Media Release
Mangaluru, Jan 2: Marking a historic milestone in the religious life of the region, Holy Cross Chapel at Bellare was formally elevated as a parish on January 1. A solemn Eucharistic celebration was held on the occasion, presided over by Bishop of Mangalore Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, who canonically proclaimed the establishment of the new parish.
Solemn Eucharistic celebration
Dr Peter Paul Saldanha presided over the Holy Eucharist in accordance with Church rites and officially declared Holy Cross Chapel as a parish. The declaration was received with reverence and joy by the clergy and the faithful, who gathered in large numbers.
Post-Mass felicitation programme
Following the Mass, a felicitation programme was held. The bishop inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Addressing the gathering, he recalled that the Catholic faithful of Bellare earlier had to travel nearly 15 km to Panja Church to participate in liturgical celebrations and receive the sacraments. This pastoral difficulty led to the establishment of a prayer centre in Bellare, which later gained recognition as a chapel under Panja parish and eventually grew into a parish.
Very Rev Lawrence Mascarenhas, parish priest of Mai De Deus Church, Puttur, said a prayer centre had been established in Bellare 54 years ago and the time had now come for it to be recognised as a full-fledged parish. He announced that the bishop had declared Holy Cross Church, Bellare, as the 125th parish of the Diocese of Mangalore, stating that the new status would empower the faithful and strengthen pastoral outreach. He expressed gratitude to Rev Melvin D’Souza, parish priest of St Rita’s Church, Panja, and to the newly appointed parish priest Rev Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro.
Rev Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro welcomed the dignitaries and the faithful. Those present on the dais included Lancy D’Souza, vice president of the parish council of St Rita’s Church, Panja, and Sunil D’Souza, vice president of the Bellare parish council. Rev Melvin D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks.
Several priests from the region were present, including Rev Gerald D’Souza, Rev Santosh Menezes, Rev Alvin D’Cunha, Rev Marvin Lobo, Rev Balthazar Pinto, Rev J B Moras, Rev Abel Lobo, Rev Amit Rodrigues, Rev Paul Sebastian D’Souza, Rev Vijay Lobo and Rev Rithesh Rodrigues, along with religious sisters and a large number of faithful.
Historical background
The regions now comprising Panja and Bellare were originally part of the Kadaba Mission. With the arrival of Dr Peter Paul Pinto at Badyar, organised missionary activity began in Panja in 1932. His medical services and humanitarian outreach contributed significantly to the growth of early Christian settlements.
In 1933, Rev Peter D’Sa was appointed priest-in-charge and played a key role in providing pastoral care to scattered faithful. Recognising the hardships faced by the community, a small prayer shed was erected. With diocesan approval, the first permanent chapel at Panja was completed in 1953. Rev Albert G Nazareth was appointed the first parish priest in 1952, from where pastoral activities gradually expanded to surrounding areas, including Bellare.
Establishment of Bellare chapel
As the Panja Mission expanded, a Catholic community began to emerge in Bellare. In 1971, during the tenure of Rev Ligory Hilary Sanctis, the first Mass was celebrated at the residence of Benjamin D’Souza and Ignatius D’Souza of Palthady. A permanent chapel was later constructed on 3.29 acres of land under the leadership of the late Joseph Pinto and was dedicated under the patronage of the Holy Cross.
Infrastructure development
Between 2007 and 2014, during the tenure of Rev Santosh D’Souza as parish priest of St Rita’s Church, Panja, major infrastructure development took place. A clergy residence adjacent to the Bellare chapel was constructed between 2012 and 2014 and was inaugurated on May 23, 2014, by Bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.
Administrative autonomy and recent developments
On May 31, 2018, Bellare Holy Cross Chapel was granted administrative autonomy. Rev Peter Gonsalves was appointed as the first independent priest-in-charge. On May 22, 2019, Rev Sebastian Paul D’Souza was appointed parish priest. His tenure witnessed infrastructure development and the golden jubilee celebrations of the chapel in November 2021.
On May 16, 2022, Rev Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, Principal of St Philomena College (Autonomous), Puttur, was appointed parish priest. Under his leadership, the parish has witnessed steady growth in organisation, community participation and infrastructure.
New parish jurisdiction
In November 2025, Rev Melvin D’Souza and Rev Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro played a key role in establishing Bellare as an independent parish region. The jurisdiction of the newly formed Holy Cross Parish includes Belandoor and Peruvaje to the north; Balila, Kaniyoor and Charvaka to the northeast; Darkas to the south; Kalanja to the east; and Nettaru, Perlumpady, Palthady and Keyyur to the northwest.
The elevation of Holy Cross Church, Bellare, as the 125th parish of the Diocese of Mangalore marks the culmination of a long journey of faith, perseverance and community effort, ushering in a new chapter in the spiritual history of the region.