Our Lady of Victories Parish

Entrusted to the Salesians in perpetuity in 1976, at present the Parish comprises 320 registered Catholic families, with 3 sub-stations (St. Joseph’s, Pudur; Our Lady of Lourdes, Veppampet; St. Xavier’s, Yellagiri). The Parish is divided into 11 anbiams, which meet once a week. There is daily mass in the main station, while once a week, mass is celebrated in the 3 substations. Weekly devotions to St. Anthony and the Infant Jesus are fostered, while monthly commemorations of Our Lady, Help of Christians and of St. John Bosco are also celebrated. Devotion to the Divine Mercy is on the increase in the Parish. There is an active parish council which meets once a month. Some of the main concerns of the parish are: faith formation and unity of the people, the good functioning of the anbiams, and the care of the youth group. The principal pious associations of the parish are: St. Vincent De Paul Society (11 members), Legion of Mary (20 members), Youth Group (34 members), Altar Servers (35 members), Magalir Mandram (100 members), Christian Workers (25 members), SC/ST Women’s Group (24 members). Sunday Catechism is organized and more than 178 children from Stds. I to XII, looked after by 15 teachers, attend regularly. The parish employs 3 Catechists and 3 domestic staff members. In Pudur substation, land (700 sq.ft.) has been purchased for a new Church.

Don Bosco High School

Don Bosco High School, Tamil medium, has 579 students on rolls, of which only about 74 students are Catholics. The teaching staff comprises 14 members, 9 gents and 5 ladies. All, except one, are Catholics. The School has the following associations: Scouts (35 members), Junior Red Cross (22 members) and Junior Blue Cross (25 members). There are 3 office staff members. Catechism and Moral Science classes are taken daily. Holy mass is celebrated every First Friday of the month for Catholic students. The School also provides students with opportunities to form themselves into honest and responsible young men in society. The School has a good playground nearby (6 acres) and sufficient space for the construction of a Higher Secondary School.

Don Bosco Primary School

With 562 boys (21 Catholics) on its rolls, from LKG to Std. V, this Tamil medium primary school is run by the parish, with a layman as the Headmaster. Ten teachers are on the staff, all Catholics. Catechism and Moral Science classes are taught everyday. Holy mass is celebrated on the First Friday of every month. Annual retreats for Catholics are also organized. Every morning, yoga asanas are conducted to help students to focus their minds on God. During the daily assembly, the students are taught religious songs and a Bible quotation is read and explained. The national festivals are well conducted to promote dialogue and culture, while feasts like Christmas, the Immaculate Conception, feast of St. John Bosco and Gratitude Day in the month of November are celebrated meaningfully.

Boarding

The Salesian community also runs a small boarding of 53 boys, all Catholics, with the help of a Salesian as warden. They have daily mass and the opportunity to make their confession and monthly recollection on the last day of each month. The Rector meets them occasionally in groups, while they join the parish for the annual Lenten retreat. The boarders are divided into 4 groups for the purpose of carrying out their daily tasks in an orderly manner, while at the same time giving them opportunity to grow together and to develop their talents. The warden organizes Marian serenades and novena services in order to inculcate devotion to Our Blessed Mother and St. John Bosco. The boarders are also given chance to meet various vocation promoters, with the intention of promoting vocations to Salesian and religious life.

Salesian Cooperators and Past Pupils

A unit of the Salesian Co-operators, with 27 members (20 of whom have taken the Promise), is quite active and plays a prominent role in all the parish activities. The Past-Pupils’ unit has 18 members on the Executive Committee, with more than 600 registered life members, who meet once a year.

Night Study Centres

The community runs 3 CFCA-sponsored night study centres, one in the main parish and the other 2 at Pudur and Veppampet, with more than 100 children attending regularly. Five teachers look after the children. Apart from helping them with their academic studies, many competitions, tournaments, cultural & feast day celebrations are organized for the children during the year. In addition, 88 CFCA sponsorships are provided for the education of boys and girls of the locality.

Our Lady Of Voctories Church
JOLARPETTAI – 635 851,
Vellore Dist.
Cell – 94433 09364