One of the foundational apostolates of the MSFS congregation is the education of the young, and the primary focus is to mould the youth with right values and character for building a better society. Our MSFS missionaries in Vaniyambadi mission realized the successful prospects of starting a school in Vaniyambadi parish territory as the region was fast developing. Therefore, assessing the need of time and the opportunity, Fr. A. Dharmaraj, MSFS as the parish priest in collaboration with the community members took the initiative with the permission of Fr. Mani Panthalani, MSFS the provincial and paved the foundation for starting the third SFS School in Tamilnadu. As our missionaries had been working in this area for a long time and they were familiar with the people, it was easy and convenient for our fathers to initiate the process of starting a school. In the initial stage, the fathers had put up a simple thatched shed in Vaniyambadi church campus itself and started the primary section of LKG class on 5 July 1995 with 26 children. The school was growing steadily under the able guidance of Fr. A. Dharmaraj, MSFS who served as the first correspondent, and Fr. R. Mathias, MSFS who served as the first principal. Meanwhile, a piece of 5 acres and 75 cents of land was bought with the support of the province outside of Vaniyambadi town at Janathapuram on the highway to Thirupatur. In the following year, UKG class was introduced, and Fr. S. Joseph Henry, MSFS became the correspondent, succeeding Fr. A. Dharmaraj, MSFS and Fr. Joseph Xavier became the principal. The construction of the new school building in the new land was started on 6 July 1997 with the permission and support of the province. At this beginning stage, Fr. J. B. John Thadeus, MSFS was appointed as the principal in 1997 and Fr. S. Joseph Henry, MSFS continued as the correspondent.
Developments undertaken at various times
The construction of the new school building in the new land at Janathapuram was completed with minimum number of classrooms and basic infrastructure, and the new school building was blessed by Fr. Mani Panthalany, MSFS, the provincial of Visakhapatnam province on 12 March 1998. At that time, there were 66 students in 3 classes, namely LKG, UKG and First standard, and the school enrolment kept increasing every year. Thus, the new SFS school was growing steadily and successfully, becoming an epitome of value-oriented education, providing academic excellence. In the course of time, different blocks were added to the school infrastructure to accommodate the number of students. As it became an essential need to create an intellectual atmosphere, a computer lab was built in 2000 to foster students’ creativity in learning and updating their knowledge about the latest technology. As Fr. John Thadeus, MSFS was transferred, Fr. A. Arockia Samy, MSFS took charge of the school as the principal in 2001 while serving at the same time as the parish priest of Vaniyambadi. He served the school only for a shorter period and then Fr. K. Ignaci Muthu, MSFS was transferred from Alangayam and appointed as the principal of SFS school at Janathapuram in 2001. He rendered his selfless service for five years with pertinacious spirit, elevating the school to its honorable status in providing quality education. During this period, he prepared diligently the first batch of students who appeared for the first time in the SSLC Public Exam, and they achieved 100 % results. As there was no house for priest’s residence, he prepared the groundwork and constructed a separate house for priest residence in the school campus, and it was blessed by Fr. Thomas Perumalil, MSFS, the Provincial of Visakhapatnam province on 31 January 2005. Since the strength of the school was increasing, he also took the initiative and constructed with the support of the province ‘Mermier Block’ which was blessed by Rev.Fr. Agnelo Fernandez, MSFS the Superior General and opened by Fr. A. Lawrence, MSFS the Regional Superior on 22 November 2005.
After his service at the SFS School, Fr. Ignaci Muthu, MSFS was sent to pursue his study in LLB and Fr. C. Sebastin Raj, MSFS was appointed as the principal and he served the school for three years from 2005 to 2008. By then, SFS school at Janathapuram became popular among the people for its quality education and discipline and so our MSFS fathers worked with dedication and expanded the facilities in the school, especially introducing classes 11 and 12. After him, Fr. Emmanuel took charge of the school as the principal and rendered selfless service for two years. Reading the signs of the time, modern teaching methodologies like Smart class facilities were introduced to enhance experiential learning, and a compound wall was built to ensure the safety of the children. Fr. S. Arockia Britto, MSFS succeeded Fr. F. Emmanuel, MSFS as the principal and he served the school for three years with passion and commitment. He initiated the process of building an administrative block and constructed hygienic toilet facilities in 2013, providing separate lavatories for the staff and the students respectively. Fr. S. Wilson Fernando, MSFS succeeded Fr. S. Arockia Britto, MSFS as the principal, serving the school for two years. During his time, De Sales administrative block was completed, and it was inaugurated and blessed on 15 June 2015 by Fr. A. Dharmaraj, MSFS, the provincial of South-East province. He also made efforts and constructed the rain harvesting facility which was blessed by Fr. Thumma Mariadass Reddy, MSFS, the Assistant Superior General and inaugurated by Fr. A. Dharmaraj, MSFS, the Provincial on 8 October 2015.
