St Rita Church, Cascia is located near Morgan's Gate bus stand in Mangalore city. The church is dedicated to St Rita, "Saint of the impossible" who is adored worldwide especially in Cascia, Italy.
Cascia church was established in 1935 under the stewardship of Monsignor F X Fernandes, former assistant parish priest of Rosario Cathedral. The church came into existence with the inclusion of a few wards from Rosario and Jeppu Bappal to serve the local parishioners effectively.
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Monsignor F X Fernandes served at Cascia parish for 34 years (1935 - 1968) till his death, and his mortal remains were buried inside the church, in honour of his relentless labour and missionary work. It was he who built the Roman style mighty and magnificent church building. He took over St. John's Kannada medium school for boys, founded the St. Rita Kannada medium school and also the Cascia High School. The christians and non-christians have benefited and received good education from these schools.
This parish serves areas like Jeppu Market, Morgan's Gate, Mahakalipadpu, Jeppu Bappal, Marnamikatta and Nandigudda etc. After Msgr. Fernandes, over the years, many parish priests have served this parish and have left their mark by building school facilities and other expansions. The Mangalore Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza too was one of the parish priests from 1988 to 1995.
During the preparation of its Parish Platinum Jubilee, the then Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Vincent Victor Menezes with the help of the parishioners and the good will of donors, had the church building renovated. He also renovated the Belfry giving it a new, magnificent look and also re-built the parish hall. The renovated church was inaugurated by Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, at 10.00 am on December 6, 2009.
Cascia High School Founder’s Day celebration and Platinum year inauguration
On December 3, 2020, Cascia High School celebrated Founder’s Day and the inauguration of Platinum Year.
Fr Eric Crasta, parish priest and correspondent of the school welcomed all the dignitaries. The secretary of Catholic Board of Education Fr Anthony Shera presided over the programme. BEO of Mangalore South Rajalakshmi , Headmaster of the school Everist Crasta, Swami Raghuramanandaji, Swamiji of Ramakrishna math and others were present.
Parish Priests who have served the parish :
- Monsignor F X Fernandes (1935 - 1968)
- Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza (1988- 1995)
- Fr Denis D'Souza (Sr) (1995 - 2002)
- Fr. Cyril D'Souza ( ... upto 2007)
- Fr Vincent Victor Menezes (2007 - 2014)
- Fr Harold Mascarenhas (2014 - 2020)
- Fr Eric Crasta (from 2020 onwards)
(Complete list will be published soon)
Compiled by Catholic Time staff with inputs from dioceseofmangalore.com
Last updated in Dec 2020.
Related Links :
- About Cascia High School
- History of Rosario Cathedral
- History of St. Joseph Church, Jeppu
- 14-01-2023 - Cascia High School, Jeppu Celebrates Platinum Jubilee
- 03-12-2020 - Cascia High School celebrates Founder’s Day, inaugurates Platinum year
- 02-12-2009 - Mangalore: Renovated St Rita Church, Cascia to be inaugurated on Dec 6
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