Milagres Church

Milagres Church, Mangalore was built in 1680 by Bishop Thomas De Castro, a Theatine Priest of Salsette. The Church was then built at the site of the present cemetery.

The 16th century marks an important event in the history of our community, as conversion to Christianity by Portuguese influence waned due to several reasons. The Christians had migrated farther south to Kanara but they were in great spiritual desolation for want of Priests, as many of the Priests had been recalled to Goa when the protection of Portugal was withdrawn. In 1658, a Carmelite missionary visited the Kanara Christians and reported their sorry plight to Rome. The Holy See lost no time in coming to their aid. It appointed Rev. Fr. Thomas de Castro, a Theatine Priest, Vicar Apostolic of Kanara and Malabar in 1674.

Although he was to have reached in 1674, delays not uncommon in those days prevented his arrival in Mangalore until three years later. On his arrival, feelings the need for a place of worship for the local Catholics, he built the church in 1680.

He died on 16th July 1684 and his grave in the Milagres cemetery may be identified by bronze slab next to the St. Monica Chapel.

Confusion marks the beginning

In 1675, the Arch episcopal See of Goa was filled after a vacancy of 22years, by appointing Rev. Antony Brando as Archbishop. As soon as he learnt of Bishop de Castro’s nomination as Vicar Apostolic Brandao’s death and then entered a new and explosive phase. The Vicar Capitular of Goa sent Fr. Joseph Vas to Kanara with authority of a Vicar Forane and enjoined on him not to submit to Bishop de Castro unless he could adduce his Bull of Nomination to establish his title. Three Goan Priests accompanied Fr. Vas Bishop de Castro held his own against them maintaining that he was the lawfully constituted Pastor and with the decline of the Portuguese power, the rights and faculties conferred on the Padroado had lapsed. He sent a copy of the Bull of Nomination to the Chapter at Goa and issued a circular warning the Kanara Christians not to acknowledge Goan jurisdiction.

Challenging Times

Some time later, Queen Chennamal (from whom the Church site was obtained in the first place) and King Bassappa resumed the land. In around 1715, a Mangalorean Priest Rev. Fr. Pinto secured the land again from King Somashekar II. His nephew Rev. Fr. A. Pinto who succeeded him, built a new church at the site of the present church in 1756.

In 1763 Kanara feel under the suzerainty of Hyder Ali and then his son Tippu Sultan in 1782. Suspecting the loyalty of the Christians, on Ash Wednesday, 24 February 1784, Tippu Sultan captured about 1,80,000 Christians and herded them to his capital Srirangapatnam. In the same year, they also destroyed 27 churches including Milagres Church, Mangalore.

A triumph from the ashes

Among those who returned to Mangalore from Srirangapatnam after the death of Tippu Sultan was one Lawrence Bello,(a baker to the Europeans) who built a chapel to replace the church completely demolished by Tippu, on the site of the present church at a cost of Rs.400/-. Fr. Mendez, the Vicar secured the necessary furniture, etc., raised funds and secured a contribution of Rs.600/- from the Government with the help of Salvadore Pinto (former Munshi under Tippu Sultan) and laid the foundation for a new spacious church in 1811.

The present Church Structure

As stated, Fr. Mendez built a new church in 1811. Exactly 100years later in 1911, the facade of the church collapsed. Fr. (later Msgr.) Frank Pereira the then Parish Priest, erected the present magnificent church with Fr. Diamanti S J (of Jeppu Seminary fame) as architect. This structure is the present church building except for the portico which was put up later.

Thanks to its central location in the heart of Mangalore. The Parish claims some of the leading Catholic Institutions in the District. To name a few we have the Bishop’s House, St. Aloysius College, the Great Carmel, M.C.C. Bank Ltd., the Catholic Club, the Catholic Educational Co-operative society, Catholic Association of the South Kanara, the Konkani Natak Sabhawith its Don Bosco Hall the venue of periodical dramatic entertainments, meetings and weddings. [ [http://milagreschurch.com/church.html Milagres Church ] ]

References