Location :
Church is situated at a distance of 35 kms to the north of Mangalore and 6 kms from Niddodi, and is surrounded by Ferar, Niddodi, Sampige and Kateel parishes.
History :
Bishop Victor Fernandes established this as an independent chaplaincy and named it Neerude and Fr James Sequeira, acting parish priest of Ferar, put up a building to serve as a chapel, which was inaugurated on January 20, 1945. The place to build the chapel was donated by the grandfather of Fr Ignatius D’Costa. It also served as a presbytery and school. Fr Joseph M. Lobo was the first parish priest.
The new church building, the foundation for which was laid in 1953 by Bishop Basil Peres, was constructed by Fr Lawrence V.M. Fernandes (1955-1968). The church dedicated to St Roque was blessed on April 19, 1960 by Bishop Raymond D’Mello. Fr Lawrence Fernandes bought two new bells from Germany and built the belfry, which was inaugurated on September 19, 1962.
Fr Lawrence Martis constructed the presbytery and also built the Golden Jubilee memorial open air stage in 1995.
Platinum jubilee celebration
The platinum jubilee celebrations of St Roque's Church were held on Friday, February 21, 2020.
Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of the diocese of Mangalore was the main celebrant for the thanksgiving Mass. Large number of priests, religious sisters and devotees took part in the Eucharistic celebration.
The formal stage programme was inaugurated by Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, who presided over the ceremony. Fr Mathew Vas, vicar forane of Kinnigoli deanery and Sr Cicilia Mendonca, provincial superior, Bethany Congregation were chief guests of the function.
Dr Narendra Rai Derla, professor, Government First Grade College Bellare, Ivan D’Souza, MLC, Joylus D’Souza, chairman, Christian Development Board, Mishal Queeni D’Costa, assistant commissioner, Mumbai Customs and GST, Fr Assisi Rebello, parish priest, and Fr Arun J Mendonca, assistant parish priest, were present on the dais.
Mishal Queeni, former parish priests, religious sisters, lay leaders and benefactors were felicitated on this occasion.
Parish Priests who have served in the parish :
- Fr. Joseph M. Lobo - First parish priest (1945)
- Fr. Lawrence V.M. Fernandes (1955-1968)
- Fr. Alfred John Pinto (1984 - 89)
- Fr. Lawrence Martis (1992 - 99)
- Fr. Archibald Albuquerque (2013 to 20-08-2014 till his death)
- Fr. Assisi Rebello (2015 - 2021)
- Fr. Alban Rodrigues (from 2021 onwards)
(complete list will be updated soon)
Compiled by Catholic Time Staff
Last updated in Dec, 2021.
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