Parish History
History of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
The first Beginnings
Penchar and the neighbouring villages of Kela and Phernodi of the Belthangady Taluk of South Kanara district were a part of the vast Parish jurisdiction of the extensive Parish of Holy Cross Church, Hospet and the Catholics of these places had to walk a distance of 12 to 15 miles to reach the Hospet parish to fulfill their religious obligations and duties. The Parish Priest of Hospet church Rev. Fr. Renjal a Goan priest thought it advisable to erect a separate chapel at Penchar.
The New Plot & Construction of Chapel
In 1882 an application was made to Government for grant of a plot for building a chapel in Penchar. The plot was granted in the name of Moshes Peres, the sacristian of Hospet parish, who handed it over to the Penchar chaplaincy in 1895.
The construction of the chapel was started in 1892 by the Parish Priest of Hospet, under the actual supervision of Very. Rev. Fr. B.Baretto, the Vicar Forane of Pezar. The building was built in laterite stones, with pillars, and the cost was borne by the mother church of Hospet and hence the people around were not taxed in any way except by way of sarties (voluntary labour). The building of the chapel was completed and dedicated to our Lady of Mount Holy Rosary.
Property for the Church
The funds of chapel having gradually increased owing to the zealous contributions of the people. In 1902 September 22, when Fr. J. Sequeira was the Parish Priest, a plot adjoining the church darkhas was bought from Diago D’souza who subsequently worked on the source as a Tenant. From January 11, 1904 the funds of the chapel were kept separately by the Parish Priest of Hospet. A second property worth Rs.500/- was bought on 21 July 1913, which fetched a little income to the chapel. Rev. Fathers Jacob Sequeira, Cajetan Pereira and Rosario Louis have contributed a lot to the development of Penchar as the Parish Priests of Hospet Church.
Request for a Resident Priest
Various petitions were made by the people of Penchar from the beginning for a catechist, a resident priest and also for subsidy to build a presbytery and sacristy. In 1912 in accordance with the communication of the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Corti S.J. of Naravi was giving spiritual assistance to the people of Penchar whenever needed.
A need for a elementary school was also felt with the view of imparting elementary knowledge to the children and school was started under the Patronage of St Antony. A small thatched roof in the church compound served the purpose. The school was recognized by the government in 1914. Though started enthusiastically, it grew slack, and slowly due to poor strength on rolls, the school automatically closed in 1925.
In 1917 Fr. Corti S.J. of Naravi was given charge of the Penchar chaplaincy pending appointment of a permanent incumbent. The zealous missionary willingly undertook this task in addition of his own, who was working with the new Christians and converts inspite of various hardships.
The appointment of first Parish Priest of Penchar
At last a permanent incumbent was found in the energetic Rev. Fr. Albert D’sa, the then Assistant of Shirva Parish, who took charge of the newly constructed of Chapel of Penchar on 14 May 1922. The good-willed minister of God Fr. Albert D’sa worked heart and soul to raise spirituality and temporality of the status of his parishioners and effected the untold good in the distant and neglected portion of, the once large parish of Hospet. Neither there was a residence for the Parish Priest nor did the chapel had a sacristy. In the midst of the wild growth and owing to dampness a lot of Church articles were damaged. Fr. D’sa built a sacristy which served a double purpose, it being also the residence of the Parish Priest.
The choice of Shirthady
In spite of various improvements and other good, the suitability of Penchar was always felt to be questionable. Naravi was 2.5 miles away and considering the boundary of the parish, Penchar was another corner and was not central. Besides its inaccessibility owing to the want of a proper roads, and the location is so to say in the midst of wild jungle growth and which was covered by all sides by water and its forlorn appearance all tended to the idea that a more suitable place was desirable. Fr. Albert D’sa who grasped the situation and who would realize very well, the sort of life meant in that place, conferred a boon on himself and his successors, when he made a move in the right direction. As early as 1925, he represented the matter to his superiors who falling in with his ideas, proposed to the Parish Priests of Karkal, Hospet, Taccode, Penchar and Naravi to hold a meeting in the Traveller’s Bungalow at Moodbidri on 30th September 1925 to consider the advisability of shifting the Parish headquarters from Penchar to the more central locality known as Shirthady.
