SFS Matriculation High School at Sendurai is one of the blooming schools in the South-East Province. Its natural setting is surrounded by hills and mountain ranges which add colour and beauty to the eco-friendly atmosphere. The Peregrination of the SFS school had humble beginning in the parish campus. As the Fransalian mission at Sendurai was already entrusted by the bishop to the MSFS congregation in 2005, Fr. P. Stephen, MSFS had already pioneered the missionary work as the first parish priest. He was the luminary in guiding the new parish to growth and development, preparing the ground with his implacable missionary efforts for starting a school. He initiated planting a small seed in the rural grounds of Sendurai village in 2008 by admitting 20 children into Pre-KG and LKG classes with Mrs. Anandha Jeyaseeli, and Mrs. Deroshiya (late) as the first teachers, serving the school. Then, UKG, I and II standard were added in the following years, and the classes were conducted initially in the tailoring room that was already there on the Church campus. With the indefatigable efforts and eclectic approach of our missionaries, the school witnessed slow but steady growth through the years.
After Fr. P. Stephen, MSFS, Fr. Soosairaj, MSFS became the parish priest and Fr Antony Raj, MSFS was the assistant, and while catering to the needs of the people in the parish, they were also personally committed to develop the school. As the school strength kept increasing with more admissions every year, there was a greater need to build infrastructures with more facilities.
Developments undertaken at various times
Realizing the successful prospects of the school and to establish an educational infrastructure, Fr. Soosairaj, MSFS initiated and bought 5.43 acres of land with the help from the province and started the construction of the first phase of the school structure in 2010. In the same year, Fr Anthony Christopher, MSFS was appointed as the full time Principal of the school, and he worked hard, taking all the necessary legal steps and obtained the official opening order for LKG through V standard in 2010. Moreover, the first floor of the school construction also was completed in the following year, and it was blessed by Fr. A. Dharmaraj, MSFS, the Provincial on 17 August 2011. Then, as the number of students increased, there was a need for more classrooms and so constructing a new school block was started in 2012.
Fr. A. Christopher, MSFS served the school for three years (2010 – 2013) and Fr. A. Innacimuthu, MSFS succeeded him as the principal. He served the school only for one year and within this short time, he made efforts to work out the modalities and successfully obtained the official recognition from the government for running classes from LKG through VIII.
After him, Fr. C. Sebastian Raj, MSFS was appointed as the principal along with Fr. A. Doss as the assistant principal. Their dedication and hard work to develop the school was indubitable, creating a conducive atmosphere for the children’s safety and equipping the school with all the educational facilities. During their period, they made tireless efforts and obtained the recognition order from the government to upgrade the school from middle school to high school (classes till X standard).
In the following academic year, Fr. A. Doss, MSFS was appointed as the principal after Fr. C. Sebastian Raj, MSFS, and he served the school for three years till 2018. Moreover, Fr A Lawrence, MSFS the parish priest was the correspondent from 2015, and Fr Jeyaraj, MSFS served as the procurator in 2016 – 2017. Then, Fr Joseph Xavier, MSFS the parish priest was the correspondent and procurator in 2017 – 2018. During the time of Fr. S. Jospeh Xavier, MSFS and Fr. A. Doss, MSFS, the compound wall on the school campus was built, and as there were no proper washroom facilities for the children and the staff, the fathers made efforts and constructed in 2018 a new restroom block.
After Fr. A. Doss, MSFS, Fr. S. Arockia Britto, MSFS took charge as the principal and Fr Johnson Jayapal, MSFS as the procurator and correspondent, and Fr. A. Arockiam, MSFS was the parish priest in 2018, forming a vibrant religious community.
Later, as Fr. P. Jayapal, MSFS was transferred to become the parish priest of SFS parish in Thirugokarnam, Fr. M. Francis Britto, MSFS was appointed as the procurator in 2020. During this period, the fathers worked with diligence and foresight to develop the school, providing the following facilities in the school: installing drinking water (RO) facility, a computer lab, the library, constructing entrance gate and building better road facility, installing the statue of St Francis De Sales, a shed for parking car and cycles, creating garden and parks, installing two projectors and speakers in the class rooms, forming team animators of the houses, tables and chairs, SPL, ASPL, captains and vice captains for the student groups. They also paid attention to conduct inter school competitions, formed Musical Bands, and bought musical instruments, computerised billing system in the school.
They served the school till 2023 and then the provincial administration promoted Fr. M. Francis Britto, MSFS as the principal after Fr. S. Britto, MSFS along with Fr. A. Michael, MSFS as the procurator, and Fr. A. Innacimuthu, MSFS as the parish priest and correspondent.
This academic year (2024 – 2025) had witnessed a great milestone in terms of development by upgrading our school into higher secondary class after 15 years of its establishment. During this period, the fathers tenaciously worked hard to take the school to another level of developments by constructing Physics and Chemistry labs, equipping them with the needed apparatus; they upgraded the computer lab equipping with 6 additional computers and apparatus for the biology lab; diligently catered to the need of increasing strength by purchasing a new school bus with the help of the province; furnishing and painting the classrooms of K G section with new tables, chairs and two new televisions for the students’ use; new amplifier was bought for office purpose, the microphone system was updated and installed 10 more CCTV cameras around the school premises. Now, we can witness a gradual development in the last few years as the school strength keeps increasing every year. There are 35 students in class 12 at present which is first batch after upgrading and the total strength of the school for the academic year 2024 – 2025 consists of 492 students. Though SFS school is run by Christian missionaries, majority of the students studying in our school are non-Christians.
However, they feel welcomed and loved as we teach disciplines, imparting moral and religious values. We offer classes on catechism for the Catholic students and moral science lessons for other students. We celebrate Holy Eucharist on every first Friday of the month together with students and teachers. As a school community, we organize programs on important national and religious events like Independence Day, Children’s Day, Teachers’ Day, School Annual Day, Christmas, and school Patron’s Day, celebrating all such events in a grand manner. Thus, SFS school in Sendurai continues to shine like the nocturnal light in this little multicultural town, imparting value-oriented education to the children from the surrounding rural villages.
Succession of the Principals
1. Fr. Antony Christopher, MSFS 2010 – 2013
2. Fr. A. Innacimuthu, MSFS 2013 – 2014
3. Fr. C. Sebastian Raj, MSFS 2014 – 2015
4. Fr. A. Doss, MSFS 2015 – 2018
5. Fr. S. Arockia Britto, MSFS 2018 – 2023
6. Fr. M. Francis Britto, MSFS 2023 –
Succession of the Procurators: Fr. Jeyaraj, MSFS 2016 – 2017; Fr. K. Joseph Xavier, MSFS 2017-2018; Fr. P. Johnson Jayapal, MSFS 2018 – 2020; Fr. Anthony Raj, MSFS 2019 – 2023; Fr. M. Francis Britto, MSFS 2020 – 2023; Fr. A. Michael, MSFS 2023 –
Succession of the Correspondents: Fr. Soosia Raj, MSFS, 2007 – 2012; Fr. Arockia Christu Raj, MSFS 2012 – 2014; Fr. A. Lawrence, MSFS 2014-2017; Fr. K. Joseph Xavier, MSFS 2017-2018; Fr. P. Johnson Jayapal, MSFS 2018 – 2020; Fr. M. Francis Britto, MSFS 2020 – 2023; Fr. A. Michael, MSFS 2023 –