Brief History of Mettuguda Shrine Parish

Mettuguda was under the parochial jurisdiction of Lallaguda till 24th August, 1977. In 1925, a small prayer group of 15 Tamil families installed the miraculous statue of St. Anthony and celebrated a novena in his honour at Modi’s Compound. St. Anthony’s Bhajan Society was established on 17th March, 1928 under the guidance of Fr. Tinti Giuseppe PIME, the then Priest- in-charge of Lallaguda. The Bhajan Society was named, Punidha Anthoniar Bhajanai Koodam which initially operated from Batkammagunta, later it was shifted to George Health Camp South Lallaguda, and finally to North Lallaguda after which it was defunct for some time.

The Bhajan Society was revived in 1942 and was led by Mr. A.D. Anthony, but Fr. Giovanni Seminati PIME, the then Parish Priest of Lallaguda never approved of it. In 1950 the Bhajan Society shifted to Modi’s Compound with the help of Mr. M.K. Modie and Mr. W.S. Roberts. A nominal monthly rent of Rs.10/ -was paid to Mr. Modie by the Society. Since many people started flocking to the Shrine, Fr. Joseph D’Souza purchased the land from Mr. Modie in 1954 and registered it in the name of the Bhajan Society of which the Parish Priest of Lallaguda was the Spiritual Director. The same year a Primary School was started, but due to insufficient place, it was shifted to the Sacred Heart Church premises. The Passion Play, a drama written by Mr. Arokiaswamy and Mr. T. Joseph was staged on Good Friday 1956 for the first time (director Amala Anthony; harmonist George Sebastian; Gnanaprakasham stage and light incharge; Magimaidass as Jesus). From 1962 “private tunes” were introduced into the drama.

Thousands of people of different religions were visiting this Shrine and receiving abundant blessings and hence the Parish Priest of Lallaguda intended to construct a Church in a suitable place. Mrs. Clara Peters, then residing in Australia donated her Land to Fr. Yeruva Bali, the then Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church to build a Church in honour of St. Anthony. Meanwhile, Fr. Bali was transferred and Fr. Bandanadam Julian took over the Parish in 1972. The devotees appraised the new Parish Priest about the favours received through the intercession of St. Anthony. It didn’t take very long for him to make a decision. So with the assistance of the devotees and the people of Mettuguda Fr. Bandanadam Julian undertook the construction.

On 23rd August, 1975 the miraculous Statue of St. Anthony was shifted to the new Church and on the next day Archbishop Samineni Arulappa blessed the new Church. Mettuguda was erected as an independent Parish on 24th August, 1977 with Fr. Pancras Fernando as its first Parish Priest. The credit for the exponential growth of the devotion to St. Anthony goes to Mr. A.D. Anthony, Catechist of the Shrine since 1942. Even in the absence of the Priest for all these years he single handedly conducted all the devotions and novenas, spiritually and meaningfully. He continued to be the Catechist even at the new Church.

On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee (celebrated on 15th February, 1978) of the Bhajan Society, Archbishop Luciano Storero the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to India exhorts (Prot. No. 3703/77 dt. 10th December, 1977), “those who use their God- given talents to contribute to a more fruitful and active participation in the liturgy of the Church through the music of their country deserve to be encouraged.” The highlight of the Bhajan Society was the “Passion Play” in Tamil at the Sacred Heart Church grounds for almost 50 years. Arutkavi T. Joseph, resident of Pakkalicheri, Trimulgherry was the ‘wathiar’ (composer and teacher) for the Bhajan Society from 1942 until his death in 1963. Bhaktan Francis Solomon accepted the responsibility of ‘wathiar’ from 15th August, 1976. Unfortunately, Passion Play had to be given up when some of the key members left the Catholic Church. With the demise of most of the long standing members, the Bhajan Society now operates on a very low key. Fr. Thumma Arla succeded Fr. Fernando. Fr. T. Rayappa, Procurator, started the work of the old Presbytery and it was completed by Fr. Thumma Arla, and he was functioning from Archbishop’s house (1978-1983) till it was completed. Fr. Ignatius Gnana Pragasam as Parish Priest built the stage for the Tuesday Masses.

