This is one of the oldest churches in Gwalior, built in Gwalior sometime in the first half of 19th Century. This was being looked after by French Missionaries, Archdiocese of Agra, Diocese of Jhansi and the priests in Lashkar. Later it was entrusted to the congregation of OCD in 1994.
Predecessors: Fr. Jose, Fr. Johny, Fr. Cassian, Fr. Sebastian, Fr. Joseph T., Fr. Joseph Fr. B. Peter, Fr. Varghese J.K. (all OCDs)
St. Paul's Church and School began in 1964. Fr. AbrahamPalakudy took a house known as 'kale babu ki kothy atThatipur nearChauhan Piavoo'. He called in the AdorationSisters to help him out in his work, partly in a few roomsand partly in a tin shed. Within a few years it was shiftedto a residential building closer to the river, Morar. Fr.George Chennat took over from Fr. Abraham and theschool was shifted to a larger campus with an age-oldbuilding of Rtd. Justice H. Khan, known as the 'gulmohar'.The school, the presbytery, the convent and the chapelwere all in the same old building of Justice Khan. In 1987came the main block of the school. The annexe to the mainblock came up to accommodate the library and the sciencelabs in 1991. The Hindi Medium came up in 1991. Thenew church came up in 1994. A third floor was added to theMain block in 1996. The KG/Primary section came up in2005.The new block came up in 2016 A mortuary forpeople who don't have enough space at home to leave theirdeceased came up in 2017.
Fr. Abraham Palakudy took his residence in an ashram and negotiated for thepresent plot of land. He built up the block with the Chapel first. Then a fewrooms for the sisters (DSH) in a corner. The classes were conducted in thesmall rooms above the chapel till the main block came up. The land next tothe football ground was purchased and the convent was built. The lab. and the library were set up later in the other floors. The administrative block came up last.
Pioneers: Fr. Abraham Palakudy (RIP), Fr. Alex Mascarenhas, (Jhansi) Sebastian Fr. Panakal (RIP) Fr. Maria Soosai (Jhansi) & Joseph Palakudy, Fr. Norbert Mascarenhas ( Jhansi), Fr. Joyce S., Fr. Harshal A., Fr. Pius Kalathiveettil.
The Benedictine fathers ventured to the north in1980. After a long search they decided to settle down at Shivpuri, which fell in the limits of the then diocese of Jhansi. The warm welcome and the fatherly care of Bp. Frederick D'Souza touched the hearts of the pioneers and the Frs. George, Hugh, Jacob and Bernard chose Shivpuri with the blessings of the Abbot General Simon Tonini and at the advice of Fr. Abraham Palakudy precisely because there was no Catholic presence in the entire district of Shivpuri. And thus Jeevan Jyoti Ashram was established in 1982. The monks started to take care of the spiritual needs of the few Catholics working in different parts of the district: Badarwas, Karera, Khaniyadhana, Kolares and Pohri. Bp. Frederick D'Souza's efforts brought in the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, who took care of the St. Charles' School in 1993. The Deena Sevana Sabha followed them also in 1993. The monks procured some land on the Circular road and opened St. Benedict's School in 1998. The Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden came in 2013 to help out in the above school.
Predecessors: Dom George, Fr. Donstan, Fr. Thomas T.T. Fr. Clement Fr. Thomas, K.J., Vakkachan & Lisson. (Fr. Hugh, Jacob, Fr. Bernard, Fr. Dominic,Fr. Stephen, Fr. Vincent, Fr. George.
The little plot was purchased with the help of catholic airmen through the influence of the then AOC., A. Y. Tipnis. The chapel was built with the help of Fr. A. Kulmi, Principal of St. Paul’s School. Priests used to attend to the parish from St. Paul’s.Fr. Sebastian Panakal was the first Parish Priest, who expired within a few days after the blessing of the chapel.
The Malanpur land situated in the village Danga Guthina consisted of 11 bighas. Bishop FrederickD’Souza instructed Fr.Alphonse to acquire also the other three bighas from the Shri Henry D'Souza, which was done in1994. Once that land was registered, the demarcation was doneand then the boundary wall was put up with piling pillars atevery 10 feet. Since there was no approach road, Fr. Alphonse ran up anddown to the collectorate and requested the collector to allotsome land attached to ours for an approach road. That being done, he demarcated the road dumping about 75 trucks of rubble and murram to raise the road up above the neighbouringfields. A small building was put up for a priest to live in and a bore well was drilled to have water enough for our fields. In 2007 a water reservoir was dug to harvest water and fishrearing. In the year 2019 a cow shed was built and 6 cows and 6 calves were bought with purpose of distributing milk among the malnourished children of project area.
The mission was being attended to by the Benedictinefathers. After establishing St. Charles' and the DSSplots in Shivpuri, Fr. Oswald (Jhansi) spotted this plot on the eastern side of Pohri and purchased it with theapproval of the Bishop. The presbytery, the conventand the dispensary came up rather simultaneously.The construction of the St. Gonzalo Garcia Mission School was completed and blessed on 10th July 2006 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara.
