Holy Cross Church Donihalla
A Brief History of the Church
The Catholic presence in Holavalli Village dates back to the eighteenth century when people migrated in search of fertile land with water facilities for cultivation and irrigation. They moved from Chandavar, specifically from the St. Francis Xavier Parish area, located 20 km away. The settlers utilized the water of the Aghanasini River flowing from Siddapur Ghats for their cultivation.
Despite having a sizable Catholic population, the area lacked a chapel or a place of worship until 1960. At that time, Fr. Rahul Dsa from Chandavar Parish addressed this need by offering Mass in a small thatched pandal dedicated to The Holy Cross. However, this chapel was insufficient for the growing number of people, and the location was prone to flooding during the rainy season when the Aghanasini River overflowed.
In response to these challenges, Fr. L. M Lobo purchased 3 acres of land in 1967 and erected a chapel using granite stones. The priest conducted Mass once a week, but during the three months of the rainy season, no Mass was held. To further serve the community, a wooden Cross was erected on a nearby hill under the guidance of the priest. This wooden Cross was set up by boys grazing their cattle on the hill.
In 1986, during the tenure of Fr. Victor Crasta as the Parish Priest of Chandavar, the wooden Cross was replaced with a concrete one. The 3 acres of land, initially acquired by Fr. L. M Lobo, were officially registered in the name of his successor, Fr. Thomas Taora. Presently, Rev. Fr. Cyril Miranda serves as priest in charge.