St. Sebastian Church, Bendur

Early in February 1914, the Parish Priest of Rosario V. Rev. Henry Buzzoni S.J. arranged to preach a Retreat for the people of Bendur. Rev. Fr Salvadore, the then parish priest of Cordel preached the retreat and Fr Buzzoni offered Mass for the retreatants. On February 8th the closing day of the retreat Bishop Perini visited Bendur. At this time the people of Bendur presented him a petition and requested him to start a new parish, comprising parts of Bendur and Kadri which were far away from Rosario & Milagres. The Bishop was very pleased with the request.

Within a week after this, around three hundred catholics of Bendur and Kadri, called a meeting which was presided over by the Bishop and passed an unanimous resolution to start a parish at Bendur. It was decided that those who donated Rs.500/- would be Principals, those who donated Rs 250/- would be Founders and those who donated Rs. 125/- would be Benefactors. Msgr Frank Pereira, parish priest of Milagres, offered to be one of the Principals with the consent of the administrative board of the Milagres Parish. Messrs J. Lobo, Piad Machado, Victor Pinto, Gregory Mascarenhas and J.M. Pereira offered to be the founder members. The Bishop and parish priest of Rosario, also offered their financial help, and a committee was formed to raise donations from the public.

On February 20th another meeting was called. The parish priest of Rosario presided over this meeting. At this meeting, it was decided to buy a piece of land from the Apostolic Carmel Congregation from the plot they had already purchased to build a school and subsequently a college for girls. The Parish Priest of Rosario offered to arrange for the transaction. The committee also decided to give him the responsibility of collecting the donations from the public and to prepare a plan for the church building. In the meanwhile it was decided to build a thatched roof structure and go ahead with the formation of the parish. (As per church records, a plot of two acres and ninety cents of land was purchased on September 27th 1918 for a sum of Rs. 4,380/-.)

Around June 1914 a thatched roof structure was erected and Fr Piadade Saldanha started offering mass there. The sisters of St Agnes Convent started attending mass here. Subsequently a stronger and a larger structure with a tiled roof was erected and for about 15 years till the church building was completed, all liturgical services were held in this structure only.

At a meeting held in the Bishop’s house on August 8th 1914, the Bishop, Vicar General Fr Fraccatti and some other members of the clergy prepared the constitution of the Bendur Parish and decided that a twelve member administrative board, like that of Rosario and Milagres Parishes would look after the administration of the new Parish. It was also resolved to start the building work of the church and the parochial house immediately. Later, on August 21st, a decree announcing the formation of the Bendur Parish was published. In this decree, the parish boundaries were defined and St Sebastian was made the Patron of the Parish. Rev. Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas was nominated as the first parish priest.

On Sunday, August 23rd 1914, Fr Buzzoni along with the first parish priest Rev. Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas came to Bendur. The people of Bendur welcomed them joyfully with a brass band and fireworks. Fr Buzzoni read out the decree of the formation of the Bendur Parish and Msgr Mascarenhas offered Mass. That day started the unending work of the spiritual upliftment of the parishioners which is continuing even to this day.

The first administrative board approved by the Bishop had Messrs Joseph Lobo; Victor M. Pinto; Joseph R Pereira and John Emmanuel Vas (all of Upper Kadri) Abraham Farias and Piadado Machado (of Lower Kadri) Francis D’Sa (of Nod Kadri) John Salvadore Mascarenhas; Francis D’Souza and D.R. Baptist (of Lower Bendur); G.J Mascarenhas; (of Upper Bendur) along with the Parish Priest as the President of the board. This board at its first meeting held on September 11th 1914 elected Mr Victor M. Pinto as the Secretary cm treasurer of the board as well as the administrator of the parish.

Msgr Mascarenhas with his untiring zeal worked strenuously for the betterment of the parish and within a year started the altar servers sodality. Msgr Mascanenhas who was greatly attached to the children and the youth, influenced many of them to join the seminary and the girls to persue religious life through his instructions and good example.

Right from the commencement of the parish Msgr Mascarenhas started the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Prayer Apostolate through the Marian Sodalities. He had great devotion to the patron, St Sebastian and fixed every Thursday as a day of devotion to St Sebastian. This devotion is continued even today, but lately the day has been changed to Wednesday. To instil in the parishioners a special devotion to their patron saint, he started the “Kompr” / “Irmaundad” (Confraternity of regular sponsors or donors).

