Vincentian House, Chengam (TN)

Established. 1977
Patron: St. Vincent de Paul
D: Vellore

Address:
Vincentian House
Thukkapet, Chengam - 606 709
Thiruvannamalai Dt, Tamil Nadu
04188-222524

• Fr. Chungakarottu Joseph - Superior
• Fr. Chirackal Antony - Finance Officer & Parish Priest
• Fr. Kodamullil Cyriac - Director, Boys Home, Correspondent & Bursar of the School

• St. John De Britto Parish (1977)
• Arulanander Children's Home (1986) - Tel:04188 223524
• Sahayamatha Tamil Medium High School (2002) - Tel:04188 223896

By God's providence Rev. Bro. Thomas of the sacred Heart Congregation, then a missionary in the Diocese of Vellore, was our guide to the Diocese of Vellore. In 1974, the then Bishop of Vellore, late Rt. Rev. Dr. R Anthonymutthu, invited our Congregation to start a house of ours in Chengam, a mission area of his Diocese. At Chengam Catholics were scattered in 38 villages, mostly marginalized poor low caste people. Thus the then Superior general Very Rev. Fr. George Kammattil send Rev. Frs. Xavier Kadiyamkuttiyil and George Vempilly to start mission work in Chengam. As there was no Church and residence at Chengam, the first missionaries were asked to take charge of Mt. Carmel Parish of Koratampet, 25 kms away from Chengam, of which Chengam was one among the main substation. Thus on April 25, 1974 our pioneers of Chengam reached Koratampet and started mission work. The Vincentian missionaries were caring a vast area of 64 villages where there were small Catholic communities. According to the plan of the Bishop the Congregation purchased land in Chengam, the taluk headquarters.

The Church of John De Britto was constructed at Thukkapet, and blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. R Anthonymutthu on June 1, 1977. On October 10, 1977 Vincentian House at Chengam was blessed and opened by the then Pronuncio of India, Most Rev. Dr. Luciano Storero in the presence of Rt. Rev. Dr. R Anthonymutthu. The heavenly patron of this House is St. Vincent De Paul. Chengam became an independent parish separated from Koratampet in that year itself. Now there are 37 villages under the care of the Vincentians at Chengam. Arulanandher Children's Home was opened on June 6, 1986.

We have a Tamil medium unaided High School in Chengam. We are planning to start plus two course in the school. We have bought 3.45 acres of land in Chengam for the purpose of Housing Scheme for the poor. The construction of five houses is completed as the first phase of this project and planning to complete 10 more houses this year. It is a project to settle the scattered homeless Catholics in and around Chengam.