ST PETER CLAVER CHURCH

ARVA: (1914) ST PETER CLAVER Address : Arva, Aladangady P.O. 574217 Belthangady Taluk Phone : 08256-272234; 8277939308 Email : arvachurch@gmail.com Catholics : 1046 Families : 229 P. P. : Rev. Elias D’Souza (from 2021 onwards) Phone : 9845661040 Email : frelias@rediffmail.com Sub Station : Infant Mary Chapel, Nalkur Convent: Holy Cross Convent Superior : Sr Annette Varghese Aldangady Post, Via Guruvayankere - 574 217 Phone : 9480424496(P); 9483424076 Institutions: 1. St Peter Claver English Medium Nursery School 2. St Peter Claver English Medium Primary School 3. St Peter Claver English Medium High School Phone : 08256-272134; 9480355003 Email : peterclaver2006@gmail.com Former Parish Priests : P. P. : Rev. Naveen Pinto (2018 - 2021) P. P. : Rev. Fr. Abel Lobo (till 2018) HISTORY: Arva was a part of Belthangady parish, but as a missionary station it was under Fr Corti of Naravi parish. In 1905, Fr Faustine Corti sj came to Naravi and brought the Christians together. His assistant, Fr Angelo Gaviraghi sj, used to offer Mass at Arva in a shed which was also his home. He baptised about 3,500 people and started a school here. He constructed the church the work of which was overseen by James D’Silva, a catechist and it was completed in 1926. Bishop Perini erected Arva into a parish on March 1, 1927 and Fr Leo Carvalho was appointed to be its first missionary parish priest on January 29, 1927. The church portico was built during the time of Fr Raphael Albert D’Silva (1951-1959). The new church was constructed by Fr Valerian D’Souza and it was inaugurated on February 27, 1992. In 1961, Fr Victor Saldanha constructed a few shops and rented them. The extension work of Nalkoor School building and construction of belfry was completed by Fr Thomas D’Souza in 1966. A milk producers’ society, Jai Kisan Youngsters Sangha, Gnyana Marga Hall, Co-operative Stores, Mahila Mandal and a gate enclosure to the church property were undertaken by Fr Benjamine D’Souza (1970–1980). The new presbytery and the church shopping complex were built by Fr Joseph Lobo. In 1942 Fr Alphonso D’Cunha started the Infant Mary’s Elementary School at Nalkoor. Fr Benjamine Pinto is the 15th parish priest of Arva.

Arva, Aladangady P.O. 574217 Belthangady Taluk