Due to the efforts of Fr. Chinnabathini Chinnaiah the front portion of the Church was extended to accommodate more devotees. The Statue of Infant Jesus was installed in front of the Church and the old Grotto was beautified. The stage with exquisite cement carvings was constructed for outdoor liturgical services. Fr. Chinnabathini Chinnaiah as Parish Priest celebrated Silver Jubilee celebrations of St. Anthony’s Shrine Church on 12th June, 2003 celebrated the Silver Jubilee of St. Anthony’s Shrine Church, Mettuguda Parish. Fr. Madanu Joseph (Jr.) took charge of the Parish on 12th May, 2007 and has laid special emphasis on strengthening of the basic faith of the community and not just on mere religiosity and popular devotions.

Fr. Yeruva Joji as Parish Priest celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Infant Jesus Chapel, Oil Depot of Mettuguda Parish on 05th May, 2013 and Archbishop Thumma Bala was the main celebrant for the celebrations. Fr. Udumala J. Chinnappa Reddy as Parish Priest took initiative to make plans for the cellar, new Presbytery and new St. Anthony’s Shrine Church. At first the work of dismantling of old Presbytery began. Msgr. Swarna Bernard, VG, blessed & laid foundation stone for the cellar & new Presbytery on 27th April, 2017. As the area was limited, the new Presbytery was planned carefully and systematically. Parking place for devotees with two wheelers in the cellar and for Priests in the ground floor were provided. There are six rooms for Priests to stay. Place was made for children’s catechism and Holy Mass on the first floor. Three rooms were constructed for catechism children to be used on Sundays and the same for devotees on pilgrimage to stay on Tuesdays. Archbishop Thumma Bala blessed and inaugurated the new Presbytery and Cellar at Mettuguda Shrine, Sec’bad on 13th June, 2018.

Fr. Udumala J. Chinnapa Reddy as a Parish Priest introduced a number of things to popularize the Shrine and to make the devotion to St. Antony for the well known. 9 Tuesday Novena Programmes of St. Anthony twice a year; Charismatic Holy Masses were celebrated on every Tuesday by eminent preachers in order to highlight the Word of God and its importance for both the Christians and non-Christians who flock to the Shrine; the Tuesday Masses were telecast through Catholic Hub Web. Channel and Divyavani TV Channel for those who had no chance to come to the Shrine. The act of presenting of Saree by the devotees to Mother Mary was popularized; three hour Eucharistic adoration was introduced on Tuesdays from 2pm - 5pm; feeding of the poor was started on Tuesdays through the contribution of the devotees. Surely the place in and around the Shrine was not enough for the ever increasing number of devotees.

As the Shrine was attracting more and more devotees from far and near, Archbishop Thumma Bala planned with Fr. U.J. Chinnappa Reddy to have a new Shrine Church over the Presbytery and on the existing Shrine. The work began and was completed in October 2019. The beautiful Shrine Church with two floors and with two Towers (under construction) was blessed and inaugurated by Archbishop Thumma Bala on 5th November, 2019. All the devotees who come to Mettuguda Shrine appreciate the way both Presbytery and the Shrine Church were planned and built by Fr. Udumala J. Chinnappa Reddy. It is surely an iconic structure dedicated to St. Anthony. The Shrine and the new Church are for devotees a place of tranquility and renewal. Mr. Kata Jayaraj, a builder by profession, helped in the construction of the Presbytery and Shrine Church as well. Fr. V.K. Swamy was appointed as a Parish Priest after Fr. Udumala J. Chinnappa Reddy.

St. Anthony’S Old Chapel (Bhajan Society) At Modi’S Compound : This Legendary Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua had a humble beginning in the early part of the 20th Century at Bathakamma kunta, Lallaguda Village, Secunderabad. It was started by a handful of Tamil Roman Catholics at Lallaguda in a small room where they installed the miraculous Statue of St. Anthony. They sang devotional Tamil songs in praise of St. Anthony which was composed by illustrious Tamil poets namely late. V. Madurai Nayagam Pillai, late J.P. Lazarus and others. In course of time devotees started praise and worship at the miraculous Statue of St. Anthony. On 17th February, 1928 this small gathering established St. Anthony Bhajan Society under the able guidance of Fr. Tinti Giuseppe PIME the Priest in-charge of Lallaguda. The Bhajan Society named as ‘Punidha Anthoniar Bhajanai Koodam’. This society was shifted to ‘George Health Camp’ in the same jurisdiction of South Lallaguda. Due to some reasons it was once again moved to north Lallaguda. Unfortunately due to various reasons and want of permanent spacious area/place and to avoid the inconvenience to continue amidst family quarters, it ceased functioning regularly.

