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St. Antony's ChurchHeadbunder - Kumta

A Brief History of the Church

The Catholic Presence in Vannali Village is traced back to the eighteenth century on account of the commercial activity that flourished because of the main sea port at head bunder in Kumta Taluka Inspite of a sizeable catholic population in the area there was no chapel or place of worship till 1952. Under the leadership of Msgr. John D Da Veiga a cross was erected in 1952. In 1978 a Chapel was built and dedicated to St. Anthony. As the condition of the building got deteriorated over the years, it was rebuilt in the year 2004. Since then, “St. Antony’s Church, Headbunder, Vannali”, serves as an independent parish to cater to the spiritual and material needs of the people living in Vannali and nearby areas.

St. Anthony’s Chapel, Headbunder, which has a sizable Catholic Community was a part of the parish of St. John the Baptist Church, Kumta and was spiritually looked after by the priests of this parish. WHEREAS, as on 31 May 2009 Rev. Fr. Navil D’Souza was given independent charge of this Chapel in order to cater to the needs of people staying in the area. At the demise of Rev. Fr. Navil D’Souza, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Pereira was appointed to the place on 21 May 2013 who extended the Chapel as the population in the area was growing there was a suggestion made to make it a quasi-parish by clearly defining the area so that the people’s spiritual needs could be catered to better.

Rev. Fr. John Abel D’Souza

Parish Priest of St. Anthony Church, Headbunder
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Our Former Priests

No
Year
Name of the Priests
01
2009 to 2013
Rev. Fr. Navil D’Souza
02
2013 to 2019
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Pereira
03
2019 Onwards
Rev. Fr. Abel D’Souza