Arch-Bishop Louis Mathias, sdb, D.D., the first Arch-Bishop of Madras-Mylapore, soon after the Independence, entrusted the Chengalpattu mission to the Salesians of Don Bosco in the early 1960s. The Salesians with St Joseph’s Church, Chengalpattu (now Cathedral) had Sacred Heart Church, Oragadam, as one of its substations and made the catholic population to grow in this region of the parish and Thirukazhukundram came under Oragadam parish. Mr Marianne and Ms Annammalthat belonging to Thurumbar community who migrated from Thuraiyur at Vedanthangal in early 1960s marked the beginning of the presence of catholics at Thirukazhukundram. Mr Savariappan and Ms Santhana Mary, their children and Mr Das and four siblings settled at MGR Nagar near Kothimangalam.  Then came the catholics Mr Rajagani and Mr Antony Dasan belonging to Nadar community in the early 1970s, from Trinelveli and Tuticorin, settled at Thirukazhukundram. Mr Rayappan, Mr Antony Madavadaiyan  Mr Soosaimuthu belonging to the same community, came in 1975 and Mr Maria Sesu and Mr Antony came in 1978. The property of 10 cents bought by Fr P M Joseph (Parish Priest of Oragadam) was shared by the church and sisters of Coimbatore Presentation. 

Mr Rajan, Block Developments Officer, sheltered the catholics in his home for liturgical services prior to the procurement of this piece of land. After his transfer, the liturgical services were held in the house of Mr Joseph Muthusamy and Ms Lilly. The ardent desire of these devout fervent catholics to have the annual feast of Mary Help of Christians (Patroness of the parish) got materialized on 9^th June 1980. Fr B Antony, who succeeded Fr P M Joseph as the Parish Priest of Oragadam bought a piece of land of 41 cents where a small place of worship was initially built by him and blessed by Bishop Lawrence Pius, D.D., the Auxiliary Bishop of Madras-Mylapore. Fr Augustine Nathan, sdb, came as the Parish Priest of Mary Help of Christians, Thirukazhukundram, as the first Parish Priest and built the present magnificent church dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and it was consecrated by Bp Neethinathan, D.D., the first Bishop of Chengalpattu Diocese (Bifurcated from Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore in 2002). Fr Augustine Nathan, sdb, was instrumental in giving shelter and identity to the Gypsies who were told to vacate their domicile under the foothill of the main Sivan temple.

Mr Gnanapragasam, the catechist for over 50 years was instrumental in joining hands with the Parish Priests in taking the faith to remotest of the villages braving odd weather and tough circumstances and hostile in certain period.

The youngsters are shown the importance of education. Now we have a youngster, son of Mr Sylvester and Ms doing Masters in London, Ms Jenie doing her Medicine passing NEET at Many youngsters doing Masters from the substations, two girls from Thurumbar community doing their integrated MBA prgramme in St Joseph’s Institute of Engineering and Technology on OMR.

Fr Bellarmine Fernando, sdb, Provincial of the Salesian Province of Chennai, appointed Fr Augustine Nathan, sdb, as the first Parish Priest of Thirukazhukundram. When the Diocese of Chengalpattu was erected the parish came under the Diocese of Chengalpattu. The present mighty Church was built and blessed by Most Rev Dr Neethinathan, D.D. (Bishop of Chengalpattu Diocese) on 26^th June 2000. Fr Balraj, sdb, Fr Jeffrey Gladstone, sdb, Fr Manayil, sdb, Fr Sathiaseelan, sdb, Fr Amalan, sdb, Fr Kuriakose, sdb, Fr Gnanamani, sdb and Antony Pitchaimuthu, sdb, were the Parish Priests before Fr Samson Raja, sdb, the present parish priest (May 2023 – May 2026). The Parish has St Thomas Church, Echur; Punitha Arokia Annai Aalayam, Pulikundram; Panimaiya Madha Aalayam, Mananmadhi; Paduvai Anthoniar Aalayam, Nerumbur; Lourdumadha Anbiam, Edaiyur as main substations. There are 155 families in all at present.