INFANT MARY CHURCH

KATIPALLA: (1968) INFANT MARY Address : Church Road, III Block, Katipalla P.O. 575030 Phone : 0824-2000027; 8277939348 Email : infantmarykatipalla@gmail.com Catholics : 1613 Families : 391 P. P. : Rev. Valerian Lewis (from 2019 onwards) Phone : 09448870124 Email : frvallie@gmail.com Prayer Hall: St Sebastian, Krishnapura Convent: Franciscan Sisters of St Mary’s of the Angels Superior: Sr Saumiya St Mary’s Home for the Aged (FSMA) Katipalla P.O. 575 030. Phone : 0824–2270442; 9741097006 Institutions: 1. Infant Mary Pre-Primary Eng.Med. School Phone : 0824–2270214 2. Infant Mary Hr. Primary Eng.Med. School Phone : 0824–2270214 3. Infant Mary English Medium High School Phone : 0824–2270214 Email : infantmarykatipalla@gmail.com Former Priests : P. P. : Rev. Andrew D’Souza (2018 - 19) P. P. : Rev. Alwyn Edward D’Cunha (till 2018) HISTORY: Katipalla is the only parish in Mangalore Diocese dedicated to Infant Mary. Fr Charles Nazareth, the parish priest of Surathkal offered the first mass under the pandal made of sago palm fronds on September 8, 1967. Under his leaderhip the construction of church building began. Fr Peter S. Noronha took over the charge as the Parochial Administrator on May 1, 1968. He resided at the house of Mr William D’Souza and offered mass at the incomplete church building. The new church building built by Fr Noronha was inaugurated on September 8, 1968. With some parts of Kulur, Surathkal and Pezar parishes Katipalla became a parish on December 1, 1968 and Fr Peter Noronha was appointed as the first parish priest. Fr Noronha began a poultry farm and the Agricultural Co-operative Society. The agricultural returns were so good that Mr B.D. Jatti (Vice-President of India and earlier Chief Minister of Karnatka) visited this site and appreciated it. All India Radio interviewed of Fr Noronha twice on how agricultural societies would benefit from his experience. Fr Mark D’Sa began the construction of the belfry and Fr Remigius Aranha the grotto. Fr Simon constructed a prayer hall for the members of Alchoholics Anonymous. Fr Charles Lewis constructed a Hall. Bishop Basil D’Souza helped financially to repair the church and build the compound wall. Mr Thimothy D’Souza donated the bell. Bishop J.B. Sequeira, presently Bishop of Chikmagalur, hails from this parish. Fr Antony V. Lewis is the 7th parish priest of Katipalla.

Church Road, III Block, Katipalla P.O. 575030