St Joseph Church, Jeppu, is one of the oldest churches of the Diocese of Mangalore. It is one of the unique churches in the city. It was built by the Jesuit missionaries and Rev Fr Augustus Diamanti was the architect.
History :
In 1875, during the time of Fr Paul, a catechumenate for converted girls and boys was built. In 1878 the Jesuits took over the diocese and also the administration of St Joseph's Seminary and the catechumenate. The neophytes had their first chapel, St Joseph’s Chapel in 1879 which is at present the parlour of Sisters of Charity at Infant Mary’s Convent. A new chapel was built in 1884 by Fr Augustus Diamanti, a part of which was occupied by the seminarians. St Joseph’s Seminary church, designed and built by Fr Diamanti was blessed on March 8, 1891. It was Br Moscheini who did the beautiful paintings of St Joseph, the Grotto and Our Lady of Lourdes and that of St Ignatius Loyola.
A Duchess from Austria donated the paintings of Sts Augustine, Monica, Ann, Francis Assisi and Thomas. The Seminarians and all the Catholic people staying around the seminary used the Seminary church. In 1950, when the congregation grew, the Academy Hall of seminarians was converted into a temporary chapel and kept open until the new chapel was opened on January 1, 1962 during the time of Fr Francis Xavier Rocca sj. St Joseph’s Seminary Church is treated as the parish church with the Rector as the parish priest having the parochial jurisdiction.
The Church is known for its artistic structures, paintings and statues. People in large numbers visit the church and express their high admiration for the aesthetic beauty of the Church.
Parish Priests who have served in the parish :
- Fr Francis Xavier Rocca sj
- Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza (2008 - 2011)
- Fr Nelson Prakash D'Almeida (2011 - 2018)
- Fr Clifford Fernandes (2018 - 2021)
- Fr Maxim D’Souza (from 2021 onwards)
(Complete list will be published soon)
Compiled by Catholic Time staff with inputs from dioceseofmangalore.com
Last updated in Dec 2021.
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