Soon it was realized, that the temporary structure was not sufficient to accommodate the congregation on Sundays and feast days. Hence, it was decided to build a larger structure and started its construction without any delay and it was completed before the first Parish Feast that was celebrated in January 1915. Though there were no walls for this structure there were walls behind the altar for a compact and secure sacristy. The pillars were of stone and the structure had a tiled roof. All religious activities took place here till the new church was inaugurated on May 30th 1923. Notable among the various celebrations held in the old structure was the first parish feast held on January 13th 1915 when many parishioners and the Superior of St Agnes Convent generously donated many things required for the church and the main altar.

In the same year lenten services were held on all the Sundays and the statues for the passion of Christ were prepared. The Cross for Good Friday ceremonies, the wooden statue of Christ and the Sepulcher were received as donation from the parishioners.

As the above works were going on, a great need for a cemetery was felt, as the deceased parishioners were buried either in Jeppu or Bejai cemeteries. As the church was within municipal limits it was not permitted to have a cemetery close to the church. It was not easy to obtain land for a cemetery outside the municipal limits, yet not too far from the church. But through the great efforts of the parish priest and some parishioners it was possible to have the cemetery at the location which continues even now. This cemetery was blessed on Sunday the September 6th 1914.

History – 1948 to 1978

Rev. Fr Felix A. Concessao came as an assistant parish priest on December 23rd 1947. A lot of spiritual development took place during the time of Fr Louis D’Silva. He encouraged the activities of the Legion of Mary in the Parish.

But very soon, he was transferred to the parish of St Lawrence, Karkal, and in his place Rev. Fr Denis Sequeira took over as the sixth parish priest on October 1st 1948. Mr A. Noronha was elected as the administrator on July 17th 1949 and he served upto July 22nd 1951. Fr Denis Sequeira was the parish priest till November 30th 1951 when he was transferred to Rosario Parish, Kallianpur. Mr. T.M. Ar**ha was once again elected as administrator on July 22nd 1951 and this time he served upto July 26th 1953. Rev. Fr Marian Fernandes who had come to the parish on January 1st 1950 as assistant parish priest took over as the seventh parish priest on November 29th 1951 according to the Bishop’s orders. He worked to get the bells that were ordered from Germany by Fr Charles Lobo & started to collect funds to build a suitable belfry. But he was transferred as the director of Fr Muller Hospital on May 31st 1952. Rev. Fr Basil Peris became the eighth parish priest of Bendur on June 31st 1952, being a parishioner he grew up in Bendur and soon after his ordination had also served as assistant parish priest. But within three months he was appointed the auxiliary Bishop of Mangalore and went to the Bishop’s house at Codialbail. During this time Rev.Fr Alexander F. D’Souza came on July 29th 1952 as assistant parish priest.

After Fr Basil Peris Rev. Fr Alexander B. Pinto came as the ninth parish priest and took charge on September 25th 1952 and served the parish for 10 years. During this time Mr A.R.D’souza was elected as the administrator on July 16th 1953, and served till July 12th 1959. Fr A.B. Pinto made special efforts to beautify the church and fixed tube lights as well as electric fans in the whole church and installed an illuminated cross on the top of the façade. He added two additional rooms to the parochial house and got a strong laterite stone compound wall built around the cemetery in place of the collapsed mud walls. Fr Felix Concessao was transferred from the parish on June 1st 1954 and Rev.Fr Peter Lobo came as the new assistant parish priest on the same day. Fr Alexander D’Souza left on September 21st 1955 and Rev. Fr Robert M. Pinto was the new assistant parish priest from September 24th 1955. Fr Peter Lobo was transferred on February 11th 1956. Rev.Fr Aloysius A. Serrao came as assistant parish priest on April 10th 1956 and served the parish till December 2nd 1956. Rev. Fr Peter Nazareth was the new assistant parish priest from April 8th 1957. Fr Robert Pinto was transferred on April 24th 1959 and in his place Rev. Fr William Gonsalves servedas the assistant parish priest from April 29th 1959 to October 21st 1959. Mr J.B. Machado was elected the administrator on July 12th 1959 and served upto August 19th 1962. Rev. Fr Mark Fernandes came as the assistant parish priest on April 25th 1960. Fr Peter Nazareth was transferred on April 25th 1961 and in his place Rev. Fr Raymond Moras came as the assistant parish priest on April 27th 1961 and served the parish till April 7th 1962. During the time of Fr Alexander Pinto, the bells that were ordered from Germany by Rev. Fr Charles Lobo the fourth parish priest, and that were delayed because of the second world war, arrived in the parish. But before he could build a suitable belfry for them, he was transferred to Rosario Parish on April 4th 1962.

