Pointe aux Sables - Ste Marie Madeleine Parish and Chapel Past, Present and Future Pointe aux Sables, a seaside resort and fishing port on the western coast, not far from Port-Louis has been caught in a wind of change for the last decades. The changes are the results of two determining factors associated with an important movement of urban population to newly created residential zones in Pointe aux Sables and with the impact of industrialization on the profile of economic activities there. During the Dutch occupation Pointe aux Sables was called “Saand Baay”. Under the French occupation the area was known as “Baie du Sable”. By the mid-eighteenth century the area was called “Pointe de la Plaine aux Sables”(1753 de la Caille map). Gradually it came to be known as Pointe aux Sables. The inhabitants of Pointe aux Sables are the Sablipointeaux, would say Alan Le Breton, Mauritian poet and novelist, in the same way as the inhabitants of Fontainebleau are the “Bellifontains” Ste Marie Madeleine Parish and Chapel humble beginnings. The first parishioners of Pointe aux Sables sought to the Immaculee Conception Church for all their pastoral needs. The first parish council was held at the villa of the Nalletamby family and on Sundays, all parishioners attended the religious service at the villa of the Laure family. The construction of Ste Mare Madeleine chapel began in 1968 and Father Nalletamy was the first parish priest until 1978. On the 29th June 1969 the Sainte Marie Madeleine parish chapel at Pointe aux Sables was officially inaugurated. Parish Priest and Friars 1968 to Dec 1978 - Father Louis Nalletamby Dec 1978 to Easter 1984 - Father Jean-Louis Mollet assisted by Fr Claude Duprez and in Oct 1980 by Fr Guy de Clerval. 1984-2nd semester - Father Paul Richard SJ, assisted by Fr Claude Duprez, Fr Guy de Clerval Fr Antonio Ah Yoon. 1985-1st Semester - Father Andre Gonthier MEP 1985-2nd Semester - Father Edward Janathan SJ 1986 - Father Edward Janathan SJ Oct 1986 Fr Daniel Govndasammy from Reunion island lived and worked in the parsish. 1987 - whilst Father Edward Janathan was on holiday leave, Father Jean Alleaume was the new parish priest assisted by a number of Fr Auxilieres During the same year the church extension in length was built. 1988 - Father Jeganathan 1989- Father Antoine Boulange SJ May 1989 - New church wing inaugurated by Cardinal Jean Margeot. 1990 - Father Antoine Boulange 1991- Father Antoine Bougange till Sep 1991 Apr 1991- Fr Daniel Govindassamy passed away. Oct 1991 to Oct 1992 - Father Jean Louis Mollet 1992 - Father Pierre Friquin assisted b Fr Guy Clerval till Sept 1993. 1993 - Father Pierre Friquin 1994 - Father Pierre Friquin assisted by Fr Claude Duprez 1995 - Father Pierre Friquin assisted by Father Joseph VIOT MEP and Fr Daniel Milazarre. 1996 - Father Pierre Friquin assisted by Father Joseph VIOT MEP and Fr Daniel Milazarre. 1997 - Father Pierre Friquin assisted by Father Joseph VIOT MEP and Fr Daniel Milazarre. Oct 1997 - St Mathieu church being built 1998 - Father Pierre Friquin 1999 - Father Jacques Henri David, Father Maurice Feuilherade, Father Andre Bancilhon Present Father Jacques Henri David Parish Chapel and its Future The current chapel has proudly served its parishioners for the last 4 decades. In spite of the number of repair works carried out to the chapel and its adjacent quarters over the years to cater for a growing population and increasing number of organisations attending weekly meetings, church services, some areas have now become beyond repairs and may be a health hazard to the parishioners. The construction of a new church is expected to begin in early 2014. The parishioners have over the last few years activitely seeking funds from all potentials donors. Fund raising events continue to be carried out by the parishioners. A task force has been set up in March 2013 to monitor the construction of the new church. All the parishioners and the Parish Priest of Ste Marie Madeleine are grateful to all potential donors. The new church will meet the demands of the current generation and generations to come.
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 16:21:36 +0000
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