St. Vincent Pallotti Church, Kadle

St. Vincent Pallotti Church Kadle

A Brief History of the Church

On 7th December 1997, our Bishop established a new Parish bifurcating from the main Parish of St. John the Baptist, Kumta and dedicated it to St. Vincent Pallotti, while entrusting the same to the Pallottine Fathers. Fr. Freddy D’Souza SAC was appointed the first Parish Priest and since then he has been taking care of the all-round development of the Parish consisting of four villages, namely Chitrigi, Plot, Kadle and Holangadde.
At present the religious functions/activities are being conducted in a small Chapel which is old and can hardly accommodate the increasing number of the Parishioners. In the systematic development and functioning of the Parish, the construction of the new Church is an urgent need. Thus, on 22nd January 2000, our Bishop blessed the Foundation Stone of the new Church dedicated to St. Vincent Pallotti which was laid by Fr. Freddy D’Souza SAC on 29th August 2001. The work of the new Church is in progress. The total number of families in the Parish is 74. Presently Fr. …………………….Is the parish priest.

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  • St. Vincent Pallotti Church KADLE, Holangadde- 581 351
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Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Deevalli

Our Lady of Lourdes Chruch Divalli

A Brief History of the Church

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  • Our Lady of Lourdes Chruch DIVALLI Santgal, P.O. Via Chandavar – 581 323
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St. Francis Xavier Church, Chandavar

St. Francis Xavier Church Chandavar

A Brief History of the Church

As the only Shrine and Pilgrimage Centre of the Diocese, Chandavar Parish has an eventful history. St. Francis Xavier Church, Chandavar, is a long-standing memorial to the great Saint, who is responsible for the faith up-bringing of the Christians in North Kanara. On 3rd December every year, all roads lead to Chandavar for the annual feast celebration.

The original Church of St. Francis is recorded to have been built in 1678 during the reign of Basappa Nayak, one of the Bednore Kings of the Keladi Nayak Dynasty. Being a great commercial centre and customs station, the present day Chandavar was once a flourishing town with many Christians in the 17th & 18th centuries. The decline of the population and destruction of the Church is attributed to Tipu Sultan who caused untold miseries to the Christians in the area by destroying the Church and taking the Christians into captivity by the end of the 18th century. The chronicles record that the Church at Chandavar was rebuilt in 1801, and a second time in 1874. But Christianity degenerated in this area and on January 31, 1897 it was included in the Mission of Kumta. Subsequently it was again made into an independent Parish on July 13, 1919. The existent old Church is a fruit of the untiring efforts of the great Goan Priest Fr. Sebastian D’Mello.

The Statue of St. Francis Xavier in the Church is supposed to have been brought and handed over by a fisherman from Mirjan, who was blessed with favours in his family after this “catch”! In 1934 Msgr. Joao Salvador da Veiga, the Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Church, Kumta, contemplating the difficulties of the people of North Kanara to make pilgrimage to Goa requested the Patriarch of Goa and obtained from him a relic of St. Francis Xavier which is now preserved in the Church and exposed for veneration on the annual feast day.

The old Church, though an imposing edifice, was judged to be beyond normal repairs. And so was built the new Church of Chandavar in the area adjacent to the old Church. The Church construction was painstakingly supervised and built with many liturgical

signs and symbols when Fr. Anthony Lopez was the Parish Priest. Though the Church was inaugurated on 26th May 1999, it was obvious that the construction work left much to be desired and so it was left to Fr. Denis Mascarenhas, the present Parish Priest to undertake extensive repairs of the Church. Fr. Antony Rodrigues (Jr), Fr. Francis Miranda, Fr. Salvadoore Gonsalves, have served the Parish. Fr. Faustine Furtado is the Present Parish Priest. The Chapels in the sub-stations of the Parish are: O.L.of Fatima Chapel (Madgeri) and St. Luke’s Chapel (Hebbankeri). The Masses are celebrated at least once a week in the sub-stations. It is heartening to note that the distance from the main Church, the non-availability of regular spiritual assistance or other inconveniences have in no way diminished their faith nor dampened their cultural fervour.

