St. Teresa's Church facade at golden hour

Est. 1912 · Archdiocese of Madras–Mylapore

A century of faith in the heart of Chennai.

St. Teresa's Church on Nungambakkam High Road is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish serving English and Tamil speaking communities with daily Mass, vibrant ministries and a rich heritage stretching back over a hundred years.

About the parish

A spiritual home on Nungambakkam High Road.

St. Teresa of Avila Parish is a historic Roman Catholic church in central Chennai. The parish traces its roots to a small chapel attached to the first Bishop's House in Madras, which served the faithful of Nungambakkam and Mackay's Garden.

As the Catholic community grew, the chapel was elevated to a full parish church around 1912. Today St. Teresa's is a spiritual home not only for local parishioners, but for the religious and faithful from across Chennai who gather here for Sunday services and the great feasts of Christmas, Easter and the New Year.

100+ Years as a parish
2 Languages — English & Tamil
15hr Adoration chapel daily

Mass & Sacraments

Come and pray with us.

Masses are celebrated in English and Tamil. Confessions are offered before major feasts and at scheduled times — please call the parish office to confirm.

Parish Church

Sunday Masses

  • 6:00 AMTamil Mass
  • 7:30 AMTamil Mass
  • 9:00 AMEnglish Mass
  • 9:30 AMChildren's Mass
  • 12:00 PMEnglish Mass
  • 6:30 PMEnglish Mass

Sub-station Mass on Sundays at 7:30 AM.

Monday – Saturday

Daily Mass

  • 6:00 AM Tamil Mass
    Monday – Saturday
  • 1:10 PM Tamil Mass
    Mon, Tue, Wed
  • 1:10 PM English Mass
    Thu, Fri, Sat
  • 6:30 PM English Mass
    Monday – Friday
  • 6:30 PM Tamil Mass
    Saturday

Morning Mass concludes by 7:00 AM.

Eucharistic Adoration

6:00 AM – 9:00 PM

A quiet chapel open through the day for personal prayer.

By appointment

Sacraments

  • Baptisms

    Please contact the parish office for registration and preparation.

  • Confession

    Before major feasts and at scheduled times — confirm with the parish office.

  • Weddings

    By appointment, following Archdiocesan guidelines.

  • Funerals

    Please contact the parish office for arrangements.

Devotions & Processions

Devotions through the year

  • St. Teresa Monthly Mass

    15th of every month — special Tamil Mass with car procession inside the church campus.

  • First Saturday — Mother Mary

    Special Tamil Mass with car procession inside the church campus.

  • St. Teresa Feast

    Celebrated on 15th October. Flag hoisting and flag lowering dates vary each year, but fall around the feast.

Vigils & Midnight Masses

Christmas, New Year & Easter

  • 9:30 PM English Vigil Mass
    Eve of Christmas, New Year & Easter
  • 11:30 PM Tamil Midnight Mass
    Immediately after English Vigil, same nights
Sanctuary interior with stained glass

Our story

From a bishop's chapel to a city parish.

For over a century, St. Teresa's has stood as a quiet witness on Nungambakkam High Road — restored, expanded and yet faithful to the small chapel where it all began.

Pre-1912
A chapel attached to the first Bishop's House in Madras serves the faithful of Nungambakkam and Mackay's Garden.
1911
Earliest baptism records of the community begin.
1912
Nungambakkam is established as a separate parish — the formal beginning of St. Teresa's.
1912–1929
The parish is shepherded by the Mill Hill Fathers.
1948–1953
Rev. Fr. R. Arulappa — later Archbishop of Madras–Mylapore — serves as parish priest.
2012
The parish celebrates its centenary with a restored and expanded church complex.
Dome

Be still

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

Community life

Find your place at the parish.

From the choir loft to children's catechism, dozens of small ways to belong, serve and grow in faith alongside the community at St. Teresa's.

01

Liturgy & Choir

Interested in joining our choir? We'd love to have you! Please feel free to meet and speak with any of our choir members after Mass for more information.

02

Youth Ministry

St. Teresa's Youth gathers young adults for retreats, service, and faith formation throughout the year. If you're interested in joining, feel free to contact any of our youth members after Mass for more information.

03

Catechism for Children

Sunday morning classes in both Tamil and English, followed by the Children's Mass at 9:30 AM.

04

Altar Servers

Training for altar boys and girls on Saturday evenings around 5:00 – 5:30 PM.

05

Small Christian Communities

Neighbourhood prayer groups that read scripture together and care for one another between Sundays.

From our community

Loved by parishioners & visitors.

A few kind words from those who pray with us — drawn from reviews left on Google.

"A beautiful, peaceful church right in the heart of Chennai. The Sunday English Mass is reverent and the choir is wonderful. I always leave feeling spiritually refreshed."

Anitha R.Google review

"Have been attending Mass here for over 20 years. The 6 AM Tamil Mass is a perfect start to the day, and the Adoration Chapel is a true blessing for working professionals in the area."

Joseph D.Google review

"The Christmas vigil and midnight Mass are magical. Lovely decorations, soulful singing and a warm, welcoming community. Highly recommend visiting at least once."

Maria S.Google review

"Such a historic parish with so much heritage. The priests are kind and the homilies are always meaningful. Catechism for our children has been a great experience too."

Vincent P.Google review

Visit & Contact

You are welcome here — whether for Sunday Mass or a quiet moment.

The church sits in a central commercial-residential neighbourhood, easily accessible from key landmarks across Chennai. Families, students and working professionals are all at home in the pews.

Address

New No. 5, Old No. 4,
Nungambakkam High Road,
Opposite Ispahani Centre,
Chennai – 600 034, Tamil Nadu

Diocese

Archdiocese of Madras–Mylapore

Adoration Chapel

Open daily, 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM