HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH – TAGORE NAGAR PUDUCHERRY
The Holy Spirit Church Established in 1973, the Parish of the Holy Spirit was handed over to the Salesians in perpetuity in 1982, together with the land and its emoluments. Today, an imposing Church dedicated to the Holy Spirit has been built, and consecrated. The parish has about 500 registered families (44 Anbiams) in the main centre and about 80 families (6 Anbiams) in the sub-station of St. Paulpet. Mass is celebrated daily in the main centre and on every Tuesday in the sub-station. Sunday Catechism is taught regularly, with the help of a Cluny Sister and 17 teachers for about 200 children from Stds. I to XII.
The parish has several groups and associations. In addition to the Parish Pastoral Council, which meets regularly, there is also the Parish Finance Committee and the Leaders of the various Anbiams, who also meet regularly. Other groups in the Parish are: The St. Vincent De Paul Society (17 members), the Bible Prayer Group (25), the Neo-Catechumenate (22), the Legion of Mary (7), the Don Bosco Youth (23), the Sunday Catechism Teachers (17), the Altar Servers (27) and the Liturgy Committee (13). Apart from these groups, there are also the Salesian Cooperators (10), the Don Bosco Past Pupils (150). Each of these groups is quite actively engaged in several initiatives and programmes in the parish. Seven domestic staff, 1 office staff and Catechist are employed by the Parish. The Youth Centre in the Parish has 23 registered senior boys and girls, who meet regularly once a week. They have a well-prepared annual programme. In Thattanchavady, the Tamil-medium Dominic Savio Middle School, started in 1987, and formerly run by the parish, has been handed to the Diocese. A VDB is now the Headmistress. The boys from Bosco Boys’ Home attend class in the Middle School. The Parish has acquired, with a loan from the Archdiocese, some three and a half acres of land for a cemetery. A compound wall, a bore well and a chapel are needed to complete the project. Some of the pastoral issues of the Parish that need special attention are: the decline in the quality of, and the interest in, the anbiams, the decrease in number of the youth group, the reluctance of some parents to send their children to the Sunday Catechism, the low rate of subscriptions to the maintenance of the parish
Don Bosco Matriculation School
Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School is an English-medium School, started in 1984 and upgraded to a Higher Secondary in 1997. In 2003, girls too were admitted. Presently, it has on rolls 800 students, (628 boys and 172 girls), of which 149 (118 boys, 31 girls) are Catholics. The teaching staff comprises 24 lay members, of which 16 are women and 8 men, 2 office staff and 5 domestic staff. Catechism and Moral Science are taught daily. First Friday masses are held regularly with the possibility for confessions. The House System functions quite well, while the various associations, such as the NCC (40 members), Scouts (45), English Literary Association (250), Tamil Literary Association (125), Hindi Literary Association (30), French Literary Association (95), Music Club (35), Arts and Craft (25), Science Club (350), Public Speaking Club (30), Computer Club (25) and the Indoor Games Club (75), are all active and help the students nurture their talents. The Principal arranges various seminars and talks on innovative aspects of education for the teachers. Annual retreat is organized for both staff and students. The academic results have been quite good in the last few years and the School has also excelled in the field of sports and games. The School has also a good Unit of Don Bosco Past-pupils, whose members are actively committed to promoting several activities. Since the last Extraordinary Visitation, a new wing has been added to the school building, and the whole environment has been given a facelift and a pleasing appearance. Plans are being made to put up another floor to the school and increase the strength of the school, while adding much needed facilities as a school library, etc.
hspondy@donboscochennai.org
Holy Spirit Church
Tagore Nagar
PONDICHERRY - 605 008
Cell – 99940 3667