Rev. Fr Albert Pinto took charge as the tenth parish priest on April 3rd 1962. Mr A.R.D’souza was once again elected as administrator on August 19th 1962 and served till 1970 when the parish council was started as per the guidelines of the Second Vatican Council. Fr Albert Pinto raised funds from the parishioners and built the new belfry. Vicar General Rev. Msgr William Lewis blessed the bells on January 1st 1963. The bells were rung for the first time on Sunday January 8th during the Eucharistic Procession in connection with the annual parish feast. Fr Albert Pinto worked with missionary zeal without caring for his health. Even during inclement weather he visited the poor and the sick in their houses to console and encourage them. He worked tirelessly to unite broken homes and to bring back those who were straying into other sects. He also worked among the alchoholics and the mentally re****ed. Fr Albert Pinto was a good counsellor. Irrespective of caste or creed he used to visit the houses of Hindus and Muslims, and they used to respect him as God’s chosen one. Rev. Fr Lawrence Fernandes came as assistant parish priest on April 27th 1963 and Fr Mark Fernandes left the parish on transfer on April 29th 1963. In 1964 Fr Lawrence Fernandes initiated and organized the first mixed choir of ladies and gents – as till then there were only gents in the church choir. Rev. Fr Hilary Sanctis also came as assistant parish priest on April 30th 1963 and served the parish till October 18th 1964. Rev. Fr Lawrence Gomes came to Bendur as the assistant parish priest on April 3rd 1967 and Fr Lawrence Fernandes left the parish on April 4th 1967 on transfer. Fr Albert Pinto started the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, held every Saturday. Realizing the need for a hall he raised funds from the parishioners and built a parish hall in 1968. The Golden Jubilee of the parish was celebrated during his time from January 31st to February 7th 1965. On January 31st the Holy Eucharist was exposed for public Adoration at 4.15 p.m Rev. Fr Claud D’Souza offered the Solemn High Mass followed by the Eucharistic procession and the blessing of the Holy Eucharist. During the week, masses were offered for the departed souls of the Founders, Benefactors and Parishioners. Masses were also offered for the intentions of the surviving Benefactors, Donors and the Parishioners. On Sunday February 7th a non-vegetarian meal was served to about 4200 people. This meal was cooked by the volunteers of the parish. The same evening Rev. Msgr Alexander Pinto parish priest of Rosario offered the Thanksgiving Solemn High Mass. During the public function after the mass the parish administrator read a paper depicting the history and progress of the parish. The sacristan Mr Jacob Correa who had served for 50 years from the beginning of the parish was honoured & offered a purse on this occasion on behalf of the parish. Fr Lawrence Gomes was transferred from the parish on September 13th 1969 and on the same day Rev. Fr John D’Souza took over as the new assistant parish priest. As per the church renewal programme, started after the II Vatican Council, an experimental parish council was started to look after the administration of the parish in January 1971, and elected Mr. Rem Fernandes as the Vice President and Miss Annie Pinto as its Secretary at its first meeting.

The untiring work by Fr Albert Pinto had its effect on his health which deteriorated rapidly and he died on November 2nd 1971. On the following day after the funeral services he was buried inside the church building.

In view of Fr Albert Pinto’s sickness Rev. Fr Alexander F. D’Souza took charge as the eleventh parish priest on October 3rd 1971. On November 1st 1971 he conducted a prayer service for the first time in the cemetery in the evening. He got the sanctuary renovated: removed the wooden communion railings around the sanctuary, and moved back the marble altar to touch the main altar by removing the steps that were there between them. He installed a new altar according to the new rite for mass to be offered facing the people and laid mosaic tiles for the sanctuary floor and painted the church walls with distemper for the first time. The full fledged Parish Council took over during his time in 1972-for the period 1972 to 1974 with the re-election of Mr Rem Fernandes as Vice President. Mr Zozimus Pais was elected as Secretary. Rev. Fr Mark Walder took over as assistant parish priest on March 1st 1972. Fr John D’Souza was transferred on May 21st 1972 and in his place Fr Cyril D’Souza came as the new assistant parish priest on May 27th 1972. After serving for about one and a half years in the parish Fr Alexander D’Souza was made the Vicar General of the Diocese on May 27th 1973.