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  • St. Francis Xavier Church Chandavar – 581 323 Honavar Taluk Uttar Kannada District
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Our Lady of the Sea Church, Bankikodla

Our Lady of the Sea ChurchBankikodla - Gokarn

A Brief History of the Church

Twenty five years ago, a month before the new Diocese was born, Fr. E.A.S.Barros, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Sea Church was seated one evening outside on the verandah of his old Presbytery. From a distance he saw a tall Priest walking towards the Presbytery. Fr. Barros welcomed the tall figure and asked him who he was. The Priest answered “Fr. Barros, from 29th April, I shall be your Bishop!” Good old Fr. Barros was almost on his knees paying his respects to the bishop-elect of Karwar, Rt. Rev. Dr. William L. D’Mello, on his maiden visit to Gokarn! Fr. Barros spent thirty-four years of his Priesthood in this interior Parish, in those years when it was even inaccessible to the public. Prior to him, Fr. A. J. Saldanha of happy memories was also in this Parish (from 1941-1951)
There is a curious account of how the Church came to be named as the Church of Our Lady of the Sea. Sometime towards the end of the 19th century, a ship is supposed to have been caught up in a storm unable to reach the shore. It is then that they saw a wooden statue of Our Lady come floating by. They recovered the statue and vowed to build a Chapel if they succeeded in reaching the shore safely. They did, and the sailors are supposed to have built a small edifice to keep the statue, which was the first Chapel in a predominantly non-Christian area.
Gokarn, as is known to all, is a pilgrimage center for the Hindus. The old Chapel was blessed on 16.5.1886. The Bankikodla Mission was made a sub-station of the Kumta Parish. Bankikodla Chapel was raised to the status of a Parish on 30th Aug. 1951 with Fr. E.A.S. Barros as the first Parish Priest. Though subsequently the Church as also the Presbytery were repaired and renovated, a new Church and New Presbytery were considered necessary. The new Church was inaugurated in the year of the Diocesan silver Jubilee on 11th Feb. 2002, on which day is celebrated every year the annual feast of the Church. Fr. Thomas Misquith, Fr. Samuel Fernandes, Fr. Bruno Fernandes, Fr. Gnana Prakash Rao, Fr. Benedict Rodrigues, who supervised the construction the new Parish building, Fr. Stany D Cunha, Fr. Gabriel Monis, Fr. Stany D Souza have served the Parish. Fr. Joachim Monteiro is presently the Parish Priest of the Church.

Our Former Priests

No
Year
Name of the Priests
01
1951 – 1982
E.A.S. Barros
02
1983 – 1984
Fr.Thomas Misquith
03
1984 – 1985
Fr. Samuel
04
1986 – 1988
Fr. Egidious Monteiro
05
1988 – 1992
Fr. Bruno Fernandes
06
1992 – 1999
Fr. Gnanaprakash Rao
07
1999 – 2006
Fr. Benedict Rodrigues
08
2006 – 2012
Fr. Stany D’ Cunha
09
2012 – 2017
Fr. Gabriel Monis
10
2017 – 2018
Fr. Stany D’ Souza
11
2018 – 2025
Fr. Joachim Monteiro
12
2025 – Onwards
Fr. Joachim Furtado
  • Our Lady of the Sea Church Hanehalli, BANKIKODLA – 581 319 Uttar Kannada District
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Holy Rosary Church, Ankola

