Pope's Message Dear brothers and sisters! News Letter The month of June is June 2018 traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the highest human expression of divine love. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: the feast that sets the tone for the whole month. Popular piety highly prizes symbols, and the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God's mercy but it is not an imaginary symbol, it is a real symbol, which represents the center, the source from which salvation for all humanity gushed forth. In the Gospels we find several references to the Heart of Jesus, for example, in the passage where Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. (Mt 11:28- 29)” Then there is the key story of the death of Christ according to John. This evangelist in fact testifies to what he saw on Calvary: that a soldier, when Jesus was already dead, pierced his side with a spear, and from the wound flowed blood and water (cf. Jn 19.33-34). John recognized Fr. Secretary in that apparently random sign, the Bishop's House, fulfilment of prophecies: from the heart of Post Bag No. 6, Coimbatore - 641 001. Jesus, the Lamb slain on the cross, flow forgiveness and life for all men. www.coimbatored iocese. org [email protected] But the mercy of Jesus is not just Voice : 0422 2390430 sentiment: indeed it is a force that gives 0422 2382806 life that raises man up! In the episode of Fax : 0422 2394530 the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Jesus, 2 with his disciples, has just arrived in Nain, a village in Galilee, at the very moment in which a funeral is taking place. Jesus' gaze immediately fixes itself on the weeping mother. The evangelist Luke says: “Seeing her, the Lord was moved with great compassion for her (v. 13).” This “compassion” is the love of God for man; it is mercy, i.e. the attitude of God in contact with human misery, with our poverty, our suffering, our anguish. The biblical term “compassion” recalls the maternal viscera: a mother, in fact, experiences a reaction all her own, to the pain of her children. In this way does God love us, the Scripture says. And what is the fruit of this love? It is life! Jesus said to the widow of Nain, “Do not weep,” and then called the dead boy and awoke him as from a sleep (cf. vv. 13-15). The mercy of God gives life to man, it raises him from the dead. The Lord is always watching us with mercy, [always] awaits us with mercy. Let us be not afraid to approach him! He has a merciful heart! If we show our inner wounds, our sins, He always forgives us. He is pure mercy! Let us never forget this: He is pure mercy! Let us go to Jesus! Let us turn to the Virgin Mary: her immaculate heart a mother's heart has shared the “compassion” of God to the full, especially at the hour of the passion and death of Jesus. May Mary help us to be meek, humble and compassionate with our brethren.

Bishop's Message Dear Rev. Fathers, Religious and People of God, We are very much delighted at the fact that all our diocesan schools proved to be the schools of the best education. All our schools scored high marks, bringing centum in passing and in some subjects. It is the pride to our Diocese and all of us. On behalf of everyone, I wish to congratulate our Principals, Correspondents and the Teaching Staff. In the month of June, we shall begin another school year. I earnestly request you to start the school year with the same spirit and enthusiasm. 3 I would remind you all those who are in charge of schools that it is your obligation and mandatory to teach catechism to our Catholic children. As the years pass by, I could see that there is a gradual decadence on the part of the teachers in teaching catechism. The teaching catechism is as important as the other subjects. And also it is our duty to teach moral lessons to non Christian students who have to be formed as responsible citizens of our nation. Please make arrangements that this duty is prepared and done well. At this juncture, I want to insist on Sunday catechism to our children in the parishes. It is a primary duty of a pastor. children do not got to school as well as the children studying in non-Christian institutes have no opportunity for catechetical instructions. Since they are deprived of these opportunities, it is the duty of the pastor to organise Sunday catechism in the parishes. After the summer vacation, kindly start the catechism in the parishes earnestly. It is the duty and concern of all of us in the faith formation of the children. Please keep in mind that our parish children are our future church. Thanking you

Yours devotedly in Christ, +L. Thomas Aquinas Bishop of Coimbatore Communication from MMI Congregation Fr. Varithyah Jeyanal Justus and Fr. John Bellarmine belonging to the congregation of MMI are placed under suspension. They are hereby prohibited from celebrating any Sacrament.

