Rev. Fr. Albert D’silva
Parish Priest of St. Joseph Church & Friary, Lower Kasarkod.
St. Joseph's ChurchLower Kasarkod
Rev. Fr. Alfred Roche, the Capuchin Priest who built the Church at Lower Kasarkod while he was the Parish Priest resembled very much the saintly Padre Pio, is the ‘Servant of God’ and whose beatification process is on. Fr. Roche had also in him the saintly disposition. He has touched the lives of many in Kasarkod and surroundings with his prudent insistence, gentle push and spiritual counseling. Many a person was reformed on coming into contact with him.
The Capuchins arrived in Lower Kasarkod in 1975. Though a Church existed in this place for many years, its tiny structure and dilapidated condition prompted Fr. Roche to undertake the building of the new Church, foundation for which was laid on 1st May 1977. The Church dedicated to St. Joseph was the first one to be inaugurated after the inception of the new Diocese. It was inaugurated by our Bishop and blessed by Rt. Rev. Ignatius Lobo, Bishop of Belgaum on 30th April 1979. On 1st May every year the feast of St. Joseph attracts large crowds from all over North Kanara.
After Fr. Alfred Roche, other Capuchin stalwarts like Fr. Gregory Vaz, Fr. Walter Saldanha, Fr. Eugene Rebello and Fr. Peter Mendonca have served in this Church. Fr. Alfred Roche returned once again in 1987, this time to be the Superior of the Friary which was started at Lower Kasarkod and remained upto 1993. Fr. Mark Saldanha, the Parish Priest and Fr. John Harry D’Souza and Fr. Paul D’Souza are the other two Friars who render service to the people of Lower Kasarkod in the great tradition of the Capuchin Order. After Fr. Mark Saldanha, Fr. Valerian D’Silva, Fr. Paul D’Souza, Fr. Arthur Menezes, Fr. Denis Saldanha, Fr. Santan Gonsalves have served the parish in their own capacity. Presently Fr. Albert D’Silva, is the parish priest and Fr. Salvadore Fernandes, the assistant, are rendering their pastoral service at Lower Kasarkod.
No | Year | Name of the Priests |
|---|---|---|
01 | 1954 – 1967 | FR. RUDOLF MIRANDA |
02 | 1967 – 1975 | FR. KURIAN THERADI |
03 | 1975 – 1981
| FR. ALFRED ROCHE |
04 | 1981 – 1984 | FR. GREGORY VAS |
05 | 1984 – 1987 | FR. WALTER SALDANHA |
06 | 1987 – 1993 | FR. ALFRED ROCHE |
07 | 1993 – 1999 | FR. PETER MENDONCA |
08 | 1999 – 2005 | FR. MARK SALDANHA |
09 | 2005 – 2006 | FR. VALERIAN D’SILVA |
10 | 2006 – 2007 | FR. PAUL D’SOUZA |
11 | 2007 – 2010 | FR. ARTHER MENEZES |
12 | 2010 – 2016 | FR. DENIS SALDANHA |
13 | 2016 – 2022 | FR. SANTHAN GONSALVES |
14 | 2022 – onwards | FR. ALBERT D’SILVA |
