Rev. Fr. Alwyn J. Cardoza
Parish Priest St. Pedro Poveda Church, Shantinagar
Blessed Pedro Poveda ChurchShantinagar, Honavar
Shantinagar, the town of peace, certainly needed an abode of peace! The yearnings of the people of Royalkeri, Bandehalla and Belkond were realised in the form of a new Church, which was inaugurated on 25.4.2002. Since time immemorial these vaddos had been an integral part of the Honavar Parish.
The Teresian Association in Bandehalla had a role to play in the birth of the new Parish. Invited by the Bishop in 1977, the Teresian Association established the Society for the Advancement of Rural People of India (SARPI) on a piece of land donated by Mr. F. X. D’Souza of Bandehalla. Being a Lay Association, the members of the Association in their lay outfits endeared themselves to the people with development-oriented activities like non-formal education, Balwadies etc. For many years the SARPI hall was also used as a Prayer Hall for religious purposes. The Teresian Association also extended their services by making themselves available for running the Institute for the mentally retarded children of the District, at Bhatkal Cross in Honavar, which today has become a Model Institute for the whole district of Karwar.
It was natural that when Fr. Pedro Poveda who founded the Teresian Association was declared Blessed by the Holy Father in Rome on 10.10.1993, it was both a matter of joy for the Association members as well as the Christians in Bandehalla. Naturally, the fervour of the Association and the devotion of the people was kindled on finding a Patron for their Church. Karwar Diocese takes credit for the first Church in the world to be named after Blessed Pedro Poveda.
Bandehalla area was bifurcated from the Honavar Parish and culled into a new and independent unit with Fr. Valerian Sequeira as the first Priest-in-charge on May 31, 1998. Fr. Valerian left no stone unturned in his untiring efforts to build the new Church and Presbytery with the support of the people. After Fr. Valerian Sequeira, Fr. Navil D’ Souza, Fr. Navil Rodrigues, Fr. Francis Fernandes, Fr. Paul Sequeira. Fr. Alwyn Cardoza is presently the Parish Priest of the Church.