In 1942, by the efforts of prominent and eminent Catholic devotees namely A.G. Joseph, M. Selvam, A.D. Anthony, S.A. Rathna Swamy and C. Chowrinadan and few elders revived bhajanai koodam. They wanted a permanent accommodation; they have approached Mr. M.K. Modi a Parsee and owner of Modi compound. He was kind enough to spare an accommodation on monthly rent of Rs.10/- per month in his compound. Mr. M.K. Modi and Mr. W.S. Roberts were very cordial and extended all possible help to Bhajan society. This small Chapel gained rapid popularity for its amazing miracles. The devotees of all faiths thronged in crowds to visit the spiritual and astounding Chapel. A.D. Anthony the first Catechist and one of the main pillars of this Chapel led novena prayers and people used to come to listen to the devotional songs of St. Anthony composed by Wathiar (poet) Karingar, T. Joseph. In course of time due to marvelous miracles and immense faith in St. Anthony, devotees increased and the Chapel accommodation became congested and was causing inconvience to devotees and bhajan members. The bhajan members put forward their grievances to Fr. J. D’Souza and requested to negotiate to purchase the rented room and surrounding vacant land. Fr. J. D’Souza appraised the problems to Mr. Modi and purchased the said premises in 1954 and it was registered in the name of bhajan society and Parish Priest at Lallaguda was made in-charge as Spiritual Director.

Infant Jesus Chapel, Oil Depot, Railway Quarters : A few families of Christians of oil depot people were gathered together and decided to make good and beautiful crib decoration for Infant Jesus for every Christmas event in 1952 and continuing till 1987. Day by day Christian families were increasing in this area and the people were joining together and were planning to build a small Chapel in the crib decoration area. So people were contributing some money and started working for it. But some people of the other religion purposely created problem. They reported about this in Hyderabad Collector’s Office. The Collector ordered for the demolition of the Chapel which was already completed. But Catholics there did not give up and continued praying to Infant Jesus for intervention. Later Collector sanctioned 72 square yards of land for Chapel. Fr. T. Andrew Raj, the then Parish Priest along with the Faithful built the Chapel. This happened in 1987. The present Infant Jesus Statue was brought from Chennai by Aeroplane. The Statue was brought in a procession from Begumpet Airport to the Oil Depot in a prayerful atmosphere. The Statue was blessed by Parish Priest and installed in the Chapel. From then on every Thursday Rosary and novena prayers are recited in the evening at 6 pm. Fr. T. Andrew Raj celebrated Holy Mass on every 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month followed by Rosary and novena prayers. In 1999 the committee invited Archbishop Samineni Arulappa for the Infant Jesus festival. He accepted the invitation and celebrated Holy Mass in honour of Miraculous Infant Jesus with great joy. Devotion developed over the years and the number of devotees increased. They celebrate the annual feast every year on 03 May and flag hoisting on 24 April.

Men & Women Religious Congregations

Society Of Sisters Of St. Anne - Madras (SSAM): Sisters came to Mettuguda on 16th June, 1999. Mission of the Congregation is ‘Girl child education’. They run the Orphanage for street girls and semi-orphans called St. Ann’s Prem Nivas established at Mettuguda in 2002. Ministries in the Parish are helping the Parish on Tuesdays by selling candles and any other help as per the need.

Sisters Of St. Aloysius[(Oblate Di Suore Luigine(OSL)] : Sisters established their community in 1982. They have Rubino Hostel for Working Women established in 1993. Their mission is to educate the poor girls. Ministries in the Parish are helping in the Parish office work, visiting families, pastoral ministry and women hostel.