Udupi Diocese News

About location : 

The name ‘Manipal’ is derived from the word 'Mannu' means ‘mud’ and 'Palla' means ‘lake’ in Tulu Language. This lake due to which Manipal owes its name still has a pride of place in this university town. The city was once a barren hill with trees which came into forefront in the 1950s, when Dr. T.M.A. Pai, a doctor, banker, educator, industrialist and philanthropist transformed this barren hillock into a world-famous university town.

The place also has a religious significance as it is very close to Udupi which has been a very imperative pilgrim spot in India and is noted for the wide array of temples and Churches at its disposal. The great saint Madhava was born at Udupi in the 12th Century who set up the eight renowned Sanyasi Mutts in Karnataka.  

Christianity:

The Church of Nossa Senhora de Milagres now popularly called the Milagres Church, Kallianpur reveals the history of Christianity in Udupi District today. It was founded in the year 1678 after the treaty between the Portuguese and Queen Chennamma relict of Soma Shekara I of Bendore who ruled Kanara from 1671 to 1697. The Portuguese were allowed to build churches and factories in Mirjan, Chandavar, Honnavar, Bhatkal and Kallianpur. The Church was also granted Inam lands. The Christians here were emigrants from Goa who came seeking fresh fields and pastures new because of Insecurity and economic reasons. Goa suffered from famines in the years 1553, 1570 and 1582 with seasons of great scarcity. In 1570 Goa was besieged by Adil Shah to expel the Portuguese from India. Later, there were the Mahratta attacks in Goa in 1683. The inquisition in Goa also sent away some of the Christians adhering to Hindu practices. The Christians were lured by the promise of land and subsidy because of their industry and improved knowledge of cultivation.

It was for this community that the Portuguese Hierarchy of Goa planted the Church in 1678 in Kallianpur under the title of Nossa Senhora de Milagres, Kallianpur. Our Lady of Miracles is the Woman of the revelations of St. John, “And a great portent appeared in heaven, a Woman clothed with the sun with the moon under Her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars”.

During the period of the Keladi Nayakas, Kallianpur emerged as an important Christian settlement in South Canara.  The land on which the church exists today was gifted to the local Christians by Rani Chennammaji and Somashekara Nayaka.

Christianity in Manipal:

Today, Manipal is known globally and has become the abode of an International Community.

With the opening of the Kasturba Medical College in 1953, a few Catholic students arrived here.  Later when the Engineering College came up, the number of Catholic students increased.  They had to travel to Udupi to attend Sunday Service and to fulfill religious needs.  Most of them were non-Konkani speaking people and the service in Udupi Church was in Konkani.  It was Fr. Sylvester D’Souza, the then Chaplain of St. Cecily’s Convent, who realized the need for religious service in English.  When he approached Dr. T.M.A.Pai with the problem, permission was granted to him to conduct Holy Eucharistic Service on Sundays and other days of obligation in the Kannada Primary School, Manipal.  Such a service was celebrated for the first time on 12th July 1959.  Thus the Catholic Community of Manipal came into existence officially on that day.

Within a year, there arose the need for a Church in Manipal.  Fr. Sylvester moved from pillar to post to get some land at a convenient distance from the centre of Manipal.  Late Mr. R.M.Andrade, Convent View, Udupi was generous enough to donate 12 cents of land opposite to the English Primary School, Manipal to build the Church.  Even the foundation stone was laid at this site, but due to certain difficulties, an alternate site had to be obtained.  Overcoming all hurdles, he finally managed to get the present site of Christ Church, a two acre plot from the Government of Karnataka.

The plans for the construction of a Church were finalized and on Palm Sunday 22-3-1964, the foundation stone was laid.  Hoping for cooperation and liberal donations from the student community, their parents and well wishers from in and around Manipal and with trust in providence Fr. Sylvester went ahead with the construction.

Through the mediation of Mr. John, Mr. Sripapthy Acharya of Bharath Construction, Udupi, agreed to complete the Church Building without any advance payment.  Without his help, the building of Christ Church would not have been a reality.

The Church was inaugurated on 17th January 1967 by Cardinal Valerian Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay.

The Church was ready but the presbytery had to be built.  That work too was undertaken by Fr. Sylvester.  The building with six rooms and a kitchen came up soon.  Finally, from 1st May 1968 Fr. Sylvester took residence in Manipal.

Fr. Sylvester now dreamt of a Youth Centre for various activities of the youth of Manipal.  With a donation from the Propagation of Faith, the foundation stone of the Youth Centre was laid on 11th January 1970.  With the amount available and personal loans, Fr. Sylvester could complete the first phase of the Youth Centre Building.

