Diocese of Ootacamund
Seventeen parish communities carry the life of the Church across the Nilgiris, from the hill town of Udhagamandalam out to its surrounding villages and estates.
The parish of Ithalar was erected in 1957 with Rev. Fr Humberto D’Souza as its first parish priest and Emerald was part of Ithalar. The parish church was built in 1987. After the remodelling and extension of the chapel at Emerald it was made a separate parish in 1987. The altar was renovated in 2015.
It was a sub-station of St Mary’s Church, Ooty. It was a quasi parish till 2024, with Rev. Fr Vimal Packianathan as its first parish priest it became the parish.
There is a life size bronze crucifix imported from France by Rev. Fr Paul Crayssac, the then parish priest of St Mary’s Church, Udhagamandalam which was installed on a boulder in 1933 to commemorate the 19th centenary of the Redemption of mankind. The shrine was a sub-station of St Theresa’s parish, Fingerpost till 1998. In 1998, it was established as a separate parish. The new Church was constructed, by Rev. Fr Alexander in 2011.
This parish was created in 1975 mainly for the faithful who resided in Indunagar and who were employed in the Hindustan Photo Films Factory. Rev. Fr Laborde, the first parish priest was instrumental in the development of this parish. In 2000, a grotto was constructed in the church premises and in 2001, the bell tower was erected. The altar was renovated in 2012.
A prayer hall was constructed in 1988 for the Catholic population of Rose Mount a sub-station of St Mary’s Church, Ooty. It became a quasi parish in 2013, with Rev. Fr Kingston Antony as its first parish priest.
The diocese of Ootacamund was raised to a separate diocese in its own right on 03rd July,1955. Sacred Heart church became the diocesan Cathedral which was constructed by Rev. Fr Foubert in 1897. The bell towers were later additions and were named “Towers of Victory,” soon after the first world war in 1918. In 1987 this church was renovated and extended. A new face lift was given to the church in 2014 in view of the diocesan Diamond Jubilee.
The church was built in 1968. In 1982, Kothumudi was bifurcated from Sacred Heart Cathedral and was made as a new parish with Rev. Fr Abraham Kuttilampil as its first parish priest. The Norbertine Fathers took charge of the parish in 2012.
In 1905, a small chapel was built and remained a sub-station of St Mary’s Parish, Udhagamandalam. The church was built by Rev. Fr Robin in the year 1907. In 1941, it was raised to the status of a separate parish with Rev. Fr Paul Crayssac as its first parish priest. In 1942, the chapel was renovated to the present structure. In 1949, a bell tower was built. The church underwent renovation works in 2010.
Kundah had been for a long time a sub-station of St Theresa’s parish, Selas and later of St Antony’s parish, Lovedale. In 1963, it was made a separate parish with Fr Roland Lefevre MEP as its parish priest.
In 1968, it was erected as a separate parish. In 1975, when Indunagar was established as a parish, Kalhatti became its sub-station. Once again in 1992, Kalhatti came into existence as a separate parish. In 2015 the altar and the church were renovated and the bell tower was constructed in memory of the Golden Jubilee of the parish church.
The church was built in 1984 by Rev. Fr Cyriac Kunnath. In 1985, it was bifurcated from St Mary’s Parish, Udhagamandalam with Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier as its first parish priest. A Day Creche under the care of the Sisters of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary was started. Later a building for tailoring, typing and tuition was put up.
The present St Joseph’s primary school built in 1837, was the first Catholic church in Udhagamandalam. The present church of St Mary’s was constructed in 1870 by Rev. Fr Fiarom. When Rev. Fr Kapel served as parish priest, he made arrangements to bring the Statue of Our Lady of Assumption from France. In memory of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese the busts of Cardinal Antony Padiyara and Archbishop Aruldas James were erected beside the church. Adoration Chapel, Stations of the Cross around the church were erected in 2012. In the same year, a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico was brought and installed in the church. The church and the sanctuary underwent the renovation works in 2014.
It was a sub-station of St Mary’s Church, Ooty. It was a quasi parish till 2024, with Rev. Fr David as its first parish priest it became the parish.
Until 1934 the chapel of St Joseph’s Industrial School served as the parish church. In 1935, it was bifurcated from St Mary’s Parish, Udhagamandalam. The present church was built in 1965 and renovated in 1979.
St Theresa parish, Nanjanad, was bifurcated from St Mary’s parish, Udhagamandalam in 1985 with Rev. Fr M.T. Joseph as its first parish priest. A home for the physically and mentally challenged and for the aged persons is under the care of FMM sisters. In 1994 the new chapel at Nanjanad was blessed and inaugurated.
The parish at Parli was a sub-station of St Francis of Assisi’s parish, Kundah. In 1987, Parli was made a separate parish with Rev. Fr Lefevre as its first parish priest. The place is mostly inhabited by the tribals called Irulas. A dispensary was opened in 1968 at Mulli to render medical service to the tribals. Rev. Fr Lefevre MEP took the initiative to build a new parish church in Mulli in 2003.
The church was a sub-station of Sacred Heart Cathedral till 2007. The church was constructed in 1995 by Rev. Fr M.T. Joseph in memory of the centenary of the Sacred Heart Cathedral. In 2008, it became a separate parish with Rev. Fr V.M. Jacob as its first parish priest.