Brief History of Vanasthalipuram Parish

Before its bifurcation and erection as an independent Parish in 1990, Vanasthalipuram was under the parochial jurisdiction of Gaddiannaram Parish. The Missionary Society of Heralds of Good News was entrusted with the pastoral care of the Parish with Fr. Joe Oonnukallel HGN as its first Parish Priest. Construction of the Parish Church was immediately undertaken and it was completed and blessed on 29th April, 1994 by Archbishop Samineni Arulappa. Since then, the Parish has steadily progressed. Almost all the people of the Parish are migrants either from Coastal Andhra or from the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. A vast majority of them are daily and domestic labourers. Missionary activity in the Parish has been a very tough task, since the families are scattered in a vast area. Being a semi- industrial belt, due to constant migrations, the Catholic community is ever increasing.

Fr. Mopuri A. Sahayam, HGN as Parish Priest built Presbytery at Vanasthalipuram Parish and on 22nd September, 2002 Archbishop Marampudi Joji blessed and inaugurated it. Fr. Sibi Thadathil, HGN as Parish Priest extended Church at Vanasthalipuram and on 26th March, 2006 Archbishop Marampudi Joji blessed the extended Church.

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-Stations In The Parish

1.KUNTLOOR (A) The Village called Kuntloor (St. Anthony’s Church) was bifurcated from Gaddianaram Parish and attached to Vanasthalipuram Parish, Holy Cross Catholic Church, in 1990. The Missionary Society of Heralds of Good News was entrusted with the pastoral care of the Parish. In 1990, there were just 15 Catholic families in that Village. At present there are about 40 Catholic families, but the Church is very small and old. Every year they celebrate the Church Feast on Tuesday of Second week of May.

1.KUNTLOOR (B) There are 15 Catholic families at Kuntloor (B). At present there is no Church. Efforts are being put in to build a new church. Earlier Kuntloor Catholic Community was only one with all the 55 Catholic families attending Holy Mass in the Church at Kuntloor (A). But due to various factors the Community is divided and Holy Mass for Kuntloor (A) & Kuntloor (B) celebrated separately every week. In Kuntloor (B) Holy Mass on Sunday is at 7.30 a.m.

3.MUNAGANURMunaganur Sub-station was bifurcated from Gaddianaram Parish and attached to Vanasthalipuram Parish in 1990. The Missionary Society of Heralds of Good News was entrusted with the pastoral care of the Parish. In 1990, there were 10 Catholic families in the Bank Colony. They migrated from Bank Colony to Munaganur. At present there are about 25 Catholic families, but there is no Church. Efforts are being made towards building Church there. Holy Mass on Sunday is at 9.00 a.m.

4.PEDDA AMBERPET Pedda Amberpet is another Sub- Station for Vanastalipuram. In 1990 there were 7 Catholic families and all these are migrants from different parts of Telangana. Today there are 15 Catholic families. There is no church there. Holy Mass is celebrated on every Thursday at 7.00 p.m. in one of the houses.

5.VEERANNAGUTTAVeerannagutta also is another place which they have taken up as a new mission and there are 10 Catholic families and every Thursday they celebrate Mass for them.

Men & Women Religious Congregations

Sisters Of St. Joseph Of Annecy(SJA) Sisters established their community at Vanasthalipuram on 10th May, 1992. Mission of the Congregation is to serve the poorest and the most neglected according to the need of the time and place. Ministries in the Parish are education at Heralds of Good News School, Parish work, visiting families, etc.

Congregation Of The Sisters Of St. Ann Phirangipuram (CSSA): Sisters established their Community on 11th October, 2016. They have Don Bosco Prema Seva Sadan (Home for the Street Girls at Risk) at Hayatnagar, Ranga Reddy District. And they have 68 children and young girls. The mission of the community is to help the poor and abandoned girls and reach out to the young at risk with care and concern to accompany them in their search for meaning and dignity in their life. They take care of the children, round the clock shelter, helping them in these areas like counselling, nutritional support, medical support, vocational training, Bridge Course, Girl child education, psycho-social services, formal education and re-orientation camps.