Archdiocese of Hyderabad

St. John The Baptist Catholic Church (1990) - Arul Colony Parish

st johns baptist catholic church arul colony
st johns baptist catholic church arul colony

St. John The Baptist Catholic Church (1990) - Arul Colony Parish

Patron

St. John the Baptist

Feast Day

24th June

Parish Celebration on

The following Sunday of 24th June

Pastoral Care

OFM Capuchin Fathers

Catholics

900

Sub-station

-

Address

St. John the Baptist Church
Arul Colony, ECIL P.O. Hyderabad - 500 062, T.S.

Former Priests In-Charge / Parish Priests

OFM Cap. Priests: Fr. Oswald Pratap (August 1990 - May 1996), Fr. Cherian Palukunnel (June 1996 - April 1997), Fr. Manuel Munduvelil (May 1997 - August 2001), Fr. Cherian Palukunnel (Novemver 2001 - April 2006), Fr. Cherian Chemplany (May 2006 - April 2011), Fr. Francis Kolly (May 2011 - April 2014), Fr. Chinnappa Payarda (May 2014 - 23rd October 2014), Fr. Cherian Palukunnel (24th October 2014 - 2017), Fr. Madanu Lourdu Showry (2017 - 2020), Fr. Samuel Arugolanu (2020 - till date)

Lay Ministries Regular catechism to Children and St. Vincent De Paul Society.

Brief History of Arul Colony Parish

In 1984 the Capuchins purchased a 2 acre plot in Ramanthapur with the view of building their Study House adjacent to St. John’s Regional Major Seminary. But later they started their Major Seminary at Janampet in Eluru Diocese. It was found that a house at Ramanthapur was no longer needed for a study house. Realising that there was no scope for a study house there, Fr. Adolph Kannadipara OFM Cap, the Regional Superior entrusted Fr. Oswald Pratap OFM Cap to look for another place. They selected Arul Colony in Kapra Muncipality in Secunderabad and bought 47 cents of land in 1990. The Capuchins approached Archbishop Samineni Arulappa requesting permission for a Capuchin Community (Friary) in Hyderabad, which he benevolently granted. In that plot the Capuchins constructed the Priests’ Residence and a Church.

On 04 March, 1990 the Parish was erected in honor of St. John the Baptist and the pastoral care was entrusted to the Capuchin Fathers. At that time the Parish had 6 Sub-stations consisting of nearly 170 Catholic families. A contract was signed with th Archbishop Samineni Arulappa on 9 November, 1990. Fr. Oswald Pratap was appointed the first Parish Priest. While the construction of the Church was in progress, the community Hall of Arul Colony was used as a temporary Church for celebrating Holy Mass. Fr. Oswald Pratap built the Priests’ Residence in the present site and named it “Capuchin Seva Sadan.” It was blessed by Archbishop Samineni Arulappa on 22nd January, 1992. Later on he built the new Parish Church in the compound adjacent to the Friary. Archbishop Samineni Arulappa blessed the Church and dedicated it to St. John the Baptist. He also constructed the Grotto of Mother Mary in the Church Yard.

Arul Colony was a housing project of the Archdiocese, intended originally as a Colony exclusively for resident Catholics. Arul Colony was named so in honor of Archbishop Samineni Arulappa, who was the brain behind the project. At the start, Arul Colony was predominantly a residential area of teachers and employees most of whom were Catholics from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa. Though initially the plots were sold at a nominal cost only to Catholics over the years they have been re-sold to other parties at higher rate. Mr. George D’Cruz had a better knowledge about the Colony. The Sisters of St. Ann of Luzern bought a plot of land, adjacent to the Church, built a Convent and started St. Theresa’s High School, ever since these Sisters help them in the works of the Parish.

On 12th June, 1996 Fr. Cherian Palukunnel OFM Cap was appointed Parish Priest after Fr. Oswald in order to animate. He served the Parish for a year and in April 1997 he was called to teach in the Capuchin Major Seminary, Vijnananilayam. Subsequently Fr. Manuel Munduvelil OFM Cap was appointed Parish Priest and took charge in May 1997. Fr. Manuel served in St. John the Baptist Parish till 04th August, 2001, when he had a stroke that disabled him in his speech and movement. Finding that 3 months of intense medical treatment could not bring him back to normal health, the then Regional Superior Fr. Mathew Parinthirickal appointed Fr. Cherian Palukunnel as Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Parish for the second time on 01st November 2001. He served as the Parish Priest till April 2006. Finding that the number of Parishioners increased, Fr. Cherian Palukunnel expanded the left side of the Church in order to accommodate the Faithful. It was blessed by Archbishop Marampudi Joji in 2003. At this time the Chapel of Infant Jesus came into existence bordering to the outer wall.

Due to the urgency in Vijnananilayam, Janampet, Fr. Cherian Palukunnel OFM Cap was called back to teach. He left the Parish in April 2006 and in May, Fr. Cherian Cemplany OFM Cap was appointed Parish Priest. He extended the Parish Church to the right side and constructed the present façade. After Fr. Cherian Palukunnel OFM Cap, Fr. Francis Kolly OFM Cap was appointed as Parish Priest in April 2011. During his tenure he constructed Adoration Chapel between the Church and the Grotto of Mother Mary and Archbishop Thumma Bala blessed & inaugurated it on 22nd December, 2013.

In April 2014, when Fr. Francis Kolly OFM Cap was transferred in order to teach in Vijnananilayam, Fr. Chinnappa Payarda OFM Cap was appointed as Parish Priest. For needs of the Mary Matha Capuchin Province, in October 2014 Fr. Chinnappa Payarda OFM Cap was transferred and Fr. Cherian Palukunnel OFM Cap was appointed as Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Parish th again. He took charge on 24 October, 2014. At one time there were nearly 925 families belonging to Arul Colony. In the Course of time Cherlapally, Moula-Ali and Sainikpuri were bifurcated from St. John the Baptist Parish and were raised to the status of Parishes. The present Parish Priest is Fr. Samuel Arugolanu OFM Cap.

Men & Women Religious Congregations

Society Of The Sisters Of St. Ann, Luzern (SAL) : Sisters established their community at Arul Colony in 1991. Mission of the Congregation: Education, Social work, Evangelization and Medical services. Ministries in the Parish are teaching catechism, visiting families, preparing the children and adults for the Sacraments, distributing Holy Communion and singing for the Holy Mass. They have St. Theresa High School established in 1992 at Arul Colony.