Predecessors: Fr. Oswald (Jhansi), Fr.Maria Francis, Fr. Marcel, Ninama (RIP, Jhabua) Fr. Antonisamy, Fr. Johnson Manuel, Fr. Johnson B. Maria
There had been a small catholic community present in Bhind, which had been attended to by priests from Gwalior. Inl997 Fr. Antonisamy was assigned to this mission. After much struggle the present plot at Keeratpura was purchased. The school was started in 2000 in a rented house with the help of the SABS sisters. It was burned down in the same year. Late Rev. Fr. Eugene Rosario completed the construction of the ground floor of the school and it was blessed on 18th June 2001 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara. The year 2003 witnessed blessing of convent and the Grotto. Rev, Fr. Urban John D’Souza completed the construction of the first floor of the school by and it was blessed on 29th September 2005 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara.
Pioneers: Frs. Tarcitius Britto, C. Alphonse, Marcel Ninama (RIP) Antonisamy, Eugene Rasario (RIP) Fr. Urban John D'Souza, Pius Kalathiveetil, Fr. Lawrence D’Souza
The plot of land was purchased in 24th August 1999 with the help of Mr. Kapil and effort of Fr. Maria Francis. Fr. Michael Anthone took a house on rent and started living in the house of Mr. Kapil and was giving Masses. Fr. Joseph Palakudy and Fr. Rohit followed him in the rented house and Fr. Pius joined him and started the boundary wall and then the class rooms.Rev. Fr. Dionysius R. B completed first floor in the year 2016 and was blessed on 20th June 2016 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara. In the year 2017 half portion of the second floor was completed and blessed on 21st August 2017 by Late Most Rev. Thomas Thennatt. Remaining half portion of the second floor and the construction of the Basketball court were completed in the year 2020 and blessed and inaugurated on 16th March 2020 by Most Rev. Joseph Thykkattil and Bishop Emeritus Joseph Kaithathara respectively in the presence of Rev. Fr. Dionysius R. B the principal and Rev. Fr. Joseph Chipson, the manager.
Predecessors: Fr. Maria Francis, Fr. Michael Anthone, Fr. Joseph Palakudy, Fr. Pius Kalathiveettil, Fr. Biju C., Fr. Joseph Chakkalakkal and Fr. Dionysius R. B, Fr. Joseph Chipson.
The Catholics in the BSF, Tekenpur requestedthe Bishop of Jhansi to have a chapel inTekenpur as they had to travel all the way toDabra for Sunday Masses. The Bishop askedFr. Jospeh Palakudy to go into the matter and hefound a small plot of land, a little away from theroad, procured it and built a chapel and apresbytery. St. Joseph sisters of Chemberrywere accommodated in the presbytery, taughtin St. Peter’s Dabra and also ran a dispensary inDabra till they left the station. It was beingattended to by the priests from Dabra, till Fr.Maria Francis was posted there. Fr. Gilbert who succeeded him started the construction of St. Thomas School at Tekkanpur and a wing with four class rooms was completed and blessed on 25th October 2018 by Late Most Rev. Thomas Thennatt SAC .
Predecessors: Fr. Joseph Palakudy, Fr. Chipson, Fr. John Xavier, Fr. C. Alphonse, Fr. Lawrence, Fr. Joseph James, Fr. Maria Francis and Fr. Gilbert Antony
Morena was being attended to by priests from Lashkar. It was only in 1994 that a plot was bought and in the year 1999 Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara laid foundation stone. Rev.Fr. David completed the first floor and the extension of the school. It was blessed on 4th August 1999 by Rev. Fr. Alphonse and Rev. Paul Raj celebrated the Thanksgiving Holy Eucharist. Fr. Dilip Nanda completed the construction of the administrative block and Presbytery in the year 2011 and it was blessed on 13thJuly 2011 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara. Fr. Harshal who succeeded Fr. Dilip, bought a plot adjacent to the car parking area in the year 2018 for the construction of a new block for the school and work began in the year 2019.
Predecessors: Fr.David, Fr. C. Alphonse, Fr. HarshalAFr. Lawrence D'Souza,Fr. Dilip Nanda, Fr. Harshal, Fr. Antony Sami
Bp. Frederick D'Souza was keen to have a tabernacle midway between Jhansi and Gwalior and that materialized in1997, when Fr. Frederick Mendonca was assigned to open this mission. A small house was built in the interior side of the large plot, which comprised the chapel, priest’s room and small classrooms. Then a basketball court and a stage was built for the School. Fr. Joseph Chipson built a small chapel attached to the priests’ residence. The toilets for the children was altered and set in 2015-16. During the tenure of Rev. Fr. Lawrence D’Souza Infant Jesus Shrine was built and it was blessed in 2016 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara. In the year 2017 Rev. Fr. Joseph Chakkalakal built stations of the cross over hill and it was blessed on 12th February 2017 by Late Most Rev. Thomas Thennatt SAC. In the year 2019 at the foot of the hill a grotto of our Lady was built and it was blessed by Most Rev. Joseph Thykkattil on 15th August 2019. A magnificient entrance gate to the shrine was built by Fr. Joseph Chakkalakal and blessed by Most Rev. Joseph Thykkattil on 9th February 2019. Many people receive blessings from the daily adoration and intercessions.
