PROF. JOHN KURAKAR AND FAMILY VISITED CHENNAI NUNGAMBAKKAM ST.TERESA’S CHURCH
Prof.
John Kurakar and Family visited Chennai Nungambakkam St.Teresa’s Church
on 20th and 21st may,2014. The church originated as a chapel attached to the first
Bishop’s house in Madras. The chapel which met the needs of the faithful of
Nungambakkam and Mackays garden, grew into a parish Church in 1912.To trace the history of
this church it is necessary to note the growth of the city of then called
Madras, at present called Chennai. The City of Madras was first evangelized by
the Portuguese who came for the purpose of trading in spices and brought with
them the early missionaries who built an early Church on Portuguese Church
street ( which still stands as a testimony today) in the Black Town.
Black Town was a township
that grew and flourished north of Fort St. George where the natives, the
dubashes and trading merchants notably the Armenian merchants lived. The
Portuguese subsequently left Black Town due to the growing influence of the
East India Company. Black Town was renamed as George Town to commemorate the
coronation of George V as the Emperor.
Religious influence
continued to flourish under the Jesuits who had a chapel in Fort St. George and
who later moved to a more spacious accommodation in Nungambakkam. The Parishes
that existed at that times were managed ( governed) by religious orders notably
the Congregation of St. Joseph Mill Hill, St.Mary’s Cathedral in Armenian
Street was the cathedral of the Catholic Bishop of Madras. The sons of the
Congregation of St. Joseph Mill Hill better known as the Mill Hill Fathers took
charge of parishes in and around George Town notably Vepery and Nungambakkam.
The excellence of their work is borne out in a memorial plaque enshrined in the
base of the tower at St. Mary’s Church Armenian Street. St.Teresa’s Church,
Nungambakkam was one such Parish that came under the influence of this
Congregation of St.Joseph Mill Hill.
The Mill Hill Fathers
ceased to control this parish as it was passed over to Padroado in 1930. The
Portuguese who moved south to Mylapore built churches which still stand today
notably San Thome Cathedral which became the Cathedral of the Bishop of
Mylapore under the patronage of the Institution of the Royal Family of Portugal
called Patronotus or Padroado. Under this arrangement the Royal Family of
Portugal began sending Missionaries wherever colonization took place, this was
extended to St. Teresa’s at Mackays Garden which fell under the Parish of St.
Teresa’s Church, in Nungambakkam. Catechists were kept at a little chapel to
instruct the faithful in prayers and prepare them for the sacraments.
Subsequently by an order of
the Holy Seer the diocese of Madras and Mylapore were merged into one diocese
known as the Archdiocese of Madras – Mylapore when Arch Bishop Louis Mathias
SDB was appointed as the first Arch Bishop in the year 1950.
The Parish has evolved all
through these years under the able guidance and stewardship of all the Parish
Priests who have served in this Parish. The Parish today not only serves the
Parish members but today is a source of spiritual nourishment for the religious
and faithful from all over Chennai city who flock to our parish for the Sunday
services as well as the services on special occasions like Christmas, Easter,
New Year etc.
We are very blessed to have
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Raj presently as our Parish Priest who has been doing yeomen
service to our Parish. Our parish now has a Co-Patron Saint St. Jude Thaddeus
and the parish community and the other visiting members have the blessings of
this wonderful saint who is known as the “Hope for the Hopeless”.
Prof.
John Kurakar
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