Sivagangai Parish Commemorates Founding French Jesuit Missionary

Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, Feb. 28, 2026 — Parishioners of Thiruvarangam Parish in the Diocese of Sivagangai observed the memorial day of Fr. Steph Laporte SJ, affectionately known as Mudiyappar Swamy, whose pastoral ministry laid the spiritual and developmental foundations of the village. The observance marked the second year of a formal thanksgiving held on February 25, the anniversary of his passing.

Born in 1837 in France, Fr. Laporte came to India as a Jesuit missionary and served as the first parish priest of Thiruvarangam for two decades. During his tenure, he established the parish church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and played a decisive role in shaping the faith life and growth of the local community.

A Living Legacy of Faith

The faithful of Thiruvarangam continue to express deep gratitude for Mudiyappar Swamy’s spiritual and social contributions. Each year on All Souls’ Day, parishioners gather at his grave in prayer, and his name is remembered first among the departed during family Requiem Masses.

Following the construction of a memorial in his honour last year, villagers instituted February 25 as an annual day of thanksgiving, strengthening collective remembrance of the missionary priest regarded as the starting point of the parish’s history.

Fr. I. Arul SJ led prayers at the memorial, recalling the enduring love and gratitude of the faithful. Parish Priest Fr. M. R. Jesu, Fr. Sagayam, Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Francis Paul MIC, and Fr. Arockiasamy paid homage by garlanding the memorial and offering floral tributes.

Remembrance Rooted in Mission

Reflecting on the significance of remembrance, the parish priest drew a biblical parallel to the Lord’s instruction to Moses and Aaron to observe a perpetual memorial, noting that Mudiyappar Swamy remains permanently etched in the hearts of the people. He described the evolution from individual acts of honour at the priest’s grave into an organised annual thanksgiving as a visible sign that the faith he nurtured continues to flourish across generations.

Faith, Vision, and Spiritual Heritage

During the Holy Mass, Fr. Arockiasamy highlighted that Mudiyappar Swamy personally drew the early layout of the village, carefully designing its streets. While acknowledging the village’s present growth, he emphasised that its enduring foundations were laid through the vision and dedication of its first parish priest.

He urged the faithful to pray not only for Mudiyappar Swamy but also for all successive parish priests who contributed to the region’s development, affirming that the faith handed down by earlier generations remains a greater inheritance than material wealth.

The liturgical celebration witnessed the participation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (Amalavai) and the Leuca Sisters serving in the parish. Cultural expressions formed part of the observance, including a traditional Kummi dance performed by local women to a song narrating the life of Mudiyappar Swamy. The composition, written by Samu, leader of the St. Cecilia Choir, received warm appreciation from the assembled faithful.

Sivagangai Parish Commemorates Founding French Jesuit Missionary

Latest News