Rev.Fr Nicholas J. Pereira came to Bendur as the twelfth parish priest on May 27th 1973. Mr Rem Fernandes was re-elected as vice-president for the period 1974 to 1977 and Mr. Simon Walter Colaco was elected as secretary. During this time Rev. Fr Arthur Pereira came to Bendur as assistant parish priest on May 25th 1976 in the place of Fr Cryil D’Souza who was transferred from Bendur on June 3rd 1976. Mr Joseph Ar**ha was elected as vice-president of the parish council on February 6th 1977 and Mr Rudolph D’Silva was elected as secretary. Mr Rudolph D’silva resigned from the post of the secretary on July 31st 1977 and Mr Simon Walter Colaco was elected as secretary in his place on July 31st 1977. Mr Simon Walter Colaco also resigned on February 26th 1978 and Mr Zozimus Pais was elected as secretary in his place. Due to the transfer of Fr Arthur Pereira on May 26th 1978, Rev. Fr Joswey Fernandes came in his place on the same day.

History – 1979 to 1991

Fr Nicholas Pereira gave a new impetus to the religious activities in the parish. He was very generous towards the poor and gave a lot of aid to them. He also gave lot of financial help to the society of St Vincent de Paul. He completed the work of building the rest of the cemetery compound wall in place of the old mud walls with laterite stones. He replaced the outdated sound system in the church, renovated the parochial house and remodelled the dining room. During this time Mr Joseph Ar**ha was re-elected as vice – president on February 3rd 1980 and Mr Edmond D’Souza was elected as secretary of the parish council. Fr N.J. Pereira died on October 30th 1980 after serving the parish for seven years. He is buried in the Bendur Parish Cemetery.

Rev. Fr Stanley Pereira took over as the thirteenth parish priest on January 3rd 1981. On February 11th the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes he started the devotion near the grotto by taking out a procession to the grotto and reciting the rosary concluding with the Eucharistic blessing. As there wasn’t enough student strength in St Margaret Mary’s School for girls run by the Bethany Sisters and the St Sebastian School for boys of the church they were merged in 1986. Since then this school is continued as St Sebastian’s Higher Primary School. But since 1987 this school, given to the Bethany sisters is shifted from the church compound to the Bethany premises. In the same year a kindergarten for small children was started in the church compound. Mr Joseph Ar**ha was re-elected as vice – president on January 1st 1983 and Ms Lizzie Pereira was elected as secretary of the parish council. Fr Stanley Pereira got the church roof repaired, and replaced the old tiles with new ones. During his time the full church was repainted. The parishioners generously contributed towards all these expenses. Fr Pereira was ably assisted by Rev. Fr Roque D’Souza who came on May 9th 1981 in place of Fr Joswey Fernandes who was transferred on April 30th 1981. Rev. Fr Valerian D’Souza came on May 14th 1983 in place of Fr Roque D’Souza who left the parish along with Fr Mark Walder on transfer on May 13th 1983. Rev. Fr Lancy D’Souza came to the parish on May 17th 1986 and Fr Valerian D’Souza left the parish on transfer on May 19th 1986.

Fr Stanley Pereira restarted the evening procession on Palm Sunday. On Good Friday he had the cross erected in front of the church and conducted the ceremony of lowering the body of Christ from the cross with devotion and taking it in procession in a cradle (a replica of the sepulchre of Jesus). During his time he started a special collection during lent and distributed the collected amount among the needy for their house repairs. He printed and published the life history of St Sebestian along with the Novena prayers. As directed by the Bishop in January 1986 smaller wards were created increasing the number of wards from 10 to 21and appointed new Gurkars to all these wards. Mr Simon Walter Colaco was elected as vice – president of the parish council on February 15th 1986 and Ms Lizzie Pereira was re-elected as secretary. Fr Pereira wanted to start a parish bulletin and even brought out some trial issues of the same named as “Voice of Bendur”, as a start to the Parish Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. He also a appointed an editorial board for the publication of this bulletin under his guidance and leadership. He also started preparations for the Platinum Jubilee of the parish but soon afterwards he was transferred to Udayavar on May 24th 1987.