This first attempt on the part of Bishop Perini did not seem to have immediate result. Nevertheless the new idea is required some time to get matured because the Shirthady ward was under the jurisdiction of Taccode. In 1926 on April 3 the Apostalite Administrator for the Diocese Bishop Paul Pereni S.J. issued a decree of modification of the boundary of the Parish of Taccode, assigning Shirthady ward to Penchar Parish. With the said decree, the ground for the proposed parish of Shirthady was prepared. The Parish union of the Diocese of Mangalore got alienation condition from the government commanding a plot on the roadside on the Moodbidri Naravi road. His Lordship, the Bishop personality inspected the locality and was highly gratified with it.
The construction of Parochial House at Shirthady
As a new beginning, the foundation stone for the residence of the Parish Priest was laid in Jan 1927. On 26 January 1927 Bishop Perini announced that Shirthady, Moodbidri & Naravi would be erected as distinct units and that cooperation was needed to arrange everything to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. Everything was prepared the demarcations fixed by the Very. Rev. Fr. Gregory D’souza, Vicar Forane of the Varado (central) who had been deputed for the work by H.L. the Bishop. The converts within the territories of the respective parishes were entrusted to the care of the Parish priests.
The proposed house and the prospective parish of Shirthady met with much opposition from the Penchar parishioners especially of those close to the Church. It meant a blow to their cherished idea of having the church close to their dwellings. With a little tact and persuasion of the Parish Priest they came to realize the situation. About Rs.1000/- were spent from the church funds which proved far from adequate to construct a decent parochial house and the kitchen. The parochial house was built on 5th June 1927. From that time onwards the parish priest was offering mass occasionally in the new house, and he was staying for the most of the time in the new residence. Meanwhile the erection of Shirthady into a separate parish was being slowly arranged.
Shirthady Parish erected
His Lordship the Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. V. J. D’souza put his seal on the works of his esteemed predecessor and issued the Decree of Erection of Shirthady into a Parish on 8 December 1928, while at the same time adjusting and modifying the boundaries of Hospet, Taccode, Karkal and Paladka, erected Moodbidri and Naravi into separate parishes.
The Construction of the Church Building at Shirthady
With the erection of the parish at Shirthady the church at Penchar was dismantled and everything was shifted to the new place. The foundation stone of the building of the new church was laid on 1st January 1929. The building rose pretty high, but owing to the incompetence of the mason contractor, it collapsed with several of its arches. It was a heavy loss to the infant parish and a severe blow to the enterprising Parish Priest whose purse was severally taxed and he had to makeup with all his resources to have the work taken up again. The Bishop showed great sympathy in distress and Divine Providence did not fail in the good cause. The remnant building was dug up and the foundation stone for the second time was laid on 30 September 1929 by Rt. Rev. Msgr. V. R. Fernandes, the Vicar General. The day commemorated a double event, for it was on that day, four years before, that the idea of erecting Shirthady in to a separate Parish was mooted. It being also the day on which the Little Flower St. Theresa of the Child Jesus passed to her eternal reward. Hence with the rise of the building, the devotion to the Saint Theresa surprisingly grew, owing not a little to the zeal of the Parish Priest. There is annual votive feast celebrated in her honour, with great devotion and solemnity, by the people which testifies to the confidence they have in this wonderful Saint.
The building rose up quickly, Fr. Albert D’sa sacrificing himself in every way and contributing all he had to see the church completed soon. The Bishop gave a helping hand and a few benefactors came to his rescue. The people on the whole being poor, contributed about Rs.800/- by voluntary contribution, for no general tax was levied or imposed upon them. They contributed much by way of Sarti or voluntary labour manifesting their enthusiasm and joy in having a church nearby. Owing to the fact that the land was granted to the church through the Parish Union on alienation rules, the Government frequently reminded and sent officers to see whether the Church was built within the stipulated time and the conditions fulfilled. Hence the building could not be delayed on any score. The church was roofed in May 1931. The following month Fr. D’sa worn out by the fatigue and worry on account of the incessant attention to the work and more on account of the procuring of the requisite funds, went on a month’s leave.