Bishop's Desk Dear Fathers, Monthly recollection for the month of June 2018 will be held at Bishop's House on the 11th June (Second Monday of the month), 2018. 4 Bishop's Engagements Date/Time Programme Place 01.06.2018 General Body Meeting Ceema Fri/Mor General Body Meeting CMSSS 03.06.2018 Holy Communion and St. Antony's Church, Sun/Mor Confirmation Vadavalli 04.06.2018 Installation of New Parish Iduvampalayam Mon/Eve 09.06.2018 Inaugural Mass Good Shepherd Sat/Mor Seminary 10.06.2018 Corpus Christi Cathedral Sun/Eve 11.06.2018 Recollection Bishop's House

16.06.2018 Holy Communion and St. Antony'sShrine - Sat/Mor Confirmation Puliakulam Eve Feast St. Antony's Shrine - Poomalur 17.06.2018 Feast St. Antony's Shrine - Sun / Mor Puliakulam 18.06.2018 Blessing of Renovated Sungam Mon/ Eve Cemetery 20.06.2018 Inauguration CKPC - Wed / Mor Othakalmandapam General Body Meeting- Family Jeevajothi Commission 21.06.2018 General Body Meeting- Family Jeevajothi Thu Commission 24.06.2018 Feast and Confirmation St. Antony's Church - Sun / Mor Mettupalayam 26.06.2018 Finance meeting Good Shepherd Tues / Eve Seminary 29.06.2018 Bp. Chinnappa's Jubilee Mass Vellore Fri/ Mor 5 From Vicar General's Desk MEDICAL FUND PAID UPTO 28.05.2018 SL.NO PARISH AMOUNT 1 Gobi - Parish 10,000.00 2 - Parish 5,000.00 3 Mettupalayam - Parish 4,000.00 Total 19,000.00

THE COIMBATORE FIDES EDUCATION TRUST Dear Rev. Fathers, The Coimbatore Fides Education Trust scholarship forms are available at the procurator's office from 1st July 2018 to 15th August 2018. The cost of each form is Rs.25/- only and you may get the required number of forms for your parish. Kindly do use the new format application only. The old application forms are invalid and cannot be accepted. Parish priests are advised not to fill up the application forms. The last date to submit your applications to the secretary of the trust is 31st August 2018. Individual cheque will be given to the scholarship awardee.

The conditions to keep in mind towards submission of the application. 1. Application should be filled by the applicant's own handwriting. 2. Only one applicant per family can apply for the scholarship. 3. Obtaining 50% and above marks in each of the subject in the latest examination or in the academic examination. 4. For the proof of income any one of the following should be submitted. i. The latest Income Certificate from Tahsildar. ii. Pay slip/salary certificate. iii. Xerox of the page that containing the monthly salary deposited in the bank pass book. 5. Attach the Xerox copy of the latest statement of marks. 6. Attach the equivalent marks for the grades in the mark sheet. 6

7. Mention the total mark for each subject if not mentioned in the mark sheet. 8. Attach the Xerox copies of the fees paid for the course in the current academic year. If the above required conditions are not fulfilled, application will be rejected. Fr. John Joseph Stanis Vicar General DECREE OF ERECTION ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER'S CHURCH, IDUVAMPALAYAM

Considering the pastoral needs of the diocese of Coimbatore and in consultation with the members of the college of consulters and the senate of priests, I, through this decree, solemnly declare that I have created a new parish, bifurcating from the parish of Tiruppur Town, dedicated to St. Joseph the worker with its head quarters at Iduvampalayam with effect from 4th June, 2018. The boundaries of the new parish will be as follows: ! East: From Parapalayam four roads to the right side of Karaipudur Mangalam road (Murugampalayam road, Chellam nagar, Thandai Periyar nagar ! South: Karaipudur(Places to the right side of Mangalam road) to 63 Velampalayam ! West: From 63 Velampalayam to Attaiampalayam Pirivu and Sulthanpettai Kulakarai ! North: Tirupur Mangalam road parts of the southern bank of Given at Bishop's House, Coimbatore on 15th May, 2018.

Most Rev. Dr. L. Thomas Aquina V. Rev. Fr. Melchior Bishop of Coimbatore Chancellor 7 APPOINTMENTS Name of the priest Appointment Rev. Fr. P. Irudayaraj Vellakoil Rev. Fr. Lazar Sundarraj Velayutham Palayam Rev. Fr. Nelson Iduvampalayam (New Parish) Rev. Fr. Kanakaraj Pallapalayam Rev. Fr. Arokiaraj Stephen K. Patty (PP) & VF Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Tiruppur Town Rev. Fr. Irudayaraj Xavier SIDCO Rev. Fr. Arul Oubagaram Ramanathapuram Rev. Fr. John Xavier Kulandai Erode Town PP & VF Rev. Fr. Arulmuthu Iyerpadi Rev. Fr. Arun K.M.C Somanur Rev. Fr. Maria Soosai ( Thambi) Gobi Rev. Fr. Ignatius Diraviyam Puliampatty Rev. Fr. Vincent Pushparaj Aravakurichi Rev. Fr. Arokia Yudha Thaddeus Erode Railway Colony Rev. Fr. Rosario Vinod Marianallur Rev. Fr. Antony Gnanaprakasam Puliyur Rev. Fr. Joseph Felix Bhavani Sagar Rev. Fr. S. Antonyraj Mariyapuram Rev. Fr. Amala Udhayam OFM Gandhipuram