On May 23rd 1987 Rev. Fr Gregory L. DaCruz took over as the fourteenth parish priest. The assistant parish priests who assisted Fr DaCruz were Rev. Fr Roque Victor D’Sa from June 16th 1987 to June 4th 1990. Rev. Fr William Menezes from June 23rd 1987, who took the place of Fr Lancy D’Souza who was transferred on June 22nd 1987, worked till June 5th 1989. Rev. Fr Elias D’Souza took the place of Fr William Menezes on June 6th 1989 and worked in the parish till May 17th 1991. Rev. Fr Joseph Martis took the place of Rev. Fr Roque D’Sa and worked in the parish from June 4th 1990 till June 1st 1992. On the transfer of Fr Elias D’Souza, Rev. Fr Valerian Menezes came to the parish on May 20th 1991 and served till May 28th 1993. Rev. Fr Maxim Noronha served as the assistant parish priest from May 27th 1993 till May 23rd 1994. Rev. Fr Eric Crasta took over from Fr Joseph Martis on May 27th 1992 and served till March 1st 1994. Rev. Fr Edwin Mascarenhas was the assistant parish priest from May 17th 1994 to May 5th 1997 and Rev. Fr Reginald Pinto from October 31st 1994 to May 27th 1996.

Fr DaCruz was devout and kind hearted. He was very generous towards the poor and the needy and worked hard to increase spirituality among the parishioners. He got the floor tiles of church replaced with tandoor tiles. He gave impetus to the working of the Platinum Jubilee Committee and formed sub committees to look into the various aspects of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. He got the church and the belfry painted for the jubilee and old kneelers of the main wing of the church were replaced with new ones. Mr Antony D’Souza was elected as vice – president of the parish council on July 7th 1988 and Mr Zozimus Pais was elected as secretary.

The Platinum Jubilee year was inaugurated on January 20th 1988 with the lighting of the lamp by Rev. Dr Basil S. D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore and offering a solemn High Mass on the church grounds with over 60 priests concelebrating the mass. The Bishop preached the sermon during the mass and congratulated the people of Bendur. He also encouraged them to live their faith with renewed vigour. Rev. Fr DaCruz thanked all those present and informed that the Platinum Jubilee committee had selected the theme “Union with Jesus through Mary” for the Jubilee. He hoped that the Jubilee year will benefit the parishioners spiritually. Two retreats were arranged during the Jubilee year- first one form October 30th to November 5th 1988 to be preached by Rev. Fr Francis Rebello S.J. and the second one by Rev. Fr John Monis, a Carmelite, from January 9th to 14th 1989.

Three seminars were held during the year, first one on the subject ‘Good Alter Boy’, conducted by Rev. Fr Stany Goveas and Rev. Fr Roque D’Souza. The second one was a two day seminor on “Role of Liturgy in the Catholic Church” conducted by Rev. Fr Mark Veigas, Rev. Fr Basil Vas and Rev. Fr Mark Castelino on July 2nd and 3rd 1988 and the third one on “Sunday Catechism” conducted by Rev. Fr Henry D’Souza and Rev Fr Henry Sequeira on August 20th and 21st 1988. During the year, four crosses were taken round in the parish under the leadership of the Gurkars. They were taken from house to house, to all the houses in the parish for prayer and adoration.

The Konkani drama on the life of St Sebastian the patron saint “Soldier Saint” written by Mr Claude D’Souza and directed by Prof. Alban Castelino was also enacted in the Don Bosco Hall on November 6th and 12th 1988, as a part of the Jubilee Programme. On December 11th 1998 the Bishop blessed the foundation stone for the Jubilee Memorial Hall, which was laid by the Mayor Mr P.M. Castelino. Various types of games and competitions such as festival cricket match, singing, dance, fancy dress and variety entertainment were held for the parishioners throughout the year and inter – parish throwball competition for ladies and inter – parish cricket tournament for men were held.

January 17th 1989 was celebrated as the Eucharistic Day. Fr Lawrence S.Pais, the one who was the first person to be baptized in the newly formed Bendur parish lit the lamp of the closing function of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and concelebrated the thanksgiving mass along with a number of guest priests. The Blessed Sacrament was kept for public adoration the whole day and the parishioners took turns to worship. A holy hour was conducted from 5 to 6 p.m and at 6.00 p.m the Vicar General Msgr Aloysius D’Souza concelebrated the mass and preached the sermon. The Blessing of the Holy Euchrist was given after the Mass.

