Kelambakkam is a rapidly growing suburb of Chennai Metropolitan City in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the old Mamallapuram Road which is also known as the IT corridor/Rajiv Gandhi Salai, and it is about 35 km from Chennai. Kelambakkam is situated within the District of Chengalpattu. It is a fast-developing city and can be called the twin city with Chennai.
MSFS in Kelambakkam
The substation, Kelambakkam bifurcated from Covelong parish was erected as a separate parish and the mission was entrusted to the MSFS Fathers. As the Most Rev. Dr. Aruldass James, the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore invited the MSFS fathers to take up mission in the Archdiocese, Fr. Mani Panthalani, MSFS, the Provincial Superior responded to the bishop’s invitation and designated Fr. Joseph Francis Britto, MSFS to the diocese and the bishop appointed him as the first parish priest in 1996.
Developments undertaken at various times
Fr. Joseph Britto Francis MSFS was transferred from Vaniyambadi to take up the Holy Redeemer parish as the pioneer in the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore. This was the first parish the MSFS missionaries took up in the archdiocese. He was a very simple and down-to-earth person in his dealings with people. He was indeed a joyful and jovial person, emitting joy, graceful smile and peace to everyone around him. Though he was a senior priest, he started his ministry by staying in the sacristy of the church as there was no presbytery for the priest to stay. Despite the initial difficulties and challenges, he loved the people, availed himself ever to care for the needs of the people. He also was elected as one of the provincial councillors. As he was very busy as a parish priest and councillor, Fr. X. Vincent, MSFS was sent to assist him at the parish. Both of them as good shepherds worked hard and built up the parish and thereby laying the foundation for the future development of the parish.
Fr. A. Luckas MSFS was appointed to as the parish priest succeeding Fr. Britto Francis, MSFS after his death. As there was no presbytery in the parish, he started the process of building the presbytery and he completed the work with the help of the province and the diocese. The house was named as “Britto Illam”, and it was inaugurated by Fr. Mani panthalani, MSFS the provincial of Visakhapatnam and blessed by Most Rev. Aruldas James, the archbishop of Madras-Mylapore in 2000. Fr. A. Luckas, MSFS took efforts to get the parish for perpetum under the care of the MSFS from the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore. Fr. Mani Panthalany, MSFS the Provincial of Visakhapatnam province showed personal interest and made a substantial contribution for the growth of the Fransalian Mission at Kelambakkam.
Fr. P. Stephen MSFS succeeded Fr. A. Luckas, MSFS as the parish priest and he was actively involved in the parish activities and animated the parish with wholehearted dedication and commitment. Realizing that the existing chapel Komanagar was old and in a very dilapidated condition, he initiated raising the funds needed in collaboration with the people and constructed a new chapel in this substation with the support of the province and the diocese. The new church was blessed by Most Rev. Dr. Aruldas James, the archbishop of Madras-Mylapore in 2002. As the church at Kelambakkam was quite old and in very bad condition, leaking all over the church, he organized the people to mobilize the funds needed for constructing a new parish church. Before the project was executed, he was transferred from here with the purpose of being sent to join the Italy mission.
Fr. A. Edward MSFS was appointed as the parish priest succeeding Fr. P. Stephen, MSFS. During his time, Christ the Redeemer parish campus had a major face-lift under his leadership. As the old church was in a very dilapidated condition and the people had already started the process of mobilizing funds for building a new church, he encouraged and motivated the people to raise the needed funds through donations from people, projects with the help of the bishop and support from the province and he completed the construction of the parish church. The new was blessed by Most Rev. Dr. A. Neethinathan, bishop of Chengalpattu and inaugurated by Fr. A. Lawrence, MSFS the Regional Superior on December 17, 2006. He also took the initiative to build a compound wall around the church. He was instrumental in starting the Matriculation school in the church campus with primary classes, which was developed later as SFS Matriculation school. He showed greater enthusiasm in guiding and animating the parish to be a vibrant faith community.
Fr. R. Mathias, MSFS was appointed as the parish priest to succeed Fr. A. Edward, MSFS. He worked hard and made all the efforts to bring a systematic order to the parish for administering the sacraments and taking care of the temporal goods of the parish. By way of catering to the spiritual needs of the people, Fr. Mathias opened an adoration chapel and started English mass in the parish on Sundays. The children’s boarding that was there to help the poor children in their education was closed during his time on practical reasons.
