Diocese of Ootacamund
Nine parish communities serve Sathyamangalam and its surrounding villages in Erode district.
Until 2003, it was the sub-station of St John de Britto’s parish, Sathyamangalam and it was established as a separate parish in 2003. Rev. Fr Antony Diraviam took over as its first parish priest. The present church was built in 2010 by Rev. Fr John Joseph Stanis.
Holy Family church was made a separate parish in 1984. The first parish priest was Rev. Fr P.J. Joseph. The present church was renovated in 2009 by Rev. Fr R.J.L. Antonyraj.
In 1910, when Rev. Fr Petit was the parish priest at Peria Kodivery a movement of conversions took place at Gundri among the tribals called Uralis. Rev. Fr Petit with the help of mission funds built a church, a presbytery and a school in Gundri which are still a visible tribute to his zealous and untiring efforts of evangelization. It became a separate parish in 1968 with Rev. Fr Job CMI as its first parish priest.
A new church was built in 1999 and was dedicated to St Antony the Hermit by Rev. Fr K. Antonyraj to cater to the needs of the new converts. In 2003, it was canonically erected as a parish, being bifurcated from Our Lady of Lourdes’ parish, Gundri with Rev. Fr S. Antonysamy as its first parish priest.
The church in Chikkarasampalayam was constructed in the year 1975. At present it has been elevated as a quasi parish in the year 2013. Rev. Fr M.C. Michael was the first quasi parish priest.
Peria Kodivery also known as Kodiveli existed as early as 1650. This is the oldest parish in the diocese, founded by l’abbe Dubois in 1799. In 1803 he constructed a church. This ancient church was rebuilt in 1967 by Rev. Fr R.J. Amalraj. The church and the sanctuary were renovated in 2000.
Kothamangalam was a sub-station of St John de Britto’s parish Sathyamangalam, until it became a parish in 1962 with Rev. Fr C.A. Antony as its first parish priest. The original church was built by Rev. Fr M. Fayolle in 1961. In 1992, Rev. Fr Thomas Maniangat built a new parish church.
The old chapel of St John de Britto was built at Sathyamangalam by Fr Mc Carron in 1868 and was extended by Rev. Fr F.M. Savarimuthu in 1938. It was erected as separate parish in 1957 with Rev. Fr Fernandes as its first parish priest. The present new church was built by Rev. Fr Sebastian Pallatil in 1975.
The original church was built in 1912 by Rev. Fr Petit. In 1968, it was made into a separate parish with Fr M.T. Joseph as its parish priest. A newly constructed church was blessed and inaugurated in 1997 by Rev. Fr Maria Louis.