By Fr Pratap Naik

Kundapur, Oct 9: "Until I came in the picture with my research in early 1980's, everyone believed and officially recorded that Kundapur Church was built by Fr José Vaz (now saint) in 1681," Fr Pratap Naik narrates.

Fr Naik submitted his basic research paper to Mangalore Bishop Basil D'Souza and parish priest of Kundapur on the history of the Kundapur church. Soon after, directory of Mangalore diocese corrected the year of Kundapur Church establishment as 1570.

Going back to history, the Portuguese conquered Kundapur from Tolar king in 1570 and erected a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary. The Portuguese army was accompanied by three Jesuits one of them being Fr Juão Francisco Estaphanio who always marched ahead with a crucifix aloft encouraging the soldiers to fight.

The Jesuits were appointed as parish priests and assistant while one died during the battle. The Jesuits dedicated the chapel in the fort to Our Lady of Rosary and began their missionary activity as per their provincial's order which was then in Goa. A hospital was also started. The location of the chapel was near Halle Kotte in Kundapur.

In 1572, 12 Augustinian priests from Goa came to Kundapur and founded their convent. From Kundapur two youngmen joined the Augustinians. "I have a brief information of them. In 1574, many Catholic families from Goa settled down in Kundapur. Those days it was called Lower Barcelor. Later, I submitted whatever information i had with documents to my second cousin Roque Carvalho, who resides now at Tallur. He studied the documents and did further study and wrote a detailed article in English. It is an excellent article with a lot of historical information. For reasons unknown to me, Kundapur Church authorities did not publish it. I hope and pray that now the church celebrates 450 years of its presence, will take the initiative to publish his article as a historical document for posterity."

Fr Naik insists Carvalho's family members must write or approach the present parish priest Fr Stany Tauro and request him to publish it in English and if need be the Konknni translation too. Those interested to know the history of Kundapur Church could approach Roque Carvalho.

Fr Naik is the first Jesuit from Kundapur. His father's first cousin Valerian Carvalho had joined the Jesuits but left after philosophy studies. "I am glad and proud that I was born in Kundapur and baptized in Kundapur church. Moreover, I am proud that from the parish, which the Jesuits had started. I am the first Jesuit from the parish. I am proud that our Carvalho household served Kundapur Church for five generations as Sacristans and choir members. May Our Lady of Rosary bless us all. A Happy Feast of Our Lady of Rosary," Fr Naik wishes.