The feast of St Sebastian was celebrated as Thanksgiving Day on January 19th. Our Bishop Basil S. D’Souza and Bishop Patrick D’Souza the Bishop of Varanasi diocese along with over 75 priests concelebrated the solemn High Mass on the open grounds in front of the church which was attended by over 3,000 faithful. Fr. Henry Castelino, a parishioner preached the sermon giving a glimpse of the history of the parish. On July 21st 1991 Mr Zozimus Pais was elected as vice – president of the parish council and Mr Aloysius D’Souza was elected as secretary.

After 1992

From April 1994 the parish bulletin “Voice of Bendur” was published during every month by the editorial board under the leadership Fr Gregory L.DaCruz. Mr Aloysius D’Souza took over as the first editor of the bulletin in August

1994 and edited the same till May 1995. Mr Zozimus Pais took over after that, and subsequently Mr Ignatius Machado, Mrs Grace D’Cruz and Rev. Fr Anil D’Mello edited the bulletin. Presently the editorial board is publishing the bulletin under the guidance of Rev. Fr Antony Serrao.

As a Jubilee souvenir the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium was erected. This is now generating funds for the parish, as till then, the parish was solely dependent on the generosity of the parishioners. Fr DaCruz started a fund to meet the needs of the poor students of the parish. Mr Antony D’Souza was once again elected as the vice president on July 3rd 1994 and Mrs Jane Sequeira as secretary. After serving the parish for 8 years and on completion of 75 years of his life, Fr DaCruz retired from the parish on May 4th 1995.

Rev. Fr Joseph Tauro took over as the fifteenth parish priest on May 24th 1995, and was assisted by Rev. Fr Faustine Lobo from June 4th 1996 to June 14th 1997, Rev. Fr Jerome D’Souza from June 6th 1997 to May 18th 1998, Rev. Fr Ivan D’Mello from May 27th 1997 to May 21st 1998, Rev. Fr Joseph Lobo from May 20th 1998 to May 29th 2000, Rev. Fr Ronald Miranda from May 29th 1998 to May 14th 1999, Rev. Fr Cyril D’Souza from May 16th 1999 to May 20th 2000, Rev. Fr Nelson D’Almeida from May 20th 2000 to May 22nd 2002, Rev. Fr Alponse D’lima from May 22nd 2000 to July 9th 2001, Rev. Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza from May 13th 2001 to May 27th 2002, Rev. Fr Sunil C. D’Silva from May 23rd 2002 to May 18th 2004, and Rev. Fr Robert Pinto from October 19th 2002 to May 18th 2003. Mr Henry Norohna was elected as vice – president on August 31st 1997 and Mr Harold Monteiro was elected as secretary. Mr Rudolph D’Silva was elected as vice – president on May 27th 2001 and Mrs Irene Pinto was elected as secretary.

Fr Tauro liked to work with the poor and for the poor, and consequently devoted his time and energy for their betterment. In spite of his poor health he used to visit the poor the sick and the elderly regularly. He was approachable by all parishioners, especially by those with problems. He was a good writer and also started a matrimonial column in the parish bulletin. Realising the need for a modern parochial house a new house was built in the place of the old one. He was very generous to the Society of St Vincent de Paul and supported them in helping the poor in the parish. He got wash-rooms built adjacent to the church for the needs of those attending the church services. He started the English Medium School and the P.U. College with suitable amenities at Padua. He started the Bendur unit of the Catholic Sabha. He got new hymn books printed in Konkani and English for the parish. He started the Mass in English at 8.00 a.m. on Sundays as it was observed that many parishioners were attending Mass in English in other parishes, and changed the Sunday Konkani Mass timings to: first Mass at 5.30 a.m as usual, Second Mass at 6.45 a.m. and after the Mass in English, a Mass in Konkani for children attending catechism classes at 9.15 a.m. without changing the obligatory Mass timings on Saturday & Sunday evenings. On completion of seven years service in the parish he was transferred to Bejai Parish on May 24th 2003.

