Kundapur is known as Barcelore in History. Holy Rosary Church of Kundapur is very ancient and is the oldest church of Udupi district. This church has a rich history of 450 years. This was founded by the Portuguese in 1570. The first Holy Rosary church is in Kote Bagilu. Gradually, the place was shifted and was built at the present location.
The Portuguese had arrived in Kundapur in the year 1542. Later, they established a church here. The documents of this church were found in Goa as per which this church has been confirmed to be the oldest church.
This church is the second oldest church of undivided district of Dakshina Kannada. The first is the Rosario Cathedral of Mangalore which was established in 1568. There was no church in the province of Karwar before 1570, when the church at Kundapur was built.
The devotion towards Our Lady of Holy Rosary in this church that was built by the Portuguese , was continued by the priests that came from Goa as well as the local devotees. Earlier, the limits of this church extended far.
The first Indian to be nominated as the parish priest is Fr Joseph Vaz of Kundapur. Many miracles have taken place in his name. He was given Sainthood by Pope Francis in the year 2015. He was the first Indian of Konkani background to be elevated to this position. Another priest had personally seen him floating in the air when he was serving here, during the time he was meditating. This is one of the miracles to have happened in Kundapur church. Many other miracles have also happened in this church.
Recently, various development works have been undertaken here and the statues of Mother Rosary and St Joseph have been installed here.
450th year celebration of Holy Rosary Church
The celebration of 450th year of the inception of Holy Rosary Church was held on Thursday October 7, 2021 in a grand manner during the tenure of parish priest Fr Stany Tauro.
The high Mass was offered by Bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo. Bishop of Shimoga diocese Dr Francis Serrao delivered the homily. Vicar general of Udupi diocese Fr Baptist Menezes, parish priest Fr Stany Tauro and other priests of Udupi diocese co-celebrated the mass with the bishops.
Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo presided over the stage programme held after the mass. Bishop Francis Serrao, Vicar general Fr Baptist Menezes, Parish priest Fr Stany Tauro, assistant parish priest Fr Vijay J D’Souza , Kundapur town municipality president Veena Bhaskar Mendon, Apostolic Carmel Karnataka Provincial superior Sr Maria Shamitha and others were present.
Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop Francis Serrao, Veena Bhaskar, parish priests of the church, principals who served in St Mary’s educational institute, nuns and donors were felicitated on the occasion. A souvenir book about the 450th year celebration of the church was released on the occasion.
Parish Priests who have served in the parish :
- Fr Stany B. Lobo (1994 - 1998)
- Fr John Baptist Crasta (1999 - 2005)
- Fr Antony Diego Lobo (2005 - 2008)
- Fr Alban D'Souza (Sr) (2008 - 2012)
- Fr Anil D'Souza (2012 - 2018)
- Fr Stany Tauro (from 2018 onwards )
(Complete list will be updated soon)
Compiled by Catholic Time Staff
Last updated in Dec 2021.
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