Chittampatti is a fertile agrarian locality, in the fringes of Madurai District, 14 kms from the famous Bus Terminus, Mattuthavani, and 9.5 kms ahead of Melur, well connected to over 100 villages that surround. In the year 2015, under the provincialship of Rev. Sr. Magnificat Soosai fma, the then undivided province of Chennai (INM) envisioned a scope for ministry around this strategic spot on the Tiruchirappalli-Madurai National Highways 45B, and procured a land of three and a half acres. At a later stage after the bifurcation of the province of Chennai in 2017 into INM and INT (Province of Tiruchy), another piece of adjoining land measuring three acres was bought with the aim of starting Arts and Science College and annexed making the total land area at Chittampatti 6 acres and 39 cents.

Rev. Sr. Amalanathan Mary Margaret, the Provincial of Our Lady of Snow Province, Tiruchirappalli along with her council has taken forward the vision offered by Rev. Sr. Soosai Magnificat the former provincial and her council regarding a centre for higher education in the province. After a purposeful study of the locality of Chittampatti and investigating the real need of the people there, the Provincial and her council made the decision to open an Arts and Science College for Women. Chittampatti, a village surrounded by over 100 other villages, is home to hundreds of the poor young girls, marginalized and left behind by the mainstream society. The study related that this would be the only women’s college in the locality which would benefit the young girls.

The college building was completed in its first phase and blessed on February 13, 2022 during the occasion of the Province Gratitude day held at Chittampatti. The task of documentation and acquiring the needed recognitions to begin the Arts and Science College for Women was officially handed over to Sr. Vedamuthu Saveriammal, a Doctor in Commerce, with a rather rich experience of working at Auxilium College of Education, Regunathapuram for 8 years. Added to this fact, as Sr. Vedamuthu Saveriammal was then the Headmistress of Auxilium Hr. Sec. School at Sirudur, Madurai, she was thought to be the right person who would be able to mobilize the local collaboration and carry out the proposed project of opening of the college.

On March 30, 2022, the letter of Intent to begin the process of opening the Arts and Science College for Women at Chittampatti was issued from the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Chennai. With an abundance of graces and miracles, and an equal measure of hard work and diligent efforts, the documents were finally signed by the Minister of Higher Education and other appropriate officials on June 24, 2022, and the Government Order to start the College at Chittampatti, was received in hand on June 27, 2022. All praise and glory be to God and thanks to the intercession of Blessed Mother Help of Christians It was highly significant to receive the sanction or the order from the Government, signed on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and commemoration of Mary Help of Christians. Permission was granted for five UG courses: B.A. English, B.Sc. Mathematics, B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Com CA (Computer Application) and B.B.A.

On June 24, 2022, on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the new community at Chittampatti was erected with four pioneering sisters in the presence of the Mother Provincial Rev. Sr. Amalanathan Margaret. Rev. Sr. Vedamuthu Saveriammal was installed as the new Animator of the just-born community and the other sisters who formed part of the new community were Sr. Jebamalai Saleth Mary, Sr. Samson S. Gnana Jennifer and Sr. Joseph Kulanthai Theresa.

It could be seen as an exaggeration or a simplistic claim, but it is indeed an undeniable fact that there were miracles in abundance at the beginning of this institution. It has to be specifically noted that every special happening or every document that passed happened either on a 19 th or a Wednesday – days dedicated to St. Joseph; or they were the 24 th of the month, dedicated to our Blessed Mother Help of Christians!

On June 29, 2022, all pertinent documents, along with the G.O and required recognitions were submitted to Madurai Kamaraj University, applying for affiliation to the local university. On July 8, 2022, an Inspection Committee from Madurai Kamaraj University under the leadership of the Syndicate member Dr. Thangaraj and five Heads of the Departments corresponding to the five courses applied for, visited the college premises for an official inspection. The officials inspected the available facilities for their corresponding departments, met the faculty and inspected the library books available. The heading Syndicate member verified the infrastructure of the college building and the classroom facilities. The Mother Provincial and the Provincial Economer were present with the sisters of the community, expressing their solidarity and assistance at the all-important moment in the history of the institution. The inspecting officials were all satisfied with the arrangements made and on Wednesday August 3, 2022, the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar signed formally the order of affiliation.

The College was opened with a solemn ceremony on August 24, 2022 and the first historic batch of Auxilium Arts and Science College for Women at Chittampatti, Madurai was given a very warm welcome, as the Centenary Batch to mark the hundred years of FMA presence in India. 35 students were admitted on the day of the inauguration. And within a month 45 students were given admission for the first academic year.

By the mighty work of the Lord, it is certain that the Salesian charism which has taken root here shall illumine the future of girls from more than 100 villages that surround this institution, most of whom are first-generation learners, children from poor agrarian families. It has been, to say it summarily, an extraordinary journey thus far hand in hand with the Providence of the Lord, paving our way forward with Government recognitions and other official clearances to begin this college. That everything happened within a short period of just four months, is nothing short of a miracle, ably assisted by the hard and dedicated work on the part of Sr. Vedamuthu Saveriammal, and the backup of the Mother Provincial Sr. Amalanathan Mary Margaret. This history can never be forgotten in the glorious years to come, of this College.

An Extraordinary Blessing: The Visit of the Mother General Madre Chiara:

The short but lovingly sweet visit of Mother Chiara Cazzuola, the Mother General along with the General Councilor for Youth Pastoral Sr. Runita Borja and General Councilor for Missions Sr. Ruth del Pilar on 6 th September 2022, has to be seen for ages as an extraordinary blessing in the very first days of the College. The students prepared a colourful programme and the Mother General was taken up with the performances of the students and the warm welcome that she was extended. The Centenary Block, where the college functioned in the first academic year, was formally opened by the Mother General. The foundation stone of the new Academic Block was blessed by Fr James OFM and laid by the Mother General in the presence of Mother Provincial.

The grand entrance arch for the college was erected to facilitate the visibility of the college on the highway and attract admission to the Institute.

The ground floor of the new Academic Block was constructed and for the second academic year, another eight undergraduate courses that included Bachelor of Arts in Tamil, History and Economics, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Computer Applications and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Data Science and Analytics), Psychology and Microbiology were started with affiliation from Madurai Kamaraj University along with another three postgraduate courses namely Master of Commerce, Master of Science in Computer Science and Master of Arts in English. Four job-oriented skill-based diploma courses namely Beautician, Fashion Technology, Computer Application and Tally were also started on this Academic year. 177 students are admitted in the second year of inception.

The ground floor of the new Academic Block had its inauguration on 24 July 2023 in the presence of the Mother Provincial Sr. Majella Fernando and the Archbishop of Madurai Most Rev. Anthony Pappusamy D.D.

Auxilium Hostel was also opened for students from other districts to avail the higher education offered in this college and 20 resident students enrolled in the hostel.

A canteen with cafeteria was also set up to facilitate students and staff to refresh themselves during breaks. With all these developments in the current academic year, the mission has been carried out to provide higher education for the poor young women in rural areas.

This Mission just begun can already be envisioned as a great blessing to hundreds of poor and needy young girls, with the charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello illumining their lives. Sisters love and work, one in heart, mind and spirit, offering this Salesian charism to the young, all from the peripheries of the society.