Udupi Diocese News

About Location :

According to historian Prof Dr Gururaj Bhat, the name Pethri came from the St Pedro’s name. In Greek language, Pedro means ‘Petron’ and in Kannadi language ‘Pethr’. Hence the name ‘Pethri’ came into existence. 

The parish belongs to Kallianpur Deanery of Udupi Diocese.

Origin and Background :

Though St Peter Church, Pethri is celebrating its golden jubilee, its history is as old as before India’s independence. In 1784, on Ash Wednesday, February 25, soldiers of Tipu Sultan looted the church and demolished it. The huge church bell was given to nearby Shankaranarayana temple and Christians were imprisoned. In this attack, some people hid the sacred things and statue of St Peter in a nearby well. Later when Tipu Sultan was no more, some Christians who were released from the prison bought back the hidden items and kept it in Kallianpur Church. The items were later taken to Barkur Church. It was then decided to build a church in the name of St Peter. As a sign of martyrdom of the people of Pethri, the statue of St Peter retrieved from the well was blessed by Msgr William Lewis and brought in procession to Pethri in the year 1977. The bell that was given to the temple by Tipu Sultan still hangs in Shankaranarayana temple. According to an elderly person late Minis Mascarenhas the bell has a small sign of a cross on it. Though Tipu Sultan tried to destroy Christians, he could not destroy the faith of people and with this faith, Pethri Church celebrates its golden Jubilee.

Though Tipu Sultan destroyed many churches, they were rebuilt soon. As Pethri Church had less number of faithful, the church could not be rebuilt again soon. But the then assistant priest of Kallianpur Church, Fr Saba Fernandes, tried to unite people of Kolalgiri, Brahmavar and other places. At that time, Pethri was part of Kolalgiri Church. For the spiritual needs of people, priests used a private house to offer Mass. Later, a small tiled chapel was built. This chapel was there for many years and later used as a school too. Later, Br John Louis, son of Alex Louis from Uppoor panchayat, a religious brother, donated around 9.5 acres of land. When Fr Saba Fernandes was transferred to Brahmavar parish, Pethri Chapel too was given to Brahmavar. This church was given to Capuchin priests and the then priest of Brahmavar Church, Fr Roche and assistant priest Fr Apolinaris, strived hard for the development of the church. People still remember the efforts put by Fr Apolinaris for his work towards the church.

Formation of parish :

Fr Julian D'Mello was the first parish priest for the new church. This church building was inaugurated on May 19, 1968 by then bishop of Mangalore late Basil S D'Souza. On April 3, 1972, Msgr William Lewis was appointed as parish priest. He served for eight years giving much importance to catechism. Simultaneously, Robert Louis, brother of Msgr William Lewis, gave a helping hand in the development of the church. Msgr William Lewis retired in the year 1980. Fr Robert Crasta, the then principal of Milagres College, and assistant priest of Milagres Church was appointed as the parish priest of the church. He encouraged students, who were bright in studies but had financial difficulties, to study further. He also constructed a well and developed the environment and also planted 14 crosses in the surrounding to increase faith towards the cross.

On June 25, 1985, Fr Valerian Frank was appointed as the parish priest. He constructed houses for the homeless with the help of CODP. He started a youth group gathering youths of the church and also started the St Vincent De Paul group. On May 23, 1988, Fr Louis D'Souza took up charge as parish priest. He encouraged children to attend daily Mass. On June 4, 1993, Fr Wilson D'Souza, the then vice principal of Milagres College was appointed as parish priest. He renovated the church by spending Rs 3.5 lac. The church roof, cemetery, compound wall, grotto, stage, borewell etc were developed. The silver jubilee of the church was celebrated in great joy in his tenure. A new church bell was bought from Kallianpur Church and a new belfry was inaugurated on the occasion of church feast on February 8, 1995, by Fr Stany Pereira.

Fr Albert Menezes came as a new parish priest in the year 1995. He constructed the church compound and developed the church garden. Fr Edwin Cyril Mascarenhas took up the responsibility of the church in the year 1997. He built a new ‘Vanijya Sankirana’ for the church and it provides income till date. In the year 1999, Fr Alex Aranha was appointed as parish priest. He built a portico for the priest's house which helped to hold church meetings. Fr Prakash Cutinha became the parish priest for the church in the year 2001. He had keen interest in starting an English medium school. He was the director of YCS in Udupi area and he started the YCS group in the church. In the year 2005, Fr Victor D'Souza came in as the new parish priest. He planted coconut trees in the church compound and also constructed a new borewell for the church. In the year 2006, the foundation stone was laid for the new English medium school building and it was inaugurated in the same year on June 6. Due to the smaller number of students, it was difficult to run the school. This building is now used as a mini hall for church programmes.