Assistant Parish Priests Name of the priest Appointment Rev. Fr. Anandakumar Sowripalayam Rev. Fr. Alex Antonysamy Podanur Rev. Fr. David Alexander Kattoor Rev. Fr. Antony Felix Rathinapuri Rev.Fr. Innasimuthu Dharapuram Rev.Fr. Sebastin Maria Sundar Erode Rev Fr. John Yesu Shiju Rev. Fr. Jeraldin Stephen Tiruppur Town Rev.Fr. Alex Antony Lawrence K.Patty Rev.Fr. Paul R.S. Puram Rev.Fr. Benitto Cathedral Rev. Fr. Gnanapragasam Vice Rector Rev. Fr. Immanuel Puliakulam

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S.No. Place Activity Partners

01 Awareness on Alcoholism Foundation for and de addiction treatment Infrastructure Reconstruction and employment (FIRE) 03 Mettupalayam Medical Camp (Eye, “Lotus Eye Hospital”, Ortho and General) Revathi arakattalai Revathi Hospital (Tirupur) 04 Avinashi Awareness Program CEEMA,Thozhi for Working women 10 Integrated programme for the Narikuravas To uplift the Narikurava women and children the following trainings were conducted in all the 5 selected project areas. o Evening tuition classes Family Development Programme · 27 members were supported with Rs.3,83,130/- each to start IGP under this program and develop themselves economically. Kolping Programme Under the twining project following activities were conducted. · Training on savings & Credit · Leadership training on Group management & documentation Hunger & Disease (Continues. . .) CMSSS extends its heartfelt thanks to all the Parish Priests listed below for sending the Hunger & Disease contribution during the month of May 2018. Hunger and Disease - 2018 No Name of the Parish Place Amount

1 Our Lady of Fathima church Gandhipuram 62,000 2 St.John Bosco church Goundampalayam 40,000 3 St.Sebastian's Church Civil Aerodrome 27,941 4 St.Michael's cathedrel Coimbatore 21,142 5 St.Joseph's church Podanur 18,000 6 St.Francis Xavier Church Puckkilipalayam 12,500 7 Divine Mercy Church Kuniamuthur 7,900 8 Sagaya matha church Jothipuram 7,340 9 Sacred Heart Church Valparai 6,501 10 Annai Velankanni Church Selvapuram 5,000 11 Sagaya matha church Sulur 3,050 12 St.Antony's Church Mettupalayam 2,540 13 St.Joseph's church Sholayar dam 2,000 14 Our Lady of mt.carmel church Podanur 2,000 15 St.Mary's church Udumalai 2,000 16 St.Peter and Paul's Church Madathukulam 1,000 17 St.Lourdes Church Lourdhupuram 1,000 18 St.Mary's church Mariapuram 1,400 223,314 11

N.B. - The contribution received from the following parishes was sent to CEEMA. 1. St.Peter and Paul Church, Puckilipalayam 2. St.Joseph's Church, Tirupur 3. St.Mary's church, Udumalai 4. St.Peter and Paul, Madathukulam Rev. Fr. Hyacinth, Director, CMSSS News from CEEMA Dear Rev. Fathers and Sisters, Greetings from CEEMA! This is to inform you that His Lordship the Bishop of Coimbatore has transferred me from the directorship of CEEMA after three and a half years of service here. It was a time of learning as well as hard work for me. It was again a rare privilege to work with and for the poor and the marginalized. I enjoyed working with the dedicated team of staff and volunteers of various projects of CEEMA. There were innumerable number of common people, government officials, Institutional Heads and others who have associated with CEEMA; and without their wholehearted support, I could not have done many things. I take this opportunity to thank each and everyone for your support and guidance. I will take charge as the Director of Coimbatore Multi- purpose Social Service Society (CMSSS), Coimbatore. Rev. Fr. Pushpanathan will assume charge in my place on 5th June 2018. I earnestly request you to provide all necessary guidance and support to him so that the mission of CEEMA will be realized in the years to come. During the month of May 2018 we had conducted programme for farmers and working women. 12

