present church was built in the year 2000 by Rev. Fr John Joseph. Attadi was elevated as a parish in 2010 with Rev. Fr M.T. Joseph as its first parish priest. A bell tower was built in 2010.
Kottacombai was part of St Mary’s parish, Kotagiri until 1990 with Rev. Fr S. Antonysamy as its first parish priest. A chapel was constructed during the time of Rev. Fr Angelo Devadoss OFM Cap. The present church was constructed in 1994 by Rev. Fr S. Antonysamy.
Till 1967 this area was part of Holy Spirit parish, Aruvankadu. In 1977, it was erected as a new parish. The construction of the new church was completed in 1994 by Rev. Fr Ambrose. In 2015, in view of the Diocesan Diamond Jubilee, the sanctuary was renovated.
The semi-public chapel of St Joseph’s college paved the way for a new church. The parish was inaugurated in 1981 with Rev. Fr Kurian Naduthadam as its first parish priest. The new church was constructed by Rev. Fr Cyril Lazarus in 2000. In commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of the diocese a new open hall and a beautiful Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes were constructed. The bell tower, the altar and the road side grotto of Our Lady of Velankanni were added to the parish church in 2015.
Mount Pleasant was part of St Antony’s Parish, Coonoor. It was erected as a new parish in 1960 with Rev. Fr Thomas Thelly as its first parish priest. This was the first church constructed after the creation of the new diocese of Ootacamund. In 1964, the bell tower was built. Sagayamatha picture was installed in 2010 and Divine Mercy altar was erected in 2013.
This parish was a sub-station of Sholurmattam parish. In 1987, it was made a separate parish with Rev. Fr Joseph Patrick as its first parish priest. The present church was built by Rev. Fr N.A. Joseph SDB in 1970.
In 1863, St Antony’s parish, Coonoor was separated from St Joseph’s parish Wellington with Rev. Fr De Gelis MEP the first parish priest who constructed the church in 1867. Fr Bechu and Fr Petit MEP extended the two wings of the church and Fr Vieillard built the two beautiful spires in 1911. The altar of the parish was renovated and consecrated in 2002. The church underwent major renovation works in 2015.
Sholurmattam was part of St Mary’s parish, Kotagiri. It became an independent parish in 1963 with Rev. Fr Angelo Devadass as its first parish priest. The church was built by Rev. Fr Jean Nouet in 1966. The bell tower and the parish hall were built in 1970. The renovation of the church took place in 2001 by Rev. Fr T.J. Joseph.
This parish was part of St Antony’s Church, Coonoor until 1960. It was bifurcated and erected into a new parish in 1963, with Most Rev. Dr Aruldas James as its first parish priest. This Church was built by Rev. Fr C. Kunnath. In 2012, in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the church, the parish church was renovated and the new altar was erected. The new Marian Grotto, floor with interlock system around the church and station of the cross were put up in 2015.
Wellington became a separate parish in 1865 with Rev. Fr Bushin as its first parish priest. To cater to the spiritual needs of the Catholic military soldiers and the faithful of that area, Rev. Fr Joseph Louis Ravel constructed the first church in 1864. In 2004 a facelift was given to the altar.
St Mary’s Church, Kotagiri was established as a parish in 1867. The first church at Kotagiri was built in 1867. In 1937 the church was extended by Rev. Fr Morin. In 1940 a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was constructed by Rev. Fr Gentinne. The present church was built in 2004 by Rev. Fr C. Arokiasamy.
Rev. Fr Gudin volunteered to work among the Badagas, and he was followed by Rev. Fr Foubert in 1916, and it was during his time in 1922 that it was raised to the status of a parish. Rev. Fr E. Perie built the church and dedicated it to St Michael, the Archangel. In 2015 the new church was built and blessed by Rev. Fr Devaraj Nicolas.
This area which is popularly known as Sanatorium was part of St Joseph’s Church, Wellington. The people were attending mass at St Pius X Minor Seminary Chapel. It was in 1900, that Rev. Fr J.M. Pottier, one of the MEP missionaries founded St Theodore’s Sanatorium. St Theodore’s parish was established in 1990 with Rev. Fr Joseph Antonysamy as its first parish priest. A new parish church was built in 2005 by Rev. Fr M.T. Joseph. In 2015 the newly constructed stations of the Rosary was blessed.
Selas was a sub-station of St Antony’s parish, Coonoor till 1948. Rev. Fr Reynaud de Prigny was its first parish priest. The altar was renovated in 2012.