Brief History of Toopran Parish

Toopran was a Sub-station of Bayyaram until it was bifurcated and erected as an independent mission-station in 1988 entrusting the pastoral care of the mission-station to SVD Fathers. Fr. A. Blaise, SVD was appointed the first Priest in-charge. He worked hard and gradually put up the Catholic Centre cum Priests’ Residence in 1991. This paved the way for the official erection of Toopran as a Parish in 1992. The same Fr. Blaise SVD was its first Parish Priest also. Almost the entire Catholic population of the Parish is concentrated in Majeedpally, which is today considered as the prime Sub-station of Toopran. Apart from this Village, there is only scanty Catholic presence in the Parish. In 2012, the pastoral care of the Parish was taken over by the Archdiocese of Hyderabad and Fr. Chinnabathini Benjamin is the first Archdiocesan Parish Priest. Manoharabad is located on National Highway in the territory of Toopran Parish and there are Novitiate Formation Houses of 3 Congregations, namely, the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Society of Jesus Mary and Joseph (JMJ) and the Daughters of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple (DPM). The presence of these Novitiates has added quality to the life of the few Catholics present in the neighbourhood. The Archdiocese is trying to get a piece of land for future Church at Manoharabad. Fr. M. Anthony (Sr.) as Parish Priest planned for the renovation of the Presbytery at Toopran and applied projects donor agencies for help. By the time donor agency sanctioned the project Fr. M. Anthony (Sr.) was transferred to another Parish and the present Parish Priest Fr. Bandanadam Prashanth has undertaken the renovation of the Presbytery and completed the renovation work. Archbishop Thumma Bala blessed and inaugurated it on 02nd August, 2020 on the occasion of his 5th Pastoral Visit to Toopran Parish.

During the tenure of Fr. N.A. Paul Raj new pews were donated to the Church by the teachers of St. Mary’s High School, Secunderabad. In 2006, on the occasion of Ruby Jubilee of St. Mark’s High School, Fr. Gopu Sunder Reddy and Fr. Madanu Chinniah had laid foundation stone for the construction of the new Church. Purely with the local contribution, the construction of the new Church was completed and it was inaugurated by Archbishop Marampudi Joji on 27th April, 2007. After a few years, Fr. Mettu Arogyam as Parish Priest constructed a new Presbytery at Tandur with the amount that came from the sale proceeds of Tandur land and it was blessed and inaugurated on 07th August, 2016 by Archbishop Thumma Bala.

Apart from the pastoral ministry of the above mentioned Parish, Archdiocese of Hyderabad also established St. Mark’s High School (L.K.G. to X) at Tandur in 1966 in the Parish territory as mentioned above. Present strength of the School in the Academic year 2019-2020 is 1010. Archdiocese of Hyderabad also established St. Mark’s International School at Tandur in June 2017. This International School Building was constructed with the amount that came from the sale proceeds of Tandur land. The strength of the School in the Academic year 2019-2020 is 233.

Sub-Station In The Parish

FATIMA NAGAR (MAJEEDPALLY) Fatima Nagar, Majeedpally is the Sub-station of Toopran Parish. The people in Fatima Nagar are traditional Catholics and very faithful towards Church activities and regular for Holy Mass. The traditions say that, in 1960’s three Catholic families migrated from Dharmaram Village, Nalgonda District towards Chandapur (now called Fatima Nagar). SVD fathers were taking care of the spiritual needs of these people. Earlier Fatima Nagar was under Alirajpet Parish, and later Fatima Nagar was under Bayyaram Parish and now Fatima Nagar Village is under Toopran Parish. There are only 7 Catholic families in the Village, because this Village is surrounded by forest and hill area. Though the land is not so fertile for cultivation all the families here depend on cultivation. As the children finish their studies, they try to migrate from the Village to a better place. That is how number of families is not increasing in this particular Village. This Village is 17 kms far from the Parish Church. The name of the Church is Fatima Mata Church. In spite of all these difficulties the people in this Village are very devoted and strong in their faith. They are regular for Holy Mass, Daily Rosary and Family Prayer. Though this is a small Village, they contributed more than 10 Priests and a good number of Religious to the Church. Holy Mass on Sunday is celebrated at 09.45 a.m.

Fr. M. Anthony (Sr.) as Parish Priest planned for the renovation of the Multipurpose Hall at Majipally and applied projects donor agencies for help. By the time donor agency sanctioned the project Fr. M. Anthony (Sr.) was transferred to another Parish and Fr. Madanu Francis Showry the then Parish Priest completed the renovation work.

Men & Women Religious Congregations

Society Of The Divine Word(SVD) Fathers established St. Arnold’s High School (Nursery to 10th) at Toopran in June 1995. It is 2 kms far from the Parish Head-Quarters.

Salesians Of Don Bosco (SDB)Fathers have Sacred Heart Novitiate established in 1995, which is 10 kms far from Toopran.

Daughters Of Our Lady Of Mercy (DM): Sisters established their community on 6th June, 2012 at Toopran. Mission of the Congregation is Education (hearing impaired and normal), health care, Old Age Home, Orphanage, Parish activities and all the works of Mercy. Ministries in the Parish are animation of liturgy, visiting families, helping in the Parish activities.

Daughters Of Presentation Of Mary In The Temple (DPMT) Sisters established Presentation Novitiate House (Formation House) at Manoharabad in 1997. Mission of the Congregation is education, social work and health care ministry. Ministry in the Parish is formation of young novices (Novitiate House).

Society Of Jesus, Mary, Joseph(JMJ) : Sisters established their community in 1998, Novitiate was shifted in 2013 and they started JMJ E/M School. Since Manoharabad is far away from Toopran Parish, they attend Holy Mass on Sundays in the Parish and they visit families once in a month.