After Fr. S. Wilson Fernando, MSFS was transferred, Fr. J. B. John Thadeus, MSFS followed him as the principal and he served the school for seven years. He served the school with dedication and innovative approach. He formed the group named, Friends of Fransalian, installed CCTV cameras in the school and erected the statue of St. Francis de Sales at the entrance of the school on 21 August 2017 in commemoration of the 450 th birth anniversary of St. Francis De Sales, the patron of our school and our congregation. He also built a new basketball court, and it was blessed by Fr. Jone Gregori, MSFS, the parish priest of Vaniyambadi on 15 October 2019. He organized many inter-school literary competitions every year, promoting students’ interest in writing poetry, singing and drawing. However, the school faced the challenging period of Covid Pandemic in 2019 and though the school was shut down, the staff continued to provide classes through online facilities and engaged the students in learning and preparing them for the exam. As the second wave of Corona was spreading intensely, SFS school at Vaniyambadi had joined the state government administration to conduct a Paranormal camp in the school premises, starting the camp on 17 May 2021 in collaboration with the state Ministers, Collector and other government officials. It was a glorious moment for the SFS school at Janathapuram to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of its service in the field of education for 25 years. Fr. Thadeus, MSFS in collaboration with the school staff organized the Jubilee celebration in a grand manner in 2021 along with the school annual day. Everyone was jubilant in acknowledging and celebrating the blessings and success of the school in educating thousands of students.
After Fr. Thadeus, MSFS was transferred to SFS school at Pudukkottai, Fr. J. Savarimuthu, MSFS was appointed as the principal in 2023, Fr. P. Stephen, MSFS joined the staff as the correspondent and Fr. John Fernandez, MSFS as the procurator. They worked together with dedication and enthusiasm in leading the school to its glory of success by introducing various programs for the students. To enhance the teaching and learning techniques, Interactive Flat Panels were installed in the classrooms for the first time. Dr. Parveen Sultana, a famous motivational speaker, was invited to give mentorship talk for the students on 3 February 2024 to boost the students’ self-confidence and overcome their exam fear. Thus, the SFS School at Janathapuram has been growing to its heights of success because of the commitment and fabulous service rendered by the MSFS missionaries and the dedication of the teaching and non-teaching staff members. Today, our SFS school shines like a nocturnal lamp emulating the light of wisdom and positive values to all students who are formed in this institution.
Succession of Principals
Fr. R. Mathias, MSFS 1995 – 1996
Fr. Joseph Xavier, MSFS 1996 – 1997
Fr. J. B. John Thadeus, MSFS 1997 – 2001
Fr. A. Arockia Samy, MSFS 2001 – 6 months
Fr. K. Ignaci Muthu, MSFS 2001 – 2005 – superior
Fr. C. Sebastin Raj, MSFS 2005 – 2008 – superior
Fr. F. Emmanuel, MSFS 2008 – 2011 – superior
Fr. S. Arockia Britto, MSFS 2011 – 2014 – superior
Fr. S. Wilson Fernando, MSFS 2014 – 2016 – superior
Fr. J. B. John Thadeus, MSFS 2016 – 2023 – superior
Fr. J. Savarimuthu, MSFS 2023 – – superior
Succession of Procurators
Fr. M. John de Britto, MSFS 2005 – 2006; Fr. Jayaseelan, MSFS 2006 – 2008; Fr. G. Jaganathan, MSFS 2008 – 2010; Fr. V. Vedharaj, MSFS 2010 – 2011; Fr. A. Innacimuthu, MSFS 2011 – 2013; Fr. S. Stephen Xavier, MSFS 2013 – 2015; Fr. S. Amirthanathan, MSFS 2015 – 2019; Fr. Arockia Charles, MSFS 2019 – 2020; Fr. D. Francis, MSFS 2020 – 2022; Fr. X. Vincent, MSFS 2022 – 2023; Fr. M. John Fernandez, MSFS 2023 – 2024; Fr. D. Jayakumar, MSFS 2024 –
Succession of Correspondents
Fr. A. Dharmaraj, MSFS 1995 – 1996; Fr. S. Joseph Henry, MSFS 1996 – 1998; Fr. A. Arockiam, MSFS 1998 – 1999; Fr. Arockiyasamy, MSFS 1999 – 2001; Fr. D. Robert, MSFS 2001 – 2002; Fr. K. Ignaci Muthu, MSFS 2002 – 2004; Fr. F. Emmanuel, MSFS 2004 – 2005; Fr. M. John de Britto, MSFS 2005 – 2006; Fr. X. Vincent, MSFS 2008 – 2009; Fr. P. Johnson Jeyabal, MSFS 2009 – 2011; Fr. George Kootinal, MSFS 2011 – 2014; Fr. Wilson Fernando, MSFS 2014 – 2016; Fr. D. Johnson Sahayaraj, MSFS 2016 – 2021; Fr. S. Santhanam, MSFS 2021 – 2023; Fr. P. Stephen, MSFS 2023 – 2014; Fr. S. Tony, MSFS 2024 –
Succession of Regents
Br. S. Eldin Bernard, MSFS 2001 – 2002; Br. G. Jaganathan, MSFS 2002 – 2003; Br. Amirtharaj, MSFS 2003 – 2004; Br. J. Christo, MSFS 2004 – 2005; Br. Antony Rajesh, MSFS 2005 – 2006; Br. David Vincent, MSFS 2006 – 2007; Br. George Naveen, MSFS 2007 – 2008; Br. Arockiam, MSFS 2011 – 2012; Br. A. Michael Raja, MSFS 2015 – 2016; Br. F. Eugine Earnest Raj, MSFS 2016 – 2017; Br. S. Pradeep Jerald, MSFS 2017 – 2018; Br. A. Sesu Prabhakaran, MSFS 2019 – 2020; Br. M Sebastin Rabin, MSFS 2023 – 2024; Br. Mani Bharathi 2024 – 2025; Bro. J. Victor Samuel, MSFS 2025 – 2026.