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Madanthyar in Belthangady taluk, around 44 kilometres from Mangaluru is a beautiful village covered with rich vegetation.

History of formation of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church :

Agrar parish inaugurated in 1701 is one of the oldest parishes in the diocese. As the time passed by, the parish was split and several new parishes were born from it. The parish in Madanthyar is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was born in Agrar in 1887. It has become one of the important parishes in Mangalore diocese and has become mother for several other parishes offering social and spiritual services in the society.

Madanthyar was a large area of land. The land spread in 13 revenue villages in 90 square miles and people in it belonged to Agrar parish. They had to walk between 15 to 20 miles for their spiritual needs and to fulfil their Sunday obligations.

Priests from Agrar used to come here once in a year to meet the people. People from Madanthyar wrote to the bishop of Goa in 1886 requesting to construct a church here. A cemetery was constructed responding to the request. Parish priest of Agrar Fr Emilian Alexis D' Souza identified the land for construction of the church. Mangalore diocese later got bifurcated from Goa. Bishop of Mangalore Most Rev Nicholas Pagani handed over Madanthyar land from Agrar to the then Beltangady parish priest Fr Pascal Mascarenhas. A chapel was built in Madanthyar in 1888 where masses were offered. However, even after the construction of the chapel, people desired that Madanthyar should be a parish.

The boundary of Madanthyar parish was decided in 1889 and Madanthyar became an independent parish. Fr Rosario D' Souza was appointed as the first parish priest on March 16, 1889. As his term was of a few months, Fr Jacob Sequeira became the next parish priest. Kolkebail Francis D' Souza (Porsu Parbu) donated land of nearly 400 murras to the church and offered to raise the church with his own funds. The church was near the present Guardian Angel school. The construction of the church was taken up in 1890. The church was constructed in three years with help from several people and the generosity of Francis D' Souza.

The church devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was inaugurated and blessed by Most Rev Nicholas Pagani, Bishop of Mangalore on January 29, 1893. Fr Jacob Sequeira took 50 acres of barren land from the government which helped in the income to the parish. The land is still a part of important revenue for the parish.

The seventh parish priest Fr Denis D’Souza (1925-1942) bought some land for the new church and started the construction of the church and the presbytery.  The incomplete church and the presbytery were blessed by Bishop Victor Fernandes on May 7, 1940.  Fr Gasper Baptist Pinto (1942-1959) completed the presbytery and flooring work of the new church. The present new presbytery is built by Fr Charles Noronha (1994 - 2001).

There were nine wards and 244 families then. Later several families joined Arva, Nirkan, Beltangady, Venur, Badyar and Uppinangady parishes. The chapels under Madanthyar parish in Nainad, Nala and Gardadi became parishes.

However, there are still 3000 parishioners in 700 families spread in 22 wards.

Educational revolution in Madanthyar : 

Madanthyar is known for bringing an education revolution. The institutes from KG to PG reveal the result of hard work by the priests who served here, the religious people and the parishioners. The credit for sowing the seeds of education goes to Fr Jacob Sequeira (1890 - 1901).

There were no schools nearby. Many children were deprived of education. Fr Jacob Sequeira thought of starting a primary school. Jesuit priests who stayed in Mangaluru in 1879 used to go to distant Kudremukh during summer. As their journey was long and tiresome, they had built a Bungalow in Madanthyar to take rest for a day or two. As it remained vacant during the year, Fr Jacob Sequeira started a temporary school in it in 1898. The school continued till 1901 without help from the government. He tried simultaneously for government approval. As the priests who came later took special initiative, the number of children in the school increased day by day.

Fr Denis D' Souza (1923 - 1942) with his hard work and with the approval of the government upgraded the primary school as a higher primary school. Ursuline nuns opened their convent here and they extended their service in the school. Fr Denis D' Souza opened schools in Nainad and Gardadi.

Fr Ligory D' Souza (1972-1983) gets the credit for starting a powerful revolution regarding education in Madanthyar. Amazing developments have taken place during his long service of eleven years. Therefore, he is called the sculptor of Madanthyar. He opened PU College in 1981 and degree college in 1982 and tried hard to impart education for local children.

Fr Fred V Pereira (1983 - 1992) was the strong seaman who caused waves in the sector. He looked after all the educational institutes which were in their infancy and provided all the necessary facilities to make them attain the highest standards. His relentless service despite poverty and hardships has made the institutes reach immense heights.

