CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER
Udyavar P.O. - 574 118
Udupi District
TELEPHONE: 52 2052
EMAIL: richard@vasnet.co.in
LOCATION: This church is situated at a distance of 58 kms from Mangalore and 2 kms from Udupi and is surrounded by Katpadi, Kalmady, Moodubelle and Pangla parishes.
PARISH PRIEST: Rev. Fr Richard Coelho
CATHOLIC POPULATION: Total : 2,790 Male : 1,301 Female : 1,489
NO. OF CATHOLIC FAMILIES: 431
NO. OF PARISH WARDS: 14
HISTORY:
Formerly Udyavara was a part of the Kallianpur Milagres church. In 1863 the Archbishop of Goa granted permission to build a church at Udyavara and gave a resident missionary priest. A temporary shed and a lodge for the vicar were built at Chemburkad. Fr John Lewis Marian D’Souza of Bardez, Goa, became the first vicar. As the place was soggy, Fr R.F.C. Mascarenhas bought a plot of land in 1908 and constructed the church building. It was blessed on January 6, 1909 by Bishop A Cavadini sj. The Graeco-Roman style edifice is said to be a marvel in this region. Fr Gregory Lobo, the third parish priest after Fr Mascarenhas organized choir with Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass singers. Fr Denis Coelho renovated the church. Fr Stanley Pereira constructed a chapel at Bolargudde in 1993. Fr Richard Coelho is constructing the new presbytery.
Mr Leo R. Pereira, began a school in 1881 and adminstered it upto 1918. On March 20, 1918 it was haded over to St Xavier’s church. Fr Gegory Lobo constructed a spacious new school building in 1924.
Fr Casimir Fernandes secured the management of Bolje (Belle) St Anne’s Elementary School, Pithrodi Model School and Polipugudde St Anthony Elementary School. Permission to educate non-Catholics in these schools was obtained on June 30, 1950 by Fr Casimir D’Sa. Fr Thomas D’Souza, who became the vicar in 1979, started the High School in 1982 at the completion of 100 years of St Francis Xavier Higher Primary School.
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