In 2012, Fr Sunil D'Silva was given charge of the church. The young and dynamic priest soon became people friendly in the church. In the same year, the foundation stone was laid for the new presbytery. In the year 2014, a new presbytery was constructed with the help of kind hearted donors. Fr Sunil D'Silva encouraged youths and children. Fr Canute Barboza was appointed as parish priest in the year 2015. He undertook the work of the new church building and the same was inaugurated on December 20, 2016. In the year 2017, Fr Joseph Machado took charge as the parish priest. In the year 2018, the church faithful celebrated the silver jubilee of Catholic Sabha Pethri and organised an event at diocese level. On July 8, 2018, Catholic Sabha Pethri unit bagged six awards along with ‘best unit award’ for their service.

On May 6, 2018, the church golden jubilee celebration was inaugurated and various decisions were taken. Some of them are 15 new golden chalices for the priests, cushion for the bench kneelers, new hymn books, 50 new fiber chairs, CCTV cameras for the church surrounding, new computer, planting cashews and other trees in the church premises, scholarship for bright and economically backward children, and to increase the amount of health and education trust.

Golden Jubilee celebration of the Church

The St Peter’s Church Pethri celebrated its Golden Jubilee on December 10, 2018 with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass and grand felicitation programme.

The solemn Thanksgiving Mass commenced at 10:00 am with Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo as the main celebrant. He was assisted by Fr Wilfred Frank, Fr Wilson D’Souza former priests of the church , present Parish Priest Fr Joseph Machado, and other deanery and guest priests.

Following the solemn Jubilee and annual feast mass, the stage programme commenced at 11:40 am. The felicitation programme was presided over by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo.

Past and present ‘Gurkars’, Vice-presidents, Secretaries, Former Parish priests, sponsors and donors for the jubilee function were honoured on the occasion.

In his presidential address, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo complimented the parish priest Rev. Fr Joseph Machado and all the parishioners for organizing the Golden Jubilee Function.

Msgr Baptist Menezes Vicar General Udupi Diocese, Pramod Madhwaraj Ex Minister Govt of Karnataka, Fr Victor Fernandes parish priest Brahmavar, Sr Rose Florin Superior Brahmavar Convent, Fr Joseph Machado Parish Priest and others were present.

Parish Priests who have served the Parish since its inception :

1. Fr Julian D'Mello (May 19, 1968 - April 3, 1972)
2. Msgr William Lewis (April 3, 1972 - 1980)
3. Fr Robert Crasta (1980 - June 25, 1985)
4. Fr Valerian Frank (June 25, 1985 - May 23, 1988)
5. Fr Louis D'Souza (May 23, 1988 - June 4, 1993)
6. Fr Wilson D'Souza (June 4, 1993 - 1995)
7. Fr Albert Menezes (1995 - 1997)
8. Fr Edwin Cyril Mascarenhas (1997 - 1999)
9. Fr Fr Alexander Aranha (1999 - 2001)
10. Fr Prakash Cutinha (2001 - 2005)
11. Fr Victor D'Souza (2005 - 2012)
12. Fr Sunil D'Silva (2012 - 2015)
13. Fr Canute Barboza (2015 - 2017)
14. Fr Joseph Machado (2017 - 2023)
15. Fr Victor Gerald D'Souza (from 2023 onwards )

Compiled by Catholic Time Staff
Last updated in Dec 2020.

Related links : 

• About St. Peter Church, Pethri
• History of Our Lady of Miracles Cathedral, Milagres , Kallianpur
• History of Holy Family Church, Brahmavar
• History of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Kolalgiri
• 10-12-2018 - Udupi: Golden jubilee of St Peter’s Church Pethri celebrated with grandeur
• 08-12-2018 - Udupi: St Peter’s Church, Pethri set to celebrate golden jubilee on Dec 10
  
• 21-11-2018 - Miraculous wooden statue of St Peter the Apostle