Holy Rosary ChurchAnkola

A Brief History of the Church

Towards the end of the 17 century, the Jesuits are supposed to have been the ones to have built the Church at Ankola, coming as they were from Anjediva, where they were already well established. This first Church was dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. By the end of the 18 century, at the time of the captivity of the Christians by Tipu Sultan, Ankola was already a flourishing town with a Catholic population of about 7000! The Ankola Church which was destroyed at the time of Tipu’s persecution, was rebuilt in 1801. In the monsoon of 1877, its walls came down. A new Church dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary was built and blessed on 18-12-1899, After the Catholic population dwindled the Church was made a sub-station and there was a time when Ankola was served by Priests from even as far as Honavar.
There are at present 56 Catholic families here. Of the Pastors who served in this Parish. Frs. A.J. Saldanha is held in revered memory as he was appointed twice to this Parish for a total number of about 30 years (1952-1961 & 1964 – 1985). The present Church was constructed in 1984. The Chapel that is dedicated to Infant Jesus Sunksal which is about 35 kms away from Ankola on the road to Yellapur was the sub-station of Sunksal where the. 33 families live in this area and priests from Ankola looked after their spiritual needs. Now Sunkal is made as an independent Unit with a resident Priest.
Fr. Pedro Vitorino B. Mendonsa, Fr. Clemento Caitano, Fr. Mariano Ciceira, Fr. Louis Caitan Apoline fernandes, Fr. Joao Gregorio Amario Gratias, Fr. P.L. Lima, Fr. Fr. Antonio J. Saldanha, Fr. Louis Lobo, Fr. Willie D’ Silva, Fr. C Almeida, Fr. Chrysostom Rodrigues, Fr. Bonaventure Rodrigues, Fr. Andrew Pinto, Fr. Wilson Fernandes, Fr. Michael Pinto, Fr John Abel D Souza served in the Parish. During the tenure of Fr. Michael Pinto New Church building was constructed. Presently Fr. Lawrence Pereira is the Parish Priest.

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  • Our Lady of the Holy Rosary ANKOLA 581 314
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Holy Cross Church, Shirwad

Holy Cross ChurchShirwad

A Brief History of the Church

Puneeth Sadan, the abode of holiness, houses the Holy Cross Mission, Shirwad. The proximity to the Railway station and shifting of sizable population from Karwar to Shirwad side has brought in more Catholic families to this side. The Mission has already about 60 families.
On 24th June 1988, Fr.William Rasquinha was appointed as the first Priest-in-charge. Makkeri is also part of the Shirwad Mission. It has a Chapel dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. The Chapel of Makkeri was renovated in 1996. Since 1999 Fr. David Pinto, then Rector of the Holy Cross Orientation Centre not only looked after the Spiritual needs of the Shirwad Mission but he saw that a new and a decent building came up due to his hard work. After him Frs. Jerome D Souza, Fr. Lazarus Miranda have served the mission. Presently Fr. Gabriel Monis is looking after the mission.

Our Former Priests

No
Year
Name of the Priests
01
2006 – 2010
Fr. Benjamin Dsouza
02
2010-2015
Fr.Thomas Misquith
03
2015- 2021
Fr. Jerome dsouza
04
2021- May 2023
fr. Lazarus Miranda
  • Holy Cross Church Shirwad, Karwar – 581 306
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Our Lady of Piety Church, Kone, Karwar

Our Lady of Piety ChurchKone, Karwar

A Brief History of the Church

The history of Our Lady of Piety, Kone dates back to the times when the Padroado Missionaries came here to look after the spiritual welfare of the Catholic settlers from Goa and a few local converts. A large part of the present Karwar town was a marshy place but as the place got filled up a township developed and more and more people came and settled here since Karwar became the district headquarters. The small Church which was the enlarged version of an earlier Chapel, was the Spiritual Centre of all the Catholics from Kodibag, Baithkhol, Sezwad to Kone until a separate Church was built in Kajubag to take care mostly of the government servants who were migrants from the Propaganda Jurisdiction in South Kanara.
The present Church building with its concrete pillars and beams is the first concrete building in the town of Karwar. The building that began somewhere in 1942 was completed and blessed in 1947 and stands as a monument to the determination, the spirit of sacrifice, the faith and self-respect of a people who were economically poor but not in spirit and mind. They contributed through kind, labour and cash, collected funds locally and in Bombay through donations, raffles and fancy fete. No help was received from the Church authorities at all – a great achievement indeed! Late Fr. S. Carvalho who came after the construction of the new building gave the finishing touches and put up the steps. He and Msgr. A. Gracias are remembered with love by people of the older generation for what they have done for them. 
After the reorganization of the Parishes in Karwar by the new Bishop in 1978 the Parish is reduced in area and number too. The total number of families is 120 and the total Catholic population is 450, quite a number of whom are old couples whose children have settled in Bombay or abroad. The Parish renewal that began with late Fr. A. G. Rego, an erudite scholar and pastor, continued by Fr. Anthony Lopez, Fr. Ambrose Fernandes, Msgr. Simon Tellis, has changed the attitude and ways of the people on the whole and it holds a great promise for the future. Fr Valerian Sequeira, Fr. Ireneus Dias, have served the Parish with vigour. Presently Fr. Edwin Paul D Souza is the Parish Priest..

