Church of St Lawrence, Bondel, Mangalore, INDIA

A French missionary priest who visited this place in the year 1873 called this place bon vale a French term meaning good valley, and hence, this place is came to be known as Bondel. It was once a part of Milagres church. A little more than a kilometre east of the present church, Fr Aloysius Fernandes of Milagres, Mangalore had built a chapel, on a hillock near a place called Thota for the Catholics of Pachanady, Moodshedde and a portion of Padav. Pereira of Milagres (1904-1917) constructed a chapel at the site where present church stands. Bishop Perini appointed Fr Julian S. D’Souza as the chaplain in 1917. It was served from Milagres until 1923. In 1922 a presbytery was built. The church attained the status of a parish on April 10, 1923 with Fr F. Pereira as its first parish priest (1923-1926). In May 1929 two wards of Bejai were added on to the new parish. Fr Julian Rego (1926-1935) added the sanctuary and Fr J. D’Souza further enlarged it in 1951. The present church was built by Fr Denis D’Souza (1977-1987). Fr Thomas D’Souza (1987-1994) erected the belfry for three bells and rebuilt the presbytery. Fr John Mendonca has constructed the church hall. Pereira had built the first school building. Fr A. D’Silva upgraded it to St Lawrence Higher Primary School.