BELAGAVI
The new building of the centuries old Milagres Church at Khanapur, one of the oldest churches in north Karnataka which once had links to the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, will be inaugurated on April 16 at 10 am.
Described as an architectural marvel in the region, the new church building, constructed under the guidance of architect Peter D’Souza, will be inaugurated and blessed by Dr Peter Machado, the newly appointed archbishop of Bangalore.
Bishop of Sindhudurg Allwyn Baretto and provincial of Goa province Fr Roland Coelho SJ, will be present.
“Apart from priests, nuns and religious, about 6,000 people are expected to visit Khanapur town from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra,” said the Milagres Church Parish Priest Fr Augustine Fernandes SJ.
“The festivities will continue for three days as religious rituals of First Holy Communion and Confirmation for the children and the youth of Khanapur have been organized on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.”
Milagres Church, which was once part of the Goa Archdiocese, is also celebrating 75 years of the arrival of Jesuits in the Khanapur deanery.
According to church archives, scores of Goan priests, including Jesuits, have served the Milagres Church in Khanapur.
Records available from 1882 onwards reveal that Fr Caitan Mascarenhas, Fr Benedict Saldanha, Fr Clement Caciro were among the Goan diocesan priests who served in Khanapur till the Jesuits took over the deanery in 1943, when Fr Alexio Atansio Fransisco Vaz was the first Jesuit who was appointed as parish priest. Fr J J Fernandes, Fr Ubaldo De Sa and Fr Joe D’souza were among the prominent Jesuits who served in Khanapur.
However, contributions of Fr Edwin D’souza, who started the Sarvodaya High School with a boarding there in 1958, have been noteworthy.
Parish Priest Fr Augustine Fernandes, who was instrumental in building the new church, said the construction was a long awaited dream of the Catholics in Khanapur.
“The Catholic faith came to Khanapur some time around 1600 AD, during the time of arrival of the Konkani speaking Goan Catholics who had left Goa during Inquisition and under other adverse circumstances to settle on the upper ghats region from Khanapur and neighboring talukas.”
“The main Khanapur church was catering to the spiritual needs of Christians in and around Khanapur town, till it was bifurcated about 25 years ago. The old church building was in a dilapidated condition and there was urgent need to construct a new church,” Fr Fernandes said.
“We are also celebrating 75 years of the arrival of Jesuits here and the event on April 16 will be a double celebration,” Fr Fernandes added.