Rev. Fr Peter S. Noronha took charge as the sixteenth parish priest on May 23rd 2003. Being a dynamic personality he came with a vast knowledge and experience having worked in various parishes and institutions. Besides working for the spiritual development of the parishioners, he also beautified the church, the church compound, especially by growing and maintaining a beautiful garden and planted trees for shade all round the church and the auditorium. A man with green fingers he could make anything green with his touch. He even beautified the cemetery by building a beautiful arch and gate as well as by planting trees for shade and laid interlock tiles to the passage in the cemetery and fixed water taps and got some parts of the slopes in the cemetery levelled. He also gave a facelift to the interior of the church building by fixing marble slabs to the base of the walls and pillars. The floor of the sanctuary was beautified with vitrified tiles and illuminated with beautiful chandeliers to brighten up the entire altar. He renovated the steps and built ramps with banisters to enable the elderly and the

sick to enter the church easily. He set up a beautiful altar for Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and got a new and modern sound system for the church. He beautified the grotto with a water fountain and a Crucifix was erected by its side. This Crucifix used to be venerated on Good Friday services during the Holy week. He renovated the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium by adding dressing rooms for the bride and the groom, and renovated the entire ceiling. A canopy was constructed, and a standby kitchen behind the auditorium for the caterers to warm up food was also constructed. He also added bath and wash- rooms to the parish hall. A new heavy duty noiseless generator was purchased during his time to simultaneously serve the needs of the church, the parish hall and the platinum jubilee auditorium during power failure.

Mr Rudolph D’Silva was re-elected as vice – president and Mrs Irene Pinto was re-elected as secretary of the Parish Pastoral Parishad on May 9th 2004. Fr Noronha was assisted in the parish work by Rev. Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa from May 20th 2004 to May 17th 2007, Rev. Fr Santhosh Rodrigues from July 20th 2004 to May 17th 2006, Rev. Fr Melwyn Rajesh Rosario from May 18th 2006 to May 16th 2008. Prof. Eric Patrao was elected as vice – president on May 13th 2007 and Mrs Jane Sequeira as secretary. Rev. Fr Vincent Lobo served as assistant parish priest from May 18th 2007 to May 23rd 2009, Rev. Fr Naveen Prakash Pinto from May 15th 2008 to May 25th 2009, Rev. Fr Sylvester Vincent Pinto from May 22nd 2009 to May 31st 2011, Rev. Fr Rocky Fernandes from May 30th 2009 to May 17th 2010. And Rev. Fr Anil Canute D’Mello, from May 14th 2010 to June 4th 2012. Mr Ronald Walder was elected as vice – president and Mrs Laveena John as secretary of the Parish Pastoral Parishad on January 2nd 2011.

With the influx of a lot of new families to the parish as well as to the parochial wards, the wards were further divided during the time of Fr Noronha and the number of wards has grown to 32 from the previous 21. Additional Gurkars have been elected from each ward to take charge of the same. Along with Rev Fr Michael Santhumayor the principal of the Padua P.U. College Fr Noronha worked hard to open a Degree College at Padua, and started the work of the required building for this college.

Fr Peter Norohna’s Platinum Jubilee was auspiously celebrated by the parishioners on January 31st 2011, with a Solemn High Mass which was concelebrated by two Bishops and almost 150 priests. A special souvenir was released on the occasion at the public function after the mass and a special “Fr Peter S. Noronha Jubilee Education Trust’’ was launched to benefit the needy and deserving parish youth aspiring for higher education. He retired on June 3rd 2011.

Rev. Fr Antony Michael Serrao took over as the seventeenth parish priest on June 3rd 2011. Rev. Fr Paul Crasta came on June 2nd 2012 and Rev. Fr John Baptist Moras came on June 6th 2012 as assistant parish priests. The Padua Degree College with B.Com and BBM courses has been started after he came, with Rev Fr Michael Santhumayor as its first Principal. In Bendur Fr Serrao has already proved to be a good organizer and administrator. He has given impetus to the growth and development of the Padua Educational Institutions. Being a spiritual person himself he works for the spiritual development of the parish. Though a man of few words he is very sensitive and generous to the needs of the parishioners. Fr Serrao has renovated the parish office and made it spacious and bright. He has also added a mini hall to the parish house exclusively for meetings of the parish associations and the parish pastoral parishad and has already started the preparatory work of the Centenary Celebrations of the Parish.