Fr. J. Stephen, MSFS succeeded Fr. R. Mathias, MSFS and took charge as the parish priest in 2012. He worked hard to organize the parish activities and the school administration systematically and animated the parish to be an active and dynamic faith community. As the parish church was in an unsafe condition, he initiated mobilizing the funds needed in collaboration with the people and built a church with architectural elegance and beauty through the support of the parishioners, the diocese and the province. The new church was blessed by Most. Rev. Dr. A. Neethinanthan, bishop of Chengalpattu and opened by Fr. Ignacimuthu, MSFS, the provincial of South-East Province on February 13, 2021, in commemoration of the parish Sliver Jubilee and in honor of celebrating the 175 years of the first MSFS missionaries landing in India. The church was dedicated to Divine Mercy. The ground floor of the parish church serves as Fr. Peter Mermier multipurpose hall. It is used for various activities of the parish as well as for the common functions as people need it. The children’s boarding is converted into presbytery to accommodate the fathers. Fr. Britto Illam, the old presbytery was demolished on account of expanding the church premises. Divine Mercy devotion is becoming popular in the parish. Adoration is conducted and Divine mercy chaplet is prayed; inner healing prayer service and holy mass are organized every first Friday of the month at 3 pm. There is a grand procession around the church on every third Friday of the month, and a lot of people participate in the devotion. This special devotion attracts quite number of people from all over Tamil Nadu and various groups on different occasions make pilgrimage to this Divine Mercy shrine. The day-to day functioning of the parish community like family registration, communications to BCC, and to the various pious associations are digitalized. A full-fledged English-speaking community is formed, and the people are actively involved in organizing various activities in the parish.
Fr. A. Jeyaseelan MSFS succeeded Fr. J. Stephen, MSFS and took charge as the parish priest on 21 February 2021. It was during Corona time that the ministry was conducted through online social media. The Clarity between the parish and the church was made clear to the faithful. The parish is called CHRIST THE REDEEMER PARISH and the church is dedicated to Divine Mercy Devotion. The parish documents and registrations are maintained accordingly. Again, it is a new start from the beginning as regards the administration and parish day to day functioning as the parish and church got different names. A new arch was constructed at the entrance to the church, and all the works that were left incomplete in the church and in the hall were completed. The debts incurred for the construction of the church were paid back. A new flag post that is 45 feet high was erected in the church premises. The digital name board as well as a carved name board are fixed at the entrance gate. The compound wall 6 feet high at the left side of the church was rebuilt. Laying of interlock stones around the church was completed. The RO water system is set up to provide clean water for the pilgrimages. Cement benches on the parking lot were built for the use of the faithful. Many trees are planted to beautify the church campus, and a beautiful garden is maintained along the compound wall.
Participatory Structures in the Parish: Parish council, Anbiyams (BCC)
Associations in the Parish: Youth Group, Altar Servers
Religious in the Parish: Bethlamite sisters
Institutions under the Parish: St. Xavier’s R C Primary School, Kelambakkam
(Estd. 1904), managed by the diocese of Chengalpattu
St. Francis de Sales Matriculation Hr. Sec. School, Kelambakkam, managed by MSFS Fathers.
St. Peter Bethanchur Nursery and Primary School, Thaiyur (Estd. 2006), managed by Bethlamite sisters.
Succession of the Parish Priests
Fr. Joseph Britto Francis MSFS 1996 – 1998
Fr. Arulappa Luckas MSFS 1998 – 2000
Fr. P. Stephen MSFS 2000 – 2004
Fr. A. Edward MSFS 2004 – 2010
Fr. R. Mathias MSFS 2010 – 2012
Fr. J. Stephen MSFS 2012 – 2021
Fr. A. Jeyaseelan MSFS 2021 –
Succession of Assistant Parish Priests / Deacons
Dn. A. Jayaseela Rajan MSFS 1997 – 1998
Fr. X. Vincent MSFS 1998 – 2000
Fr. Amirthanathan MSFS 1999
Fr. M. Michael Selvans MSFS 2007 – 2008
Fr. L. Arul Sundaram MSFS 2008 – 2009
Fr. S. Vanathaiyan MSFS 2009 – 2010
Fr. S. Antony Raj MSFS 2010 – 2011
Fr. S. Jerald Abin MSFS 2011 – 2012
Fr. Z. Philomin Raj MSFS 2012 – 2013
Fr. Jeganathan MSFS 2013 – 2014
Fr. Martin Anand MSFS 2014 – 2017
Fr. Dominic Savio MSFS 2017 – 2018
Fr. Ananda Prabu MSFS 2018 – 2019
Fr. Britto Clinton MSFS 2023 – 2024