In the meantime, the work of improving the two acre plot was undertaken at a considerable cost.  Just at this juncture, at the invitation of the parents and the old boys of Manipal, from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Fr. Sylvester went on a three month tour there.  On his return, the second phase of the Youth Centre Building was completed in December 1978. The Youth Centre was formally inaugurated on 3rd December 1978 by His Grace Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon, former Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Fr. Sylvester was transferred from Manipal on 26th May 1979 and Fr. Stany Tauro came to Manipal as the next Parish Priest.  Fr. Stany happened to be an ideal person in the midst of the Youth of Manipal.  He revived the Youth Centre.

Fr. John Mendonca took charge of this Parish as the Parish Priest on 14th May 1983, on Fr. Stany’s transfer to Fr. Muller’s Hospital as Asst. Director.  Fr. John built the community with diverse socio-spiritual activities.  It was during the tenure of Fr John, Christ Church completed the Silver Chapter.

Rev. Fr Walter D’Mello took over from Fr John in the year 1987.  The Parochial House and the Universal Counseling Centre is the result of his hard work.

Rev. Fr Harold Mascarenhas  succeeded Fr Walter in 1994. He dreamt of an English Medium School and made a small beginning. The Youth Centre swelled with students.

Rev. Fr Joseph Cardoza took charge from Fr Harold in the year 2001. Fr Joseph, a trained counselor revived the Universal counseling centre. Christ School, an English medium school under the State board came into existence.

Fr Francis Lewis succeeded Fr Joseph in the year 2008. The whole campus was given a new look. Christ School was upgraded from state board to central board. The infrastructure for the School was given a new look. The Church was renovated to accommodate more people. An Adoration Chapel was built to help people to spend more time with the Lord.

Due to the increasing number of parishioners in the community, the Church faced constraints of space especially during the Sunday congregation. Thus, a need for a bigger church was felt by the parish council and the parishioners. The foundation for the new Church building was thus laid on November 13, 2014 by Most Rev Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi.

Inauguration of New building of Christ Church, Manipal :

The new building of Christ Church at Manipal was inaugurated and blessed in a befitting ceremony on Saturday December 5, 2015.

Architect of the new church building Deepak D'Souza handed over the keys to bishop of Udupi Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, who in turn handed it over to Manipal parish priest Fr Francis Lewis, who then opened the main door of the church to symbolically inaugurate the building.

Bishop Dr Gerald Lobo led the mass, while bishop of Shimoga diocese Dr Francis Serrao delivered the homily. 

The plaque of the church was unveiled by main donors Hillary and Lorna Pinto, who also inaugurated the church corridor. Jerry Vincent Dias and his wife Molly inaugurated the grotto of Divine Mercy while Walter and Thelma Almeida inaugurated the grotto of Mother Mary and the fountain of Baptism was inaugurated by Julian and Cynthia Lewis.

During the formal stage programme, Udupi bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo led a prayer for the departed soul of Fr Sylvester D'Souza, the first parish priest of Manipal and acknowledged the services of other parish priests who served here.

Bishops Dr Gerald Lobo and Dr Francis Serrao along with the benefactors of the new church building were felicitated on the occasion. Parish priest Fr Francis Lewis was honoured by Cynthia, a senior parishioner, on behalf of the Manipal parish.

Blessing of Parochial House at Manipal :

Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo inaugurated and blessed the Parochial house of Manipal Parish on 27th December, 2020.

Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo celebrated the Holy Eucharist along with Rev. Fr Fredrick D’Souza, Parish Priest of Manipal; Rev. Fr Rolwin Fernandes, Asst. Parish Priest and Rev. Fr Chetan Lobo, PRO of Udupi Diocese. Rev. Fr Chetan Lobo preached a meaningful homily.

After the Mass, the Bishop inaugurated and blessed the Parochial house. After the blessing, a short felicitation program was held. Parish Pastoral Council members, Parishioners, 18 Commissions’ Coordinator, PPC Vice President and Secretary were present on the occasion.

Parish Priests who have served the Parish since its inception :  

1. Fr. Sylvester Dsouza (1968 - 26th May 1979)
2. Fr. Stany Tauro (26th May 1979 - 14th May 1983)
3. Fr. John Mendonca (14th May 1983 - 1987)
4. Fr. Walter D’Mello (1987 - 1994)
5. Fr. Harold Mascarenhas (1994 - 2001)
6. Fr. Joseph Alphonse Cardoza (2001 - 2008)
7. Fr. Francis Xavier Lewis (2008 - 2016)
8. Fr. Frederick D'Souza (2016 - 9 June 2022)
9. Fr. Romeo Francis Lewis (from 9 June 2022 onwards)

Compiled by Catholic Time Staff with inputs from christchurchmanipal.org
Last updated in June 2022.

Related Links :

• About Christ Church, Manipal
• History of Mother of Sorrows Church , Udupi
• 27-12-2020 - Blessing of Parochial House at Manipal
• 05-12-2015 - Udupi: New building of Christ Church, Manipal inaugurated
• 01-12-2015 - Udupi: New building of Christ Church, Manipal to be inaugurated on Dec 5
• 14-11-2014 - Udupi: Foundation stone laid for new Christ King Church in Manipal