SACRED HEART CHURCH

Mathura, also known as Muttra in earlier times, is an ancient Hindu holy city, the birth place of Lord Krishna. It is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, having many sacred temples and ashrams. Lakhs of pilgrims converge every year. Christianity has been co-existing in Mathura, for many centuries. The first Catholic to visit Mathura was a French priest, Fr. Tavernier, in about 1650. Another French man Bernier visited Mathura in 1663. Fr. Joseph Tiffenthaler, a Jesuit Missionary from Bolzano was in Mathura in 1750 to inspect the astronomical instruments of Raja Jai Singh. Msgr. Victor Jacquemont visited Mathura in the cold weather of 1829-30. Catholic communities of Armenians and Goans were here even before 1800 AD. Records say that Fr. Gregory, a Carmelite priest came to Mathura and administered the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony to several Catholics on the September 30, 1791. He is the same priest who baptized Begum Sumroo of Sardhana, at Akbar's Church in Agra. The Church, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, was demolished in January 1874, and at the same place on the 18th of the same month, on the feast of the Holy Name, the first stone bearing the title of the Sacred Heart was laid for the new and the present Church. The entire Church edifice was completed and solemnly blessed two years later on the feast of All Saints by the Most Rev. Michael Angelo Jacopi, OFM Cap, the then Archbishop of Agra on November 1, 1876. This Church constructed in Gothic style blended with oriental design and native arts along with a dome elevated in Russian look, is a model of inculturation in the architectural styles of the Church. The work was supervised by Mr. F. S. Growse the then Collector and Magistrate of Mathura. Many leading members of the Hindu community - the Rani of Kunwar, the Seths, the Raja of Hathras, Lala Syam Sundar Das, to mention a few assisted in the construction of the Church with handsome pecuniary donations and many of them attended the solemn blessing of the Church. In 1936 the Franciscan Brothers of Mt. Poinsur started their Missionary work in Mathura with Brothers Otto and Magnus, concentrating more on village uplift. The School that was run by the Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart Church was given over to Mother Mary of Jesus Immolated and her Companion, Sr. Beatrice, in 1956. In 1958 Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Dominic Athaide invited the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Trivandrum to look after the school for the diocese. In 1960 the IMS Fathers came to work in the Mathura Mission. Owing to the efforts of the IMS Fathers, Capuchin Fathers, Franciscan Brothers, Diocesan Fathers and Sisters of various Congregations, many villages were strengthened with programmes of social uplift. Parishes like St. Michael - Anoopnagar, Our lady of Fatima - Ajay Nagar, St. Joseph - Gaunpur and Nishkalanka Mata - Jaith were carved out from Mathura and it serves as the Deanery Parish for these Parishes along with St. Peter's Parish, Bharatpur, and St. Peter's Parish, Bhimnagar, St. Theresa's Mission Kosi Kalan and the latest St. Mother Teresa's Mission, Aduki. Now there are three women religious Congregations and one of men (CCR, FCC, ASC and CMSF Brothers). The following are the Diocesan Priests who have served over here: Fr. John D'Cunha 1981 - 1984 Fr. Joseph T. D'Souza 1984 - 1987 Fr. Dennis D'Souza 1987 - 1994 Fr. Johnson Chiriyankandath 1994 - 1997 Fr. Antony, TOR 1997 - 2001 Fr. Gregory Tharayil 2001 - 2007 Fr. Mathew Thundiyil 2007 - 2009 Fr. Joe Thykkattil 2009 - 2012 Fr. RaphyVallachira 2012 - 2015 Fr. Mathew Thundiyil 2015 - 2017 Fr. Philip Correia 2017 - Address Sacred Heart Church Basantar Marg Mathura Cantt. 281 002 Phone 0565-2471511 Email shchurchmtr@gmail.com Patron Sacred Heart Annual Feast Day June 11 Estd 1874 Catholics 182 Clergy Fr. Philip Correia (PP) Fr. Peter Parkhe Religious Houses Assisi Ashram (CMSF) M. 8802124777 Sacred Heart Convent (CCR) T. 2400630, 3295617 St. Alphonsa Convent (FCC) T. 2470830 St. Maria Niwas (ASC) M. 8433270229 Institutions Alpha Play School T. 2471122 Sacred Heart Convent Hr. Sec. School T. 3205442 St. Dominic's Sr. Sec. School T. 2470286 St. Francis Public School T. 2432694

Sacred Heart Church Basantar Marg Mathura Cantt. 281 002