Brief History of Nizamabad Parish

The faith journey of St. Ann’s Parish community had begun in 1958 when around 20 Tamil Christian families who were working in the Railways in Lallaguda and Bhoiguda of Secunderabad area arrived in Nizamabad on transfer and got settled here in Nizamabad town. At the same time 5 Telugu Christian families from nearby Villages came to the town in search of livelihood and got settled here. During that time Nizamabad was under the parochial jurisdiction of Dharmaram Parish. In 1952, Fr. Mulaguri Dhanraj, the then Parish Priest of Dharmaram Parish acquired 4½ acres of land for the Archdiocese of Hyderabad at Subhashnagar, Nizamabad. In 1960, Nirmala Hrudaya High School and in 1992 Junior College for girls was started by the Catechist Sisters of St. Ann (CSA, Nandanam) at Subhashnagar, Nizamabad. In the beginning, the Sisters and Faithful used to go to Dharmaram Parish on Sundays for the Holy Mass. As Catholic families began to settle there, Sunday Mass was celebrated in a temporary shed of Nirmala Hrudaya School, which was also used as a class room during the week. In the meantime, Fr. Mulaguri Dhanraj began the construction of a new Church with the help of local Faithful & Catechist Sisters of St. Ann. In 1968, the newly constructed Church was blessed by Archbishop Mark Gopu.

As there was constant growth in the Catholic Community at Nizamabad, keeping in mind the spiritual good of the people, Nizamabad was bifurcated from Dharmaram Parish and canonically erected as a separate Parish in July 1972 with 60 Catholic families. Since MSFS Fathers were running St. Francis of Assisi School at Janakampet Village, very close to Nizamabad town, the newly erected Parish was entrusted to the MSFS Fathers. The first MSFS Parish Priest of the Parish was Fr. Joseph Parapally, MSFS. In 1989, MSFS Fathers handed-over the Parish to the Archdiocese of Hyderabad and from then on the administration and pastoral care of the Parish is being done by the Archdiocesan Priests. The first Parish Priest was Fr. Udumala Chinnappa. In 1991, Fr. Golamari Innareddy as Parish Priest constructed a small Chapel in honour of St. Anthony at Railway Quarters. Later Fr. Yeruva Thomas renovated the Chapel and Fr. Chinnabathini Jayaraj extended the Chapel. Holy Mass is celebrated every Tuesday at 06.00 p.m. Fr. Yeruva Thomas built “Our Lady of Lourdes” Grotto. Fr. Mettu Arogyam as Parish Priest extended Presbytery at Nizamabad Parish and on 21st February, 2009 Archbishop Marampudi Joji blessed and inaugurated it. In 2012, for convenient administration, clear demarcation was made between the Parish Church land and Nirmala Hrudaya Institution and later a Compound Wall was built.

In 2012, Fr. Mettu Johannes as Parish Priest keeping in view the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Parish, realizing the need to renovate the Church, motivated the Parish community to generously contribute for the renovation of the Church. With the help and support of the Parish Council Members, Fr. Mettu Johannes raised local contributions and renovated the Church with elevation of the Altar, flooring, etc. When Fr. Yeruva Showreddy was the Parish Priest, the Parish Community in Nizamabad celebrated the Golden Jubilee of St. Ann’s Parish th Church, Nizamabad on 26 July, 2014. Archbishop Thumma Bala presided over the Solemn Holy Eucharist on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations and blessed the renovated Parish Church.

Sub-Stations In The Parish

Janakampet : There were a few Catholic families in this area from 1972. Some of them were working in the School of MSFS Fathers there. The name of the Chapel is Nirmala Hrudaya Chapel. They have Holy Mass every Sunday at 10.30 a.m. At present there are 7 Catholic families.

Men & Women Religious Congregations

Missionary Society Of St. Francis De Sales (MSFS) : Fathers have their residence at Subashnagar, Nizamabad and they started St. Francis De Sales E.M. High School (L.K.G. to 10th) at Subashnagar, Nizamabad in 1972. They also have Home for the Aged & Disabled (Nirmal Bhavan) at Jankampet, Nizamabad established on 26th July, 1981. At present there are 27 women and 4 men there.

Congregation Of Catechist Sisters Of St. Ann (CSA): : Sisters established their community in 1961. Mission of the Congregation is Evangelization and Catechesis, Education Ministry, Healing Ministry, Human Promotion and Empowerment. Ministries in the Parish are teaching catechism,helping in the Parish, visiting families, preparing children and adults to receive sacraments. They have Nirmala Hrudaya High School established in 1960 and total strength for this academic year (2019-20) is 3200. Nirmala Hrudaya Junior College was established in 1992 and total strength for the academic year (2019-20) is 491. Nirmala Hrudaya Junior College Hostel was established in 1997 and total strength for this academic year (2019-20) is 200.

Missionaries Of Mary Mediatrix (MMM) : Sisters established their Community in 1995. Mission of the Congregation is direct evangelization, education in schools, health care, social assistance, dispensaries, house visits, catechetics, group guidance and other activitities relevant either to evangelisation or human promotion. Ministries in the Parish are teaching catechism, preparing the children for Holy Communion, visiting families, other pious activities and teaching in the school.

Society Of Nirmala Dasi Sisters(SNDS) : Sisters established their community in 1981. Mission of the Congregation is to serve Christ in the most abandoned section of Society, the poor, the sick and the destitute without any discrimination of Caste, Creed, Language. They are helping in the Home for the Aged (Nirmala Bhavan), which belongs to MSFS Fathers at Janakampet.