Fr Charles Noronha (1994 - 2001) who realized the need for English medium school started it in 1997. 

The priests who came later have worked tirelessly for the institutes. Therefore, nearly 4,500 students receive education in them and 350 people work there for their livelihood. The schools have well equipped buildings with all the basic needs.

Educational institutes:

• Guardian Angels primary school
• Sacred Heart English medium school
• Sacred Heart high school
• Sacred Heart P U College
• Sacred Heart College
• Sacred Heart M Com College
• Sacred Heart boy’s hostel
• Maria Kripa girl’s hostel

Religious houses:

There are three religious houses here : 

• Asha Deepa, house of Carmelite fathers. Brothers who come to become Carmelite priests get training here.
• Don Bosco Salesian house, inaugurated in 1985 is providing excellent service in the parish and the school.
• House of Ursuline sisters trains girls who are becoming Ursuline nuns besides serving in the school and the parish.

Sacred Heart hostel and Maria Kripa hostel : 

As the educational institutes progressed and days passed by, students from far and wide got attracted towards them. Therefore, the parish opened boy’s hostel. Similarly, the Salesian sisters opened girl’s hostel. Large numbers of students are undergoing higher education here.

Sacred Heart community hall :

The hall that was built under the leadership of Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas (2010- 2017) is beneficial for all programmes in the parish and social occasions. It has all the necessary facilities and shines as a large building.

Current Parish Priest : 

Fr Basil Vas, the current Parish Priest (from 2017), Fr Alwyn D’ Souza, Assistant Parish Priest, and Fr Jerome D’ Souza, Principal, of college are offering creative, spiritual and social service. 

A beautiful shrine is built to develop the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Novenas to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are held every Friday. Several parishioners and devotees from elsewhere take part in it and derive spiritual benefit. 

Celebration of Post-centenary Silver Jubilee : 

Sacred Heart Church, Madanthyar celebrated its post-centenary silver jubilee with a grand event at the church ground on May 2, 2018.

The long-awaited event commenced with a Eucharistic celebration led by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore diocese who also presided over the ceremony. Dr William D’Souza, Archbishop of Patna; Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Bishop of Belthangady; Dr Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary; Dr Geevarghese Mar Makarios, Bishop of Puttur; Rev Fr Basil Vas, parish priest and hundreds of priests, religious and lay people graced the historical occasion. Nearly 4,000 people witnessed the event.

Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza also inaugurated the shrine of Sacred Heart of Jesus during this occasion.

Parish Priests who have served the Parish :

1. Rev Fr Rosario DSouza - 1890
2. Rev Fr Jacob Sequeira (1890 - 1901)
3. Rev Fr Rosario Louis (1901  -1903)
4. Rev Fr Joseph P. Fernandes (1903  -1906)
5. Rev Fr Aloysius E. Menezes (1906 - 1923)
6. Rev Fr Denis J DSouza (1923- 1942)
7. Rev Fr Gasper Baptist Pinto (1942-1959)
8. Rev Fr William E Vegas (1959 - 1972)
9. Rev Fr Ligory D'Souza (1972-1983)
10. Rev Fr Fred V. Pereira (1983 - 1992)
11. Rev Fr Alexander Lobo (1992 - 1994)
12. Rev Fr Charles Noronhas (1994 - 2001)
13. Rev Fr Herald Mascarenhas (2001 - 2005)
14. Rev Fr Valerian Frank (2005 - 2010)
15. Rev Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas (2010- 2017)
16. Rev Fr Basil Vas (2017 - 2023)
17. Rev Fr Stany Goveas (from 2023 onwards)

Compiled by Catholic Time Staff  with inputs from madanthyarchurch.com
Last updated in Dec 2023.

Related Links : 

• About Sacred Heart Church, Madanthyar
• ಮಡಂತ್ಯಾರು ಸೇಕ್ರೆಡ್ ಹಾರ್ಟ್ ಧರ್ಮಕೇಂದ್ರ ನೂರ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತೈದು ವರುಷಗಳನ್ನು ಸಾಗಿ ಬಂದ ದಾರಿ ....
• History of Most Holy Redeemer Church, Belthangady
• History of Most Holy Saviour Church, Agrar
• 04-05-2018 - Sacred Heart Church celebrates Post Centenary Silver Jubilee
• 30-04-2018 - Beltangady: Sacred Heart Church Madanthyar set to celebrate 125 years of existence