ST. MARY’S CO-CATHEDRAL, CHENNAI
St. Mary’s Co-Cathedral
The Parish has a Catholic population of 250 parishioners - 45 families. Many of these families are poor and depend on the help of the Parish for their livelihood. The parish is a centre for 2 devotions, the devotion to St. Anthony on every Tuesday, and the perpetual novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, on every Wednesday, both of which draw thousands of devotees, mostly non-Catholics. The Church is surrounded by commercial centres, hence a good number of Catholics attending Church services are not parishioners. The parish is divided into 3 zones or Anbiams, namely, St. Matthew with 7 families, St. Mark with 18 families, and St. John with 14 families. There are two pious associations: the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Legion of Mary, both with 10 members each, and quite active. The Youth Group, however, with nearly 20 members needs to be revived. A student of theology assists them on Sundays. The Parish Pastoral Council, with 12 elected members and 4 nominated ones, meets regularly. Every Sunday, Catechism classes for children (about 70) from Std. I to XII are conducted. During the last six years, the Church has undergone a lot of repair and renovation, under the careful supervision of the Rector and the Administrator.
St. Mary’s Anglo-Indian Hr. Sec. School
Today the School has a strength of 1285 students, of which 316 are Catholics. Catechism and Moral Science are taught every day, First Friday masses are held regularly for Catholic students, while a prayer service is held for the others. Annual retreats for the staff and the students are conducted separately. Among the various groups, the NSS, RSP, Scouts, Cubs, JRC, YCS, YSM, Music Club, Karate Club, Yoga Club, Table-Tennis Club and the Philatelic groups are quite active. The School achieved a 100% pass in the recent Government Examinations of both Stds. X and XII. Vocation guidance in the School and the Parish is given through novena services, Sunday and feast day liturgical celebrations, group Masses and occasional talks. Recently, 2 of the school boys joined the Salesian Aspirantate. Career guidance, leadership training and counselling are also offered to the students. The Staff comprises 37 members, of which 32 are Catholics. There are also 3 office-staff and 12 domestic staff members. They have regular monthly meetings and animation programmes. The PTA is quite active and collaborates in the smooth running of the School. The School too has witnessed a few changes in its structure during the last 6 years, with the renovation of the staff rooms, the Principal’s office, the students’ toilet and the examination halls. It is provided with a good computer lab, adequate Physics, Chemistry and Biology labs and a decent library. A prayer room is available for the use of the students, which however would be converted into a chapel and located in a more convenient place. The School does not have a sufficiently spacious playground, because of which it has to renew its recognition every 3 years. Efforts are on to find a suitable ground at an affordable price.
St. Paul’s Private School
St. Paul’s Private School, started in 1957, has on rolls 246 boys in class III and IV, of which 73 are Catholics. Catechism and Moral Science are taught every day. The students have special assemblies on various themes, besides the regular daily ones. The Rosary is recited in the month of October and the Stations of the Cross are conducted every Friday in Lent. There are 4 groups: Cubs with 28 members, Music Club with 20 members, Karate Club with 10 members and the Philatelic Club with 15 members. The staff members have monthly meetings, animation programmes and an annual retreat. In the next year, St. Paul’s Private School will be merged with St. Mary’s.
The Evening Study Centres
The Evening Study Centre gathers together about 100 children daily for coaching classes with the help of 2 SMA Sisters and 3 teachers. There is also another Centre at the YMCA school, near the Fort station, with about 80 children, 1 Auxilium Sister and 2 teachers. Many of the children who attend these evening study centres are from the most backward sections of the neighbourhood. Both the Parish and the School contribute towards this neighbourhood apostolate as a joint venture.
Salesian Cooperators
At present, there are 20 professed members who meet regularly once a month. Some of its activities in the School are: animation of the Rosary service during the month of October, organizing the Good Samaritan Week, purchase and distribution of clothes for the inmates of Anbu Illam, Don Bosco Beatitudes, Sishu Bhavan, etc. The celebration of the Feast of Don Bosco in the School is a major event for the Unit.
Past Pupils
There are 483 members in the Alumni Association of St. Mary’s A.I.H.S.S., which has regular meetings on the second Saturday of each month. There are 6 office-bearers and 12 councillors of the Unit. The Alumni Day is celebrated on the 2nd of October every year. Some of the activities are: annual felicitation of the Jubilarians from the Management or teaching staff, scholarships to deserving students, cash awards for outstanding athletes, Christmas Day celebrations to help poor students. The Unit is now attempting to procure a piece of land for the present pupils for games like volleyball and basketball.
Chaplaincy
The Salesian community takes care of the chaplaincy services for the Presentation Sisters, the Sisters of the Disciples of the Divine Master, while the Auxilium Sisters are given spiritual animation on request.
stmarys@donboscochennai.org
St. Mary's Co-Cathedral
Armenian Street,
CHENNAI - 600 001
Cell – 98401 21461