THOZHI PROJECT: Empower “Women at Work Place”. We had organised training program for working women in 5 districts (Tiruppur, Erode, Karur, Namakkal and Salem). In each district 30 to 35 women workers from 10 NGOs in each district had participated. Around 200 working women were trained to form a federation group and to fight for their rights. Apart from this through 8 NGOs we had completed NGO level workers training in Tiruppur district successfully. EMSF (Empowering the Marginalized and Small Farmers): One of the key components of EMSF project is to strengthen the capacity of the small and marginalized farmers by facilitating advocacy and networking with officials from Agriculture Department. This will enable the farmers to understand various schemes of the government and technological know-how so that the same can be availed by them. The first advocacy program of this year was organized at Kundadam. The Agriculture department officials from district level and block level had come and around 75 men and women farmers participated and discussed regarding the government schemes in agricultural activities. 13 1) The beneficiary farmers, other secondary stakeholders such as officials from agri department, civic authorities understood about the objectives and the features of the project. 2)They understood about the importance of organic farming. 3)They understood about the ill-effects of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We want to thank the parish priests who had handed over the 'Hunger and Disease' collection money to CEEMA as per direction of the Bishop. The details are given below: We wholeheartedly appreciate the support. Hunger and Disease Project Donors List for the Month of April & May 2018 No Name of the Parish Place Amount

01 06/04/2018 St. Mary' S Church, Erode Town 30000.00 02 13/04/2018 St. Francis Xavier's Church, Aravakuruchi 1970.00 03 17/04/2018 Little Sisters of the Poor, Thindal 15000.00 04 20/04/2018 St. Antony's Church, Komarapalayam 7900.00 05 20/04/2018 Holy family Church, Perundurai 7500.00 06 20/04/2018 Sacred Heart Church. Erode Railway Colony 20000.00 07 30/04/2018 Arputha Annai Allayam, Vellakovil 3000.00 08 07/05/2018 St Theresa's Church, Karur 10000.00 09 Grand total 95370.00

Once again I thank you for all your support and guidance during my tenure as director of CEEMA. I once again request you to extend all support and guidance the new director. A warm welcome to Rev. Fr. Pushpanathan. Rev. Fr. V. Arun Director, CEEMA, Erode

A of word Gratitude My Lord Bishop, Very Rev. Vicar General, Dear Fathers, Religious and Laity of the diocese, Greetings! I take this opportunity to express my thanks to you all for your tireless support and kind co-operation which you rendered to me throughout these last two years. First of all, I 14 thank God for giving me the strength to keep going according to His plan in my priestly life. I extend my humble gratitude to His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. L. Thomas Aquinas, the Bishop of Coimbatore for his warm and friendly guidance with the deep love of God. The times that I travelled with His Excellency very closely as Secretary, is unforgettable and blessed with much happiness. “Gratitude is the memory of a heart that will recognize the good done” Here I would like to thank our Vicar General, V. Rev. Msgr. John Joseph Stanis who always listens, supports, guides and encourages me as a loving brother. “Thank you” - Those two words are simple yet powerful. They are the tools that help us grow and sustain relationship. Here, I owe my special thanks to my dear brother- priests for the cooperation, support, collaboration, appreciation, guidance and understanding which I receive always. A special thanks to all the staff of bishop's house for their family spirit in helping me to fulfil my ministry. Love includes every one and excludes none. And now I would like to thank the religious, and all the other friends and well-wishers who are all involved in my journey as Secretary. You have been a source of strength to me through your prayer, sacrifice, and support. At this juncture, I wholeheartedly congratulate and welcome Rev. Fr. Edward Gnanasekar, the new Secretary to our Bishop. And I request you all to give your co - operation and support to Fr. Edward Gnanasekar to do his ministry happily and fruitfully. Thanking you all and expecting your prayers and support in my future ministry. Fraternally yours, Fr. A. Albert Selvaraj 15 16

May God give them rest in peace

01-06-1979 Rev. Fr. Louis Pitcahimuthu 02-06-1979 Most Rev.Fr. C.M.Visuvasam 03-06-1964 Rev.Fr. A. Savarinathar 04-06-1987 Rev.Fr. M. M. Chinnayan 06-06-1908 Rev.Fr.Rayappanathar 07-06-1940 Rev.Fr. Dominic 14 -06-1942 Very Rev.Fr. Maria Louis, V.G 15-06-1902 Rev.Fr. J.M.J. Pottier 15-06-2007 Rt. Rev. Fr. C.A. George 16-06-1857 Rev.Fr. J.C.Bruyere 19-06-1983 Rev. Fr. A. Swaminathar 22-06-1973 Very Rev.Fr. A. Joseph, V.G 23-06-1989 Rev.Fr. M.S.Royar 25-06-1859 Most Rev.Msgr. Bresillac 28-06-1876 Rev.Fr. J.M. Niveaux 28-06-1943 Rev.Fr.S.Michaelnathar 28-06-1985 Rev.Fr. C.S.Maria Arockiam