But, Providence so arranged it that the Parish Priest of Hospet, Rev. Fr. J. M. A. Vas having departed this life on 15 July 1931, the Parish Priest of Shirthady Rev. Fr. Albert D’sa was deemed the fittest person to fill up the vacancy at Hospet and accordingly he was appointed to the Parish by the Rt. Rev. V. R. Fernandes, the Bishop –Elect. The last act of Fr. D’sa was to have a mission preached to the people here. He left Shirthady on 16 August 1931 and on that very day the Rev. Fr. John G. Pinto took charge of the Parish.
The new Parish Priest Rev. Fr. John G. Pinto
In October 1931, the work of the Church was resumed. The Altar was to be constructed first and then the plastering of the sanctuary. By the end of 1931 the plastering of the interior of the church was completed, the interior floor was bricked. The sacristy of the Church was plastered in December 1932 and also some small additions were made. The main attention of the of the new young and zealous Parish Priest was turned towards the conversion of the pagans in the parish and the care of the converts made by the missionaries of Naravi & Penchar. Fr. Pinto on his own initiative started a school for the Adi- Dravidas on 1 September 1931 in a place called Kashipatna where there was formerly a Labour Department School. As the work of the converts progressed successfully the need of a catechist was felt and therefore the Bishop was approached with a request which was granted willingly in February 1932 when a Catechist was assigned to Shirthady who attended exclusively to the converts and was very useful to the missionary Parish Priest of Shirthady in his work for the conversion of the pagans.
In May 1933 the portico was added in front of the Church. The same month H.L. the Bishop came here on a mission tour when a good number of the converts came to pay their respects to their Pastor and a few 80 in number received the Sacrament of Confirmation. On the 16th of February 1934 the station of the cross were erected in the church.
Blessing of the New Church Building
The church was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel on express desire of Bishop Valerian Fernandes on 17 April 1932, the new church was Blessed by Bishop V.R. Fernandes. After the Blessing of the church Bishop thanked the people for their interest and support in building the church. The then Vicar General louded the efforts and arduous labours of Fr. Albert D’sa to whom the Shirthady parish and church owed its existence.
Holy Angels School
In 1932, the school that was at first opened for the Adi-Dravidas in Kashipatna Village was transferred to Shirthady and was formally opened here on 24 October 1932. It has continued ever since and has been well patronized though it was recognized many years after its opening. The Educational Department refused the recognition because of the Board School in the vicinity. But it confirmed however as per H. Lordship’s directions to give the elements of education in the Rs. 3 to the children who attended this missionary school. On 27 March 1937 the manager sent an appeal to the Director of Public instructions, Madras, intimating him the wrong done to the school by the District Educational Council in refusing the recognition and requesting to meet out justice to this institution. As a reply the Board School of Shirthady was abruptly closed at the end of October of that very year by the Government.
In the meantime, the enthusiastic Parish Priest Fr. John G. Pinto after working with great zeal for the good of the souls both Catholic, Converts and pagans for a period of 5 years, 8 months and 29 days was appointed as the missionary Parish Priest of an extensive parish of Belthangady where there were many more occasions and opportunities to utilize his talents for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. In his place Rev. Fr. Francis X. D’souza was appointed and the new incumbent took charge of this Parish on 13 May 1937.
The New Parish Priest Fr. Francis X. D’souza (13.05.1937 to 16.05.1949)
Soon after the closure of the Shirthady Board School, Rev Fr. Francis X. D’souza sent an application for recognition was made in November 1937 and having employed a sufficient number of qualified teachers, another application was made in February 1938. The Educational Department being fully satisfied granted at last the temporary recognition to the Holy Angels School on 15 July 1938, the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In the month of March of the following year, one more application was sent to obtain the permanent recognition of the school with the V standard also; and all this was granted by the District Educational Office on 13 May 1939, on its last meeting day. Thus this school which was opened in October 1932 continued through long and difficult years of strenuous existence at last became a complete Lower Elementary School.
