ST FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH

BEJAI: (1912) ST FRANCIS XAVIER Address : Bejai, Mangalore – 575 004. Phone : 0824-2221764; 2217050 (O) : 8277939317 Email : bejaichurch@gmail.com Website : www.bejaichurch.com Catholics : 4551 Families : 1350 P. P. : Rev. J.B. Saldanha (from 2020 onwards) Phone : 0824-4276588; 9448038051 Email : jbsaldanha@yahoo.com Asst : Rev. Suraj Joseph Lobo Phone : 8762120543 Email : surajjoseph@gmail.com Principal : Rev. Robert D’Souza Phone : 9481513997 Email : peacerobert@rediffmail.com Resident : Rev Alfred Vincent Sequeira Phone : 9844763634 Email : frvincentsequeira@gmail.com Religious Houses for Men: 1. St Ann’s Friary Rev. Paul Melwyn D’Souza OFM Cap Jail Road, Kodialbail, Mangalore – 575 004. Phone : 0824-2496733; 9482446419 Email : melwyncap@gmail.com Assissi Press, Bejai. Phone : 0824-2492816 2. Athma Jyothi Ashram Rev. Dolphy Devdass Serrao OFM Cap Souza Lane, Kadri Road (Near Karnataka Bank, Opposite Natural Ice Cream) Mangalore - 575003 Phone : 0824-2988005; 9449315441 3. Loyola – Pre Novitiate Rev. Pradeep Crasta SJ Ganesh Rao Lane, Jail Road, Mangalore - 575003 Phone : 0824-2493184, 9611965251 Email : loyolamlr@gmail.com Convents: 1. St Angela Convent Superior: Sr Severine Crasta UFS Bejai, Mangalore – 575 004, D.K. Phone : 0824-2222111, 8554076874 Email : bejaiangelaconvent@gmail.com 2. Daughters of St Paul Superior: Sr Neena Mathias Richoville Appartmets-101/102, Bejai New Road, Sankaiguda, Mangalore –575 004 Phone : 0824-2225395; 8861268310 Email : dspmangalore@gmail.com Pauline Book & Media Centre Milagres Mansion Building, Milagres, Mangalore - 575 001 Phone : 2440517; 8296608349 Email : paulines.mangalore@gmail.com Institutions: 1. St Francis Xavier Higher Primary School Phone : 2211761; 9008724277 Email : stfrancishpsbejai@gmail.com 2. Lourdes Central School Phone : 2223366, 4273081 Website : www.lourdescentralschool.com Principal : Fr Robert D’Souza Phone : 9845383188 Former Parish Priests : Rev. Wilson L. Vitus D’Souza (till 2020) HISTORY: Bejai was once a part of the Cathedral parish. Because of the long distance from the church and the difficulties experienced by the people here, a land measuring 5.37 acres was obtained from the government in 1670 for a cemetery and a mortuary chapel was raised on the plot. The priests from the Cathedral offered Sunday Mass here. On March 22, 1912 Bishop Perini, sj gave Bejai a resident chaplain. He was Fr Sebastian Noronha. His successor Fr Joseph Peter Fernandes built a portion of the presbytery. The present church was built in 1924 by Fr A.E. Colaco who had succeeded Fr Fernandes. He also completed the presbytery and planned the belfry. Fr Leo Saldanha completed it in 1937. Fr Robert L.M. Pinto renovated the church. Fr Sebastian Noronha began the St. Francis Xavier parish school. Fr A.E. Colaco constructed the school building. Lourdes Central School was started by Fr Bernard D’Souza in 1999. He constructed the new building for the school in 2000. He put up the huge shopping complex and also the Hall as income generating assets to the church.

Bejai, Mangalore ? 575 004.