Sacred Heart Church, Thennangudi — twin-spired façade decorated for the Silver Jubilee
Salesian Parish · Archdiocese of Pondicherry–Cuddalore

Sacred Heart Church
Thennangudi

எங்கள் இருதயம் உம்மை போல் ஏற்றம் பெற…
“Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine.”

A parish family of 14 sub-stations and 17 villages near Karaikal, entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco and consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — celebrating 25 years of faith, love and service.

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The Salesian fathers bless the parishioners gathered before the church on the night of the jubilee flag hoisting
Blessing the faithful of all 14 sub-stations — Silver Jubilee flag hoisting, 7 August 2026
Welcome

One Heart, Fourteen Sub-stations

Sacred Heart Church is the mother church of a rural parish spread over 14 sub-stations and 17 villages around Thennangudi, in the Karaikal district of Puducherry.

Declared a parish on 15 November 2000 and entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco, our community has grown from a dilapidated chapel into a vibrant family of faith — with weekly Masses in every sub-station, active Anbiams (Basic Christian Communities), Sunday catechism for hundreds of children, and a lively youth and altar-servers movement.

Whether you are a parishioner, a pilgrim to the Sacred Heart, or a visitor to Karaikal, you are warmly welcome here.

Our story
25Years as a parish
14Sub-stations
17Villages
30+Altar servers
200+Catechism children

“We are called to help and guide the People of God to form them into a faith-rooted Christian community, through active Anbiams committed to the values of Christ — love, justice and peace.”From the Vision Statement of the Parish

Priests carry the Sacred Heart banner through the assembled parishioners
The Sacred Heart banner among the faithful — 7 August 2026
Our history

From a Sub-station Chapel to a Jubilee Parish

In the Jubilee Year 2000, at the request of the Bishop of Pondicherry–Cuddalore, the Salesians took up the mission of Thennangudi — a cluster of sub-stations that had known only one Mass a month. On 15 November 2000 Thennangudi was declared a parish, and Fr. Job David SDB became its first parish priest.

Land was purchased in 2001, and the present church with its twin spires was completed and blessed on 3 December 2006. Twenty-five years on, the parish celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a flag hoisting on 7 August 2026 and a solemn feast on 16 August 2026.

Read the full history
Worship with us

Holy Mass at the Parish Church

Every Mass at Thennangudi is preceded by the Holy Rosary. Evening Masses are celebrated in the sub-stations through the week.

Sunday

Parish Church
  • Holy MassSunday catechism, Legion of Mary & SVP meet after Mass8.00 am

Weekdays

Parish Church
  • Monday – ThursdayHoly Rosary at 5.50 am · Wednesday also at the CTC convent, 6.15 am6.15 am
  • Fridaywith Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction6.30 pm
  • Saturday6.30 pm

Sub-stations

Sunday
  • Neivachery7.30 am
  • Mel Subrayapuram9.00 am
  • Surakudi6.30 pm
  • Arulmozhithevan6.30 pm
Silver Jubilee logo — Sacred Heart Church, Thennangudi, 25 years, 2000–2025
2000 – 2025

Silver Jubilee of the Parish

Twenty-five years since Thennangudi was declared a parish on 15 November 2000. Our jubilee logo carries the twin spires of the church, the Sacred Heart, and the words that have guided the year — எங்கள் இருதயம் உம்மை போல் ஏற்றம் பெற, “make our hearts like unto Thine”.

To mark the jubilee the parish is renovating the grotto of Our Lady, laying the main road and entrance arch, erecting a 53-foot brass flag mast and building a small catechism hall. Your prayers and support make these works possible.

Silver Jubilee 2000 – 2025

Flag Hoisting — 7 August 2026

The jubilee celebrations opened at dusk with a procession through the streets of Thennangudi, the blessing of the jubilee memorial, the hoisting of the jubilee flag on the church tower and Holy Mass under the open sky.

Silver Jubilee 2000 – 2025

Jubilee Feast — 16 August 2026

The Bishop was received with dance and music, presided over the solemn feast Mass, and administered First Holy Communion and Confirmation to the children of the parish.

The Bishop with the Salesian fathers at the church gate on the jubilee feast day
Reception of the Bishop — Silver Jubilee feast, 16 August 2026
Devotion

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

Our parish bears the name of the Heart of Jesus — the symbol of His boundless love for every person. Devotion to the Sacred Heart, revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque at Paray-le-Monial in 1673–75, invites us to return love for love: through the First Friday Mass and vigil, Eucharistic adoration, the consecration of families, and lives of mercy.

“Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”Matthew 11:29

Prayers & devotion
Parish life

A Living, Praying, Serving Community

In the spirit of Don Bosco, our parish pays special attention to the faith formation of children and young people, while building strong Christian communities in every sub-station.

Sunday Catechism

Weekly classes in the sub-stations, monthly catechists' meetings, half-yearly catechism Masses with over 200 children, exams and prizes for essay, speech, singing and drawing.

Altar Servers

Some 30 boys and girls from eight sub-stations serve at the altar and meet every third Sunday. Several have gone on to the Salesian aspirantate at Tirupattur.

Anbiams (BCC)

Basic Christian Communities in every sub-station — neighbourhood groups that pray, reflect on the Word and care for one another, the backbone of parish life.

Pious Associations

The Legion of Mary and St. Vincent de Paul Society meet weekly after Sunday Mass; the Holy Family Association and altar-servers' association enrich family and liturgical life.

Youth

An active youth group at the parish church, with leadership and value-education programmes for young people from all the sub-stations.

Sacraments & Camps

First Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation with daily classes in May, and an annual Vacation Bible School for the children of the parish.

Welcome dance before the illuminated church
Kummi dance under the festive pandal — feast day
Families receive jubilee mementos on the stage
Shepherds of the parish

The Salesian Community, 2026–27

A

Fr. Anto Sagaya Raj, SDB

Rector · Parish Priest · Correspondent

Parish Pastoral Council, pious associations, Anbiams, liturgy and choir.

S

Fr. Samson, SDB

Assistant Parish Priest

Pastoral care of the sub-station communities.

A

Fr. Anand, SDB

Headmaster · Assistant Parish Priest

Sunday catechism and BIS correspondent.

Stay connected

Follow the Parish Online

Live-streams, feast-day videos, photos and announcements. Scan a code with your phone camera or tap the card.

Come and See

Join us for Holy Mass, visit the Sacred Heart shrine, or reach out to the parish office. Our doors and our hearts are open.