In August 1938 a mission was preached to the Parishioners by the Rev. Fr. Antony Noronha the Parish Priest of Bellore. It was well attended. With the help of some of the Parishioners working in Bombay and Ghats, the Good Friday evening Passion ceremony was introduced from the year 1938. In May 1939 a few repairs to church facade were added which protected it from much dampness. In order to give more spiritual facilities to the youth of the youth of the Parish, it was necessary to introduce the Sodality movement among them. Accordingly two Sodalities of the Blessed Virgin Mary one for young men started in 31 December 1939 and other for girls started in 29 December 1940 with the proper authorization of his Lordship the Bishop of Mangalore. In April 1940, the Bishop came for the Pastoral Visit and was quite satisfied with the ordinary and progressive life of the Parish.
On 3 August 1939 an decree of this Lordship a considerable portion of the St. Joseph’s ward was added to the St. Victor’s Mission and parish which was newly opened at Nellikar and about 25 families of Kellaputhige and Panapil were handed over to the new Parish of Nellikar. The missionary work in the Parish was continuing as before with the sufficient help of the Catechist who had to visit the converts every week in order to teach them, baptize their dying infants, bring them to the church and also to settle their various difficulties and quarrels. There were also a few baptisms now and then of pagans chiefly in articulo mortis. But in September 1940 during the time of war, the subsidy to the mission of Shirthady was reduced to Rs. 15 from Rs. 42 which of course necessitated the removal of the Catechist. Naturally the missionary work from that time has not been as successful as it was before. Yet, it continued as far as it was possible to the Parish Priest with the help of some Sodalists and baptizers in the wards of the Parish.
The School Building
Although the school was recognized by the Government yet there was not a proper building to conduct the different classes satisfactorily. It was held for some months in the portico of the church and also in a small house near the Church. Hence a decent building was essential for the efficient working of the school. The plot of land in front of the church compound, which was reserved for the deprived, was applied for in June 1939 as a site for the school building. After much enquiry and long delay ½ an acre of that plot was granted on alienation condition in April 1941. On 8 September the same year the foundation stone for the school building was laid by the Parish Priest in the presence of the people that came for the Feast of the B.V. Mary. The new structure rose up gradually and within ten months it was roofed and plastered interiorly. The founder and the First Parish Priest of Shirthady was invited to bless the school which he Very Rev. Fr. Albert D’sa did a solemnly Blessed on Sunday 12 July 1942 before a large congregation of Catholics and Hindus of the surrounding villages. From the very next day all the classes were held conveniently in the spacious and well ventilated new building.
Parochial events
A retreat was preached to the people in August 1942 by the Rev. Fr. Albert V. D’souza, Parish Priest of Giri. All the people attended it and reaped much fruit which was displayed by their regular attendance at Mass on Sundays and their prayers at home. In April 1943 the new belfry was constructed for which the parishioners contributed their mite. H.L., the Bishop came again to Shirthady on 15 March 1944 on his Pastoral visit of the Parish. On that occasion the Sodality of the Altar Servers was established in the Parish and the Bishop himself blessed the medals and put the ribbons on 12 chosen boys of the parish who were trained properly to serve Mass devoutly.
In December 1944, the whole Parish of Shirthady with untold joy and rejoicing celebrated with all possible solemnities the Silver Jubilee of Rev. Fr. Albert D’sa the originator of this Parish and to whom the Parish owed its existence to a great extent. Thus, the poor people of the Parish showed in action their deep gratitude and reverence to their Founder & Benefactor. Fr. Albert D’sa ,Fr. John Pinto & Fr F.X. D’souza graced the occasion and on that occasion a group photo was taken of the people with their three different Parish Priests as a souvenir of this Silver Jubilee.
In 1945 a well was sunk in the school compound at the expense of the Parish Priests exclusively which is used for the Children, school garden and many a neighboring family in summer.
