Basic Christian Communities
அன்பியங்கள் & அன்பிய ஒருங்கிணைப்பு
"A BCC (also known as SCC - Small Christian Community), generally consists of 15 to 20 families. They get together weekly or monthly to listen to the word of God and let the Word enlighten their day to day lives. They share the good news as received by them and respond not only in prayer, but also in various ways the Spirit inspires them in their daily contexts of life. They generally follow the seven step of Gospel Sharing method to reflect together as a community and discern God’s will for them in their concrete neighbourhood situation."
adapted from the Commission for Small Christian Communities, CCBI
For an account of the difficulties encountered in the course of growing the parish before the advent of BCCs,
see the bottom of this page.
The BCC Co-Ordination Committee
அன்பிய ஒருங்கிணைப்பு
BCC 1
முதல் அன்பியம்
BCC 2
இரண்டாம் அன்பியம்
மூன்றாம் அன்பியம்
BCC 3
BCC 4
நான்காம் அன்பியம்
Letter from Fr. Selvaraj, previous parish priest
In the course of striving to develop the Parish
"திருநயினார்க்குறிச்சிப்பங்கு இன்று வளரும் பங்காக மறைமாவட்டத்தில் சிறந்ததொரு பங்காக சிறந்து விளங்குகிறது.
மக்கள் இணைந்து பிரிவினைக்களைந்து செயல்படுகின்றார்கள்.
மனதிற்கு மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருக்கின்றது. கடவுளுக்கு நன்றி செலுத்துகிறேன்."
On learning that a new and beautiful church dedicated to St. Antony is being constructed in Thirunainarkurichi and is to be consecrated by the diocesan Bishop on the 13th of April, 2024, I am filled with happiness. I convey my appreciations to the parish priest, my good friend Fr. Leon S. Henson, the lay administrators of the parish, and the parishioners. I pray for all of you.
I was appointed the parish priest of Saral from 19/05/1985 to 14/09/1888. At that time, Thirunainarkurichi was the sub-station of Saral.
Mass would be offered at Thirunainarkurichi twice a week. The people belonging to this parish were found to be largely burdened with financial struggles and illiteracy. All the same, they were divided into two distinct groups. There was a fierce and prideful competitive spirit between these groups. There was no growth in the parish. Nor did the people have much desire to grow.
Liturgical celebrations would be be held in the old and small church building. Not everyone in the parish took part. Many women attended mass, but very few men did. This remained a lifeless sub-station. While attempting to draw up projects for the development of the parish, one group would express their support and inevitably the other group would express their opposition.
Owing to this, I could not effect any growth in the parish. The only things I managed to accomplish were the renovation of the sanctuary and the establishment of a dispensary.
Subsequently, Thirunainarkurichi was established as an independent parish. I was appointed here as parish priest from 20 September, 2001 to 12 May, 2002. My tenure here was less than a year. By the time I had visited the families, prayed with them, and had drawn up plans to improve their lives spiritually and financially, I was transferred again, and made the correspondent of the Morning Star Polytechnic College.
However, today, through the efforts of the parish priest Fr. Leon S. Henson, the parish has seen growth across various dimensions. There has been an uplift in the mindset of the people. Those leaders who were a constant source of opposition in the past have now faded away. Thirunainarkurichi is today the model of a well-functioning and growing parish in this diocese.
The people of this parish today work together in harmony, and have transcended the divisions that afflicted this parish in the past. This warms my heart and I give thanks to God.
Fr. A. Selvaraj,
Previous Parish Priest
1 March, 2024
Vianney Home,
Christhunagar