Rev. Fr. Santosh Noronha
Priest in Charge St . Joseph’s Church, Ambewadi - Dandeli
St . Joseph’s churchAmbewadi - Dandeli
The people in Dandeli are predominantly factory workers, labouring in one factory or the other. No wonder the Bishop thought of entrusting their cares and worries to the Patron of Labourers, St. Joseph the Worker himself, as he blessed and dedicated the new Church at Ambewadi on 1.5.1999. A Church in this area was a long felt need as the people mostly labourers, found shelter in some nook or comer on the periphery of Dandeli on the Barchi Road. And for these people the Church in Old Dandeli was really far.
Taking into consideration the consensus among the people and assessing their difficulties, the Bishop in 1992 deputed Fr. Lawrence Pereira to prepare the way in view of a new Parish. Fr. Lawrence initially built the Parochial house and then undertook the construction of the Church. The people offered their help and co-operation to Fr. Lawrence by way of labour and monetary contributions. Till the Church was ready, Sunday Mass was used to be celebrated in the St. Michael’s Convent High School Hall. The New Church building presents a beautiful view, the facade of which can be seen from a good distance. It is as if St. Joseph himself were invoking a blessing on this city of labourers. The Ambewadi Church was erected to the status of a Parish on 1.5.2000. Fr. Gabriel Monis, Fr. John Fernandes, Fr. Sebastian Pinto, Fr. Balajoji K. Fr. Gregory D Souza and Presently Fr. Santosh Fernandes is the parish Priest. was appointed as the Parish Priest on the same day.
