Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (EP)

Beltangady, Apr 29: The Sacred Heart Church, Madanthyar will be celebrating its post centenary silver jubilee on April 30, May 1 and 2 in a grand way. On the occasion, a new shrine dedicated for the devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus will be inaugurated.

Madanthyar in Beltangady taluk, around 44 kilometres from Mangaluru is a beautiful village covered with rich vegetation. With Dharmasthala being in close proximity to Madanthyar, it is a holy place for Hindus, Muslims and Catholics who live in love and harmony and partake in each other’s social and spiritual celebrations.

Now with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church celebrating its 125 years of formation, the event is a celebratory one for all in the community.

History of its formation

Agrar parish inaugurated in 1701 is the oldest parish in the diocese. As the time passed by, the parish was split and several new parishes were born from it. The parish in Madanthyar is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was born in Agrar in 1887. It has become one of the important parishes in Mangaluru diocese and has become mother for several other parishes offering social and spiritual services in the society.

Madanthyar was a large area of land. The land spread in 13 revenue villages in 90 square miles and people in it belonged to Agrar parish. They had to walk between 15 to 20 miles for their spiritual needs and to fulfil their Sunday obligations.

Priests from Agrar used to come here once in a year to meet the people. People from Madanthyar wrote to the bishop of Goa in 1886 requesting to construct a church here. A cemetery was constructed responding to the request. Parish priest of Agrar Fr Emilian Alexis D' Souza identified the land for construction of the church. Mangaluru diocese later got bifurcated from Goa. Bishop of Mangaluru most Rev Nicholas Pagani handed over Madanthyar land from Agrar to the then Beltangady parish priest Fr Pascal Mascarenhas. A chapel was built in Madanthyar in 1888 where masses were offered. However, even after the construction of the chapel, people desired that Madanthyar should be a parish.

The boundary of Madanthyar parish was decided in 1889 and Madanthyar became independent parish. Fr Rosario D' Souza was appointed as the first parish priest. As his term was of a few months, Fr Jacob Sequeira became the next parish priest. Kolkebail Francis D' Souza (Porsu Parbu) donated land of nearly 400 murras to the church and offered to raise the church with his own funds. The church was near the present Guardian Angel school. The construction of the church was taken up in 1890. The church was constructed in three years with help from several people and the generosity of Francis D' Souza.

The church devoted to the sacred heart of Jesus was inaugurated and blessed by most Rev Nicholas Pagani, Bishop on January 29, 1893. Fr Jacob Sequeira took 50 acres barren land from the government which helped in the income to the parish. The land is still a part of important revenue for the parish.

There were nine wards and 244 families then. Later several families joined Arva, Nirkan, Beltangady, Venur, Badyar and Uppinangady parishes. The chapels under Madanthyar parish in Nainad, Nala and Gardadi became parishes.

However, there are still 3000 parishioners in 700 families spread in 22 wards.

There is immense progress in the area at present. There was educational revolution. Numerous children have received good education and attained good career. People in thousands have benefited spiritually with help from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Madanthyar parish attracts many people because of the priests who offer their valuable services, generosity and sacrifices of the religious and parishioners.

Educational revolution in Madanthyar

Madanthyar is known from bringing an education revolution. The institutes from KG to PG reveal the result of hard work by the priests who served here, the religious people and the parishioners. The credit for sowing the seeds of education goes to Fr Jacob Sequeira.

There were no schools nearby. Many children were deprived of education. Fr Jacob Sequeira thought of starting a primary school. Jesuit priests who stayed in Mangaluru in 1879 used to go to distant Kudremukh during summer. As their journey was long and tiresome, they had built a Bungalow in Madanthyar to take rest for a day or two. As it remained vacant during the year, Fr Jacob Sequeira started a temporary school in it. The school continued till 1901 without help from the government. He tried simultaneously for government approval. As the priests who came later took special initiative, the number of children in the school increased day by day.

Fr Denis D' Souza with his hard work and with the approval of the government upgraded the primary school as higher primary school. Ursuline nuns opened their convent here and they extended their service in the school. Fr Denis D' Souza opened schools in Nainad and Gardadi. Fr Ligory D' Souza gets the credit for starting a powerful revolution regarding education in Madanthyar. Amazing developments have taken place during his long service of eleven years.

Therefore, he is called the sculptor of Madanthyar. He opened PU College in 1981 and degree college in 1982 and tried hard to impart education for local children. Fr Fred V Pereira was the strong seaman who caused wave in the sector. He looked after all the educational institutes which were in their infancy and provided all the necessary facilities to make them attain highest standards. His relentless service despite poverty and hardships has made the institutes reach immense heights.

Fr Charles Noronha who realized the need for English medium school started it in 1997. The priests who came later have worked tirelessly for the institutes. Therefore, nearly 4,500 students receive education in them and 350 people work there for their livelihood. The schools have well equipped buildings with all the basic needs.

Religious houses:

There are three religious houses here.

• Asha Deepa, house of Carmelite fathers. Brothers who come to become Carmelite priests get training here.
• Don Bosco Saleshian house, inaugurated in 1985 is providing excellent service in the parish and the school.
• House of Ursuline sisters trains girls who are becoming Ursuline nuns besides serving in the school and the parish.

Sacred Heart hostel and Maria Kripa hostel

As the educational institutes progressed and days passed by, students from far and wide got attracted towards them. Therefore, the parish opened boy’s hostel. Similarly Salesian sisters opened girl’s hostel. Large numbers of students are undergoing higher education here.

Sacred Heart community hall

The hall that was built under the leadership of Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas is beneficial for all programmes in the parish and social occasions. It has all the necessary facilities and shines as a large building.

Fr Basil Vas, Parish Priest, Fr Alwyn D’ Souza, Assistant Parish Priest, and Fr Jerome D’ Souza, Principal, of college are offering creative, spiritual and social service. Ronald Sequeira, Vice president of parish pastoral council, Leo Rodrigues, secretary, pastoral council, organisations and parishioners are offering service for the lively parish family.

Fr Basil Vas

Fr Alwyn D’ Souza

Fr Jerome D’ Souza

A beautiful shrine is built to develop the devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Novenas to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are held every Friday. Several parishioners and devotees from elsewhere take part in it and derive spiritual benefit.

Educational institutes:

Guardian Angels primary school
Sacred Heart English medium school
Sacred Heart high school
Sacred Heart P U College
Sacred Heart College
Sacred Heart M Com College
Sacred Heart boy’s hostel
Maria Kripa girl’s hostel

Programme schedule of the post centenary silver jubilee celebrations

April 30 - Day of vocations in the parish
May 1 – Procession of the offerings and remembering the departed
May 2 – Conclusion of the celebrations. On May 2 at 9 am, a welcome will be held for the Mangaluru Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza followed by the inauguration of the shrine of Sacred Heart of Jesus. At 9.30 am a thanksgiving mass will be held followed by felicitation at 11.30 am. A cultural evening will be held at 6 pm.