Loretto was once known as Panningila Padav. Since the neighbouring churches were dedicated to Infant Jesus and Holy Redeemer it was decided to name the parish after Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the name of Our Lady of Loreto was accepted by everybody. Loreto is a place in Italy. The catholics from here used to go to about 16 kms distant Bantwal church or to the Agrar church which was then known as Ponegol. They decided to have a chapel at Panningila. By a decree from Bishop Victor R. Fernandes, this parish came into existence on November 1, 1939. It was carved out of Bantwal-Modankap and Agrar parishes. Fr Charles P. Nazareth, the assistant of Agrar church, was the first resident parish priest. He used to come from Agrar in order to offer the Sunday mass at Loreto. He built a spacious hall serving as a chapel and a small presbytery on the land donated by the Bantwal parish in 1940. Fr Gerald R. Miranda (1950-1961) extended the presbytery in 1950.
Rev. Fr Alphonsus D’Cunha (1961-1971) started the construction of the church in 1963 and it was completed in 1972 by Rev. Fr Placid Pereira (1971-1981). Fr Pereira constructed the belfry in 1979. Padav and Sornad wards of Agrar were added to the parish on January 1, 1990.
The new presbytery was constructed by Fr Anthony Lobo, who became the tenth parish priest on May 25, 1998. It was inaugurated on May 23, 2001. He also renovated the church and beautified the campus with grottos and flower garden. During his tenure, the church celebrated its diamond jubilee on May 23, 2001.
Fr Cyprian Pinto became parish priest in 2005. He got the church renovated after undertaking projects worth Rs 3 crores including renovation of the church, new school building, Loretto mother hall, school ground, church main entrance and tarring of the church road.
Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore Diocese inaugurated and blessed the newly-renovated Church on April 30, 2010. Alex Menezes and Irene Menezes, entrepreneurs, arrived from Belgium to inaugurate the welcome arch of the Church.
The Bishop concelebrated the Eucharistic Mass along with Loreto parish priest Fr Cyprian Pinto and other clergy arrived from all over the diocese.
Bishop D’Souza also presided over the felicitation ceremony held at Our Lady of Loreto auditorium in the presence of Sr Lenita D’Souza, provincial superior, Ursuline Franciscan nuns; Fr Rocky D’Sa, deanery vicar and parish priest of Infant Jesus, Modankap; Former state minister and local MLA Ramanath Rai, Loreto parish priest Fr Cyprian Pinto and others.
Fr. Elias DSouza took charge as parish priest in 2014. Platinum jubilee of the church was celebrated during his tenure.
The concluding ceremony of the platinum jubilee celebrations of Our Lady of Loretto church was held on Sunday, February 15, 2016 under the leadership of Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore.
A holy mass was offered with the Bishop as the main celebrant, in the presence of several priests and thousands of devotees.
Mass was followed by a stage programme attended by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza, parish priest Fr Elias D'Souza , Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo , District In charge minister Ramanath Rai , former union minister Oscar Fernandes and others.
The church runs 4 schools, viz.,
1. Loreto Aided Hr Pry School established in 1911
2. St Andrew’s Hr Pry School, Sornad established in 1926
3. Loreto Eng. Med. School established in 2010
4. Loreto Eng. Med. High School established in 2011
Parish Priests who have served the parish:
- Fr Charles P. Nazareth (1939)
- Fr Gerald R. Miranda (1950-1961)
- Rev. Fr Alphonsus D’Cunha (1961-1971)
- Fr Placid Pereira (1971-1981)
- Fr Godfrey Saldanha (1981 - 1988)
- Fr Norbert Lobo (1988 - 1995)
- Fr Victor D'Souza (Sr) (1995 - 1998)
- Fr Antony Diego Lobo (1998 - 2005)
- Fr Cyprian Pinto (2005 - 2012)
- Fr Oswald Lasrado (2012- 2014)
- Fr Elias D’Souza (2014 - 2020)
- Fr Francis Crasta (from 2020 onwards)
(Complete list will be updated soon)
Compiled by Catholic Time Staff
Last updated in Dec 2020.
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