In a significant spiritual milestone for the region, the Diocese of Mangalore officially welcomed its 125th parish on New Year's Day. The historic Holy Cross Chapel in Bellare was canonically elevated to the status of a full-fledged independent parish, culminating a five-decade-long journey of faith and community growth.
A New Chapter for Bellare's Faithful
The solemn declaration ceremony was marked by a special Holy Eucharist celebration, presided over by Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha, the Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore. He formally proclaimed the establishment of the new parish before a large gathering of clergy and devoted faithful. The church will now be led by its first parish priest, Fr. Anthony Prakash Monteiro.
This elevation addresses a long-standing need for the local Christian community. For years, believers from Bellare had to travel approximately 14-15 kilometers to the Panja parish to fulfill their spiritual requirements. The growth in the number of Catholic families in the area made the need for an autonomous local parish increasingly pressing.
Tracing the Roots: From Prayer Centre to Parish
The journey to parish status began over half a century ago. As noted by Very Rev. Lawrence Mascarenhas, parish priest of Mai De Deus Church in Puttur, a prayer centre was first established in Bellare 54 years ago. The community's origins are linked to the Panja Mission, which started organised missionary activity in the region back in 1932.
The first recorded Mass for the growing Catholic community in Bellare was celebrated in 1971. It was held at the residence of Benjamin D'Souza and Ignatius D'Souza from Palthady, initially on a fortnightly basis. The same year saw the beginning of an ambitious project: the construction of a permanent church building on a 3.3-acre plot. This effort was spearheaded by the late Joseph Pinto, and the resulting chapel was dedicated under the patronage of the Holy Cross.
Infrastructure and Evolving Autonomy
The development of the church's infrastructure continued over the decades. A dedicated clergy house was constructed beside the chapel, with work starting in June 2012 and concluding in May 2014. The house was officially inaugurated on May 23, 2014.
The path to full independence involved key administrative steps. Bellare was granted pastoral and administrative autonomy on May 31, 2018. Later, in November 2025, the parish boundaries were formally reorganised to carve out a distinct Bellare parish region, setting the final stage for its elevation.
In his address, Bishop Saldanha emphasised that the independence was granted to empower the local faithful and strengthen pastoral outreach. The declaration of Holy Cross Church, Bellare, as the 125th parish of the Mangaluru Diocese marks not just an administrative change, but a new era of spiritual service and community cohesion for its members.