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  • Our Lady of Piety Church KONE Karwar
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St. John the Evangelist Church, Chendia

St. John the Evangelist Church Chendia

A Brief History of the Church

The earliest known roots of Chendia Church date back to the year 1800 when the Church was at Ankola. The Priest from there used to come to offer mass and administer sacraments in one of the houses at Idoor (presently a vaddo of Chendia). Later a thatched hut was built there for this purpose. At the place where the present Church stands, stood a Chapel built 150 years ago. 
When in the year 1921 Binaga was established as a Parish, Chendia was looked after as its Chapel. Separate sacramental registers for Chendia are maintained from the year 1933 1965. In 1980 Amdalli was erected as an independent Mission unit and Chendia was administered from there. Fr. Henry D’Mello was appointed the first resident Priest at Chendia in the month of June 1991. The construction of this new Church began in that year. In June 1993 Fr. John Wilson took over from Fr. D’Mello. The new Church was blessed and inaugurated on 20.10.1993. After Fr. John Wilson’s transfer in May 1994, this Parish was again looked after by the Priest from Amadalli. Fathers Britto D’Silva, Marian Menezes, Fr Joseph D Souza, Fr. Urban Santhosh Fernandes, Fr. Peter D Souza, Fr. Gnana Prakash Rao, have served in this Church. At present Fr. Antony Rodrigues (jr) is in charge at Chendia Church.

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  • St. John Evangelist Church CHENDIA -581 324
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St. Anne’s Church, Binaga

St. Anne's ChurchBinaga

A Brief History of the Church

The history of St. Anne’s Church is quite an old one, having its origin to the Church of Our Lady of Brotas on Angediva Island. Ptolemy the Greek Scholar showed Angediva island on a map he prepared in A.D. 150. The Portuguese were the first European power to step on this island and inhabit it from 1498 up to 1961.

It is said that Vasco da Gama, on his way back to Portugal from Calicut, landed on this island on 29.9.1448 for repairs of his ships, collecting sweet water and buying foodstuff from nearby villages. Then again on 22.8.1500 Dom Pedro Alvares Cabral came with 1200 Portuguese men and the first Missionaries consisting of 8 Franciscans and 9 Diocesan Priests who evangelised 23 inhabitants of the island. At the instance of Viceroy Francisco de Almeida, the first Latin Rite Catholic Church, dedicated to Our Lady of Brotas (named after the sweet water spring – in Portuguese Brotas means a spring) was built in 1506. About 200 families were living on the island during this time. Interestingly the seed of Christian faith was sowed on this island even before the birth of St. Francis Xavier, who came to Goa in the year 1542. In the 16th Century, the Pope consecrated the Mother Church on the Angediva island by a special decree at the request of the Jesuits. The insignia of the decree can still be seen on the walls of the Church.

In 1682 Dom Francisco de Tavora Conde de Alvor reconstructed the Angediva Church in place of the old one. However the present Church building was built in 1729. After the liberation of Goa in 1961, the Church on the island was looted of its belongings including the bell. Fr. Bruno Fernandes, took the initiative and with the involvement of the Parishioners made certain repairs and painting and for the first time celebrated the feast on the island on 2.2.1983. Since then there was some activity on this island. Later on Fr. Kurian Therady, made great sacrifices to repair the Church as also the Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi. The present Parish Priest of St.Anne’s Church, Binaga continues the tradition started by Fr. Bruno Fernandes. Now the island is under the control of Naval authorities of the Govt. of India for the establishment of the prestigious Sea Bird Naval Base Project.


Initially the Church of St. Anne at Binaga was built in 1846 and was placed under the jurisdiction of Ankola. Later on it was rebuilt in 1897 and brought under the jurisdiction of Our Lady of Brotas Church, Angediva till about 1919. As per the baptismal records available in Binaga Church (from 1888), Fr. Antonio Joao de Andrade was the first resident Priest at Binaga. St. Anne’s was declared as a full-fledged Church in 1919 with Fr. Matheus Falcao as the Parish Priest.