Another Mission was given to the Parishioners in August 1946 by the eloquent preacher Rev. Fr. A.M.L. D’souza, the Parish Priest of Hospet and the people not withstanding the bad whether came in large number to hear the impressive sermons of the preacher. The Very Rev. Fr. E. D’souza, the Vicar Forane of the Central Varado came here on Monday 12.4.1948 to do the Canonical visit of the Parish, for the first time in the history of the Parish.
Ursuline Sisters at Shirthady
The school was recognized, the decent building was put up, but for many years there was not an efficient, permanent qualified staff to teach in the school. Hence the tone of the school was not up to the mark. The Inspecting officers were continually reminding the management to employ the necessary qualified staff in the school. Owing to the great inconvenience and other adverse circumstances of the locality no trained teachers from outside, agreed to join the school staff here. However the school went on for some years with many drawbacks and considerable loss to the manager. This state of affairs could no longer continue; so it was decided to approach and invite a Religious Congregation to start a convent in Shirthady so that they may take up the teaching work in the school. Accordingly with the approval of the Bishop the Very Rev. Mother General of the Ursuline Institute at Mangalore was approached and after going through the usual formalities a joint agreement was signed both by the Mother General and the Parish Priest of Shirthady on 17 April 1947 with the endorsement of the Bishop. Consequently, four Sisters of the Ursuline institute came over here on 1 May 1947 and opened their house in a small residence which is called as “Madonna Convent”, near the school and Church. It is hoped that a great deal of good will be effected by their teaching in the school, by their prayers and labour in the Parish among the converts and pagans.
Fatima Celebrations
The Pastoral visit of the Parish took place from 25 to 27 February 1949. A few days later Shirthady was a scene of very solemn festivities in honour of Our Lady of Fatima. The statue was received with very great solemnities at the Konaje river. There were seven Rev. Fathers and about 2000 people both Catholics and non – Catholics, 4 bands and all other external ceremonies. The three following days were of great devotion in the Parish. On Tuesday, 8 March the whole Parish was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The first Parish Priest of this Parish, Fr. Albert D’sa preached on three days on the Voice of Fatima and encouraged people to say the daily Rosary without fail. Fr. Alvares of Naravi preached in Tulu the first day to an enormous congregation at the junction near the shop. The whole function was a grand success. May Our Lady bless the Parish and the Parishioners in abundance.
After working here for full 12 years and three days in this Parish Rev. Fr. F.X. D’souza was transferred to Omzoor and Rev. Fr. Edwin Castelino took the charge of this Parish on Monday 16 May 1949.
The new Parish Priest Fr Edwin Castelino (16.05.1949 to 09.9.1949)
The stay of the new Parish Priest was very short. Being a good painter, he painted a large picture of St. John Berchmans and presented it to the Church. The present set up of St. Therese’s altar was also his work. Before coming to Shirthady, Fr. Edwin Castelino having been on the seashore for 16 years at Thottam, he found it difficult to go on in this malnad area. At this request he was transferred to Brahmavar and Rev. Fr. Rosario Fernandes took charge of this Parish from him on 9 September 1949.
The new Parish Priest Fr Rosario Fernandes (09.9.1949 to 12.05.1961)
Rev. Fr. R. Fernandes has the Elementary school upgraded for Higher Elementary school in 1953 and started another Elementary school at Anegudde. It had the Church roof repaired and the façade plastered with cement. He constructed a new Portico for the church. He also added a new room with upstairs to the old Parochial house, and repaired the roof of the house. Rev. Fr. P. Pereira took charge of the Parish on 12.5.1961.
The new Parish Priest Fr Placid Pereira (12.05.1961 to 01.5.1966)
He constructed a grotto in 1962 and put up a new altar, and a new gate in front of the Church.
Rev. Fr. Mark Fernandes took charge of this Parish from him on 1.5.1966, on which day the new enlarged Portrait of late Rev. Fr. Albert D’sa the first Parish Priest of Shirthady Parish was unveiled.