We place on record the yeoman services rendered by the Assistant Parish Priests beginning from the first Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr Sylvester Menezes to the present 61st Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr.John Baptist Moras Besides assisting in all the parish activities and working for the spiritual development of the youth. They have taken great pains to teach catechism to the children, have served the sick and elderly in their homes by taking communion to them every month and attending to their spiritual needs. Most of them by their example have inspired quite a few of our parishioners to take up religious life.

The priests who resided in the parish Rev. Fr Gratian L. D’Souza from July 1st 1983 to May 19th 1989, Rev. Fr Valerian Frank from May 15th 2002 May 7th 2005, Rev. Fr Boniface Pinto from June 3rd 2003 to May 2011, Rev. Fr Francis Rodrigues from May 19th 2005 to May 2011 and Rev. Fr Michael Santhumayor who is now residing in the parish from May 22nd 2004, while doing diocesan work have served the parish in various ways particularly the Sunday ministry, feasts and functions, as well as in the educational institutions of the parish. The five convents in the parish namely Apostolic Carmel, Bethany, Bridgettine, Little Sisters of the Poor and Dinasevanasabha (Maria Kripa), have also contributed to the all round development and upliftment of the parish.

Our Parish has been blessed with a lot of lay initiative and has seen the emergence of many lay leaders who have served the community and the Parish in various ways. Apart from the founders, benefactors and well wishers notable among them are Messrs Victor M Pinto, Piadade D’Sa, Rao Saheb Xavier Colaco, A. Parameshwar, T. M. Ar**ha, U. Kanappa, William J D’Souza, A. Noronha, J. B. Machado and A. R. D’Souza who served as the administrators of the Parish till 1970 when the Administrative Board was looking after the affairs of the Parish.

Since 1971 when the Parish Councils were started as per the Church Renewal Programme started after Vatican council II, Messrs Rem Fernandes, Joseph Ar**ha, Simon Walter Colaco, Antony D’Souza, Zozimus Pais, Henry Noronha, Rudolph D’Silva and Eric Patrao have served as the Vice Presidents of the Parish Council. Presently Mr. Ronald Walder is serving as the Vice President.

The various pious associations of the parish act as its backbone giving a helping hand to all the religious activities of the parish. Presently we have the alter servers helping at mass and at all its religious activities. The church choir – it is not exactly known when the church choir was started but it is on record that Mr John Joseph Rego of Bendur started a small group of youth singing during Mass and liturgical functions about 75 years ago. This group was highly trained and sang Latin hymns in four voices. Later on Mr Wilfred Gratian Pinto took charge of the singing group which was encouraged and even improved by the various priests to serve in the parish. This choir is presently guided by Prof. Alban Castelino and Mr Simon Walter Colaco. The Sodality of our Lady, Legion of Mary and the Third Order Tertiaries (S.F.O.) are working for the piety of its members and in general for the parishioners. The Catholic Action League that was started in the parish by Mr Bernard Martis in 1934 when Fr Francis D’Souza was the Parish Priest is conducting many welfare activities for the all round development of the youth. The Catholic Sabha that was started in Bendur by Fr Joseph P Tauro with Mr Maritto Sequeira as its first president on January 14th 1996 is active in the parish promoting the unity of the community and making the parishioners aware of their duties and rights as well as guiding the families to live a better life. The society of St Vincent de Paul first started in Mangalore in 1926 during the time of Msgr R.F.C. Mascarenhas at Bendur under the leadership of Mr Louis Mascarenhas is continuing the good work among the poor, sick, lonely and the needy parishioners by providing them with foodstuffs weekly, attending to their house repairs, to the education of their children and by giving them medical aid by collecting funds from the generous parishioners as and when necessary. The Young Christian Students (Y.C.S.) movement is helping to build and train our youth to be the leaders of our community.

The unique feature of the Bendur Parish is the close co-operation between the parishioners and the parish priests starting from the founder to date. The parishioners being proud of their parish have been always very generous towards the parish needs.

We thank and praise God for the abundant blessings He has showered on our parish over the years. We pray for His continued blessings in the years to come. We pray for His special blessings on the priests who look after our parish, and we pray that God make them exemplary and zealous priests. We also pray for all the families of the parish that they may live their christian life with fervour and be shining examples to our non-christian bretheren. We offer our youth to the Lord and pray that they may be guided and inspired to lead a true christian life and to become assets to their families and our community. We also ask for His grace on the elders, the sick and the needy of the parish. May Our Lord be their solace. May He also grant our deceased forefathers eternal rest.