The Binaga Church building being old and small, the need for a new Church was felt. The present Church, newly constructed, is the brain-child of Fr. Alfie D’Silva, in respect of its attractive design and the concept enshrined within its four walls. It was inaugurated and blessed on 11th May 2000. The Stations of the Cross with life-sized statues placed in the entire Church compound, as also the beautiful grotto in front of the Church give added impact to the palm tree landscape of the Church. This beautiful Church is already a landmark in the Coastal belt of Uttara Kannada, a place of pilgrimage and a tourist spot, a spot all must visit. Many vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life speak of the strong faith and moral fabric of the Parish. The Church at Binaga reminds of the rich tradition of the past and urges us to greater heights in the future. From the records available from 1889 till today 32 Priests have served this Parish. To name Fr. Antonio Joao Andrade, Fr. Eusebio D’ Sa, Fr. Estrocio Damian Cutinho, Fr. Santana Gabriel Braganza, Fr. Caitano Paul Mascarenhas, Fr. Paulo da Rosario Fernandes, Fr. Duarto Baretto, Fr. Santana Lawrenzo Pereira, Fr. Aniceto Nazareth, Fr. Minguel B. Pereira, Fr. Mathew Falcao, Fr. Caitano Ceceiro, Fr. Clement Caeiro, Fr. Natvidade D’ Souza, Fr. Joao Gratias, Fr. J.B. D Silva, Fr. Cyriac Mascarenhas, Fr. A.J. Saldanha, Fr. Alfred Roche OFM Cap, Fr. Ben Britto, OFM cap, Fr. Kurian Therady, Fr. Bruno Fernandes, Fr. Alphy D Silva, Fr. Britto D Silva, Fr. Antony Lopes, Fr. Francis Fernandes, Fr. Pascal Rodrigues, Fr. Bosteao Nazareth. Fr. Victor Dias is the present Parish Priest.

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  • St. Anne’s Church BINAGA - 581 307
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St. Francis Xavier Church, Amdalli

St. Francis Xavier ChurchAmadalli

A Brief History of the Church

The Mission unit of St. Francis Xavier, Amadalli had long been the sub-station of Ankola Parish and looked after by the Priest from there. It was raised to an independent Mission unit in 1980 and Fr. Ambrose Fernandes was appointed the first Priest-in-charge. There are about 85 families in this Mission unit, which is a close-knit Community. Lively in the participation of the liturgy and ever ready to be of service, the people of the Mission unit of Amadalli have given many a Priest areal satisfaction. The Priest-in-charge at Amadalli also looks after the sub-station of Aversa where exists a Chapel dedicated to St. Anthony. There are eleven Catholic families in the Aversa area.
After Fr. Ambrose, Fr. Bruno Fernandes has served this Parish from 1983-1988. The new Church at Amadalli saw the light of day when Fr. Gregory Almeida was the Priest-in charge. The Church was inaugurated on 05.05.1993. He was followed by Fr. Marcus Tauro, Fr. Valerian D’Souza, Fr. Navil D Souza, Fr. Bosco Rebeiro, Fr Britto D Silva built a new presbytery. Presently Fr. Lawrence D Souza is the Parish Priest.

Our Former Priests

No
Year
Name of the Priests
01
1980 – 1983
FR. AMBROSE FERNANDES
02
1983 – 1989
FR.BRUNO FERNNADES
03
1989 – 1994
FR. GREGORY D’ALMEIDA
04
1994 – 2001
FR. MARCUS TAURO
05
–
FR. NEVIL D’SOUZA
06
2001 – 2009
FR. VALERIAN D’SOUZA
07
2007 – 2009
FR. BRUNO FERNANDES
08
2009 – 2013
FR. BOSCO RIBEIRO
09
2013 – 2019
FR. BRITTO D’SILVA
10
2019 – 2025
FR. LAWRENCE D’SOUZA
11
2025 – Onwards
Rev. Fr. Peter Carneiro
  • St. Francis Xavier Church AMDALLI 581 324
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