06/08/2019
Syro-Malabar faithful started their migration to North Bangalore in 1950s around Yelahanka region where the Air Force and BSF stations are located. Many of them joined hands with other Christian Catholic communities which resulted in er****on of two Catholic Churches in Yelahanka under the Archdiocese of Bangalore. Both the Churches were erected by MSFS congregation and the services at both the Churches were in Latin rite.
With the new airport location chosen in Devanahalli in 2008, the settlements in Bangalore North increased rapidly which also increased the number of Syro-Malabar faithful in the area. The conscious believers in Syro-Malabar community struggled to travel around 15 kms to attend the nearest churches for a Mass of their rite, while the rest resorted to nearby catholic churches of different rites. The Archdiocese of Bangalore, while taking over the MSFS congregation run Latin Churches in the area in 2011, favoured a decree allowing MSFS to provide religious services to the syro-malabar community in North Bangalore.
The MSFS congregation thus began Sunday evening Mass in Syro-Malabar rite at Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Yelahanka. Fr.Jollychan O’ Praem of Mananthavadi Norbertines from St. Augustine Church, Marinahalli made selfless efforts in getting the Syro-Malabar faithful assembled together during 2012-2014. Later, Archdiocese of Bangalore approved the MSFS congregation to begin a separate parish community outside the Latin Churches.
The MSFS congregation appointed a former vicar of OLV Church Yelahanka, Fr.Joseph Kannadom, MSFS for identifying a location for a church and thereby helping to consolidate and further strengthen the syro Malabar community. He identified the present building of the church and commenced daily services in the present Church hall on November 29, 2015 as a Mass Centre with just 20 families. Subsequently, the Mass Centre became a part of Diocese of Mandya with the extension of geographical areas of the diocese to six more civil districts of Karnataka including Bangalore Urban. As the Church witnessed the increase of parishioners, Rev. Dr.Mar Antony Kariyil declared the Mass Centre into a Parish status on 4th December, 2016. The parish strength has since then been increasing constantly.
The Church was taken over by the St. Louis Province, Bangalore of Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular (known as TOR Fathers) on 26th May 2019 and the Bishop of Mandya, Rev.Dr.Mar Antony Kariyil appointed Rev. Fr. Jose Kulangara TOR as the new vicar.
St. Francis de Sales Church celebrates its Annual Feast on the first Sunday after 24th of January every year in honor of the Saint.