12.5 bighas of land on the by-pass road to Murena was purchased immediately after the consecration of the new bishop, and a new house came up for the bishop. Later for an unavoidable reason the Bishop house was shifted to Kheriya Modi and a foundation stone was laid by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara on 17th March 2000 for Diocesan Pastoral centre named after St. John Vianney. The construction was completed in the year 2019 and it was blessed and inaugurated on 27th August 2019 by Bp. Emeritus Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara and Rev. Fr. N. John Xavier respectively.
Predecessors: Fr. Vincent Soares, Fr. Dionysius, Fr. Rohit John
While Norbert was in Datia, he negotiated for the present plot of land. St. Maximillian Kolbe church was blessed by Bp. Joseph Kaithathara and School was blessed and inaugurated by Bp. Joseph Kathathathara and then home minister Mahindra Boudh on 4th July 2000 respectively, when Fr. Dilip Nanda was the Priest in-charge. The school building came up along with the chapel cum residence. The construction of the new school was completed in the year 2013 by late Rev. Fr. Eugene Rosario and blessed by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara. In the year 2015 the convent was built and Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara blessed it in the same year.
Pioneers: Fr. Joseph Palakudy, Fr.Joseph Chakkalakal, Fr. Norbert Macarenhas (Jhansi), Fr. Dilip Nanda, Fr. John D’Souza (Asst.) Fr. Michael Anthone, Fr. Eugene Rosario, and Fr. Joseph Muthalakuzhy.
Fr. Michael Anthone, the pioneer, stayed in a rented house andmanaged to buy the present plot of land. The school buildingcame up fast. Once the convent was visualized then a chapelcame up at the northern end. Of late some land along the roadhas been taken for the national High way, so boundary wallwas shifted back.
Pioneers: Fr. Michael Anthone, Fr. Rohit John, Fr. Dominic (Jhansi) Fr. Joseph James, Fr. Peter Y.
The mission was initially served by Benedictine fathers from Shivpuri. Later Fr. Dilip Nanda was entrusted the mission in the year 2004 by Bishop Joseph Kaithathara. He rented a house in Badarwas and bought a piece of land on the road going to Vijroni from Badarwas, about eight bighas in all. On 27th June 2007 school building with 8 class rooms and wash rooms were partially completed and blessed by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara.In the year 2016 convent for FDZ sisters was completed and blessed on 3rd April 2016 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara. Rev. Joseph James completed the ground floor of the extension work of the Scholl and it was blessed on 14th October 2018 by Late Most Rev. Thomas Thennatt.
Pioneers: Fr. Dilip Nanda,Fr. Rohit John, Fr. Michael Anthone, Fr. Johnson Maria and Fr. Joseph James
This Station was under the Shivpuri Misision where Benedictine Fathers rendered their services. Fr. Dilip Nanda took upresidencein Datia and went in search of amission. Khaniyadhanasuited his vision for themission. He found a suitable place, bought itwith the consultation of the Bishop andput up achapel cum residence by the side of thecanal. Foundation stone for the St, Sebastian Mission at Khaniyadana was laid on 17th January 2016 by Most Rev. Joseph Kaithathara and It was blessed on 7th July 2017 by Late Most Rev. Thomas Thennatt and inaugurated by Mr. K. P Singh, the MLA of Pitchoor.
Bishop Frederick D'Souza asked the Benedictine Fathers at Shivpuri to see to Sunday Masses for the people of Karera, which they fulfilled regularly and meticulously. In 1999 Fr. Dilip Nanda rendered his services in Karera.In 2000 Bishop Joseph Kaithathara repeated the request of Bp. F. D'Souza the Benedictines to give Mass on Sundays and to see to the needs of souls in Karera. Fr. Nabor OSB and Fr. Anthony OSB rendered their whole-hearted services to Karera and Dinara till 2016. Fr. A. Harshal, Fr. Pius and Fr. M.A Joseph and others rendered services to Karera. On June 24th2016 Karera was handed over to Fr. Michael Anthone, which he fulfilled to the best of his ability. Mass was offered in Karera on 11th Sept. 2016. From then on Fr. Michael has been constant in giving Mass to the community at Karera. Bishop Thomas Thennat SAC encouraged Fr. Michael and asked him to rent a house and reside in Karera to care for the people. It is through theinitiatives of Fr. Pius, Fr. David and Fr. John Xavier that the mission came into being. Sri, Michael Tirkey has been a great help in the formation of this Mission. The mission was blessed and started by late Bp. Thomas Thennatt SAC on the 23rd July 2017 under the patronage of Our Lady of Lourdes. In the year 2019 Sisters of DSH congregation started a community and started Sacred Herat Academy at Kheraghat Village, Karera and it was blessed by Most Rev. Joseph Thykkattil on 24th February 2020. A piece of land for the mission was bought and the foundation stone for Lourdes Matha Church was laid on 13th January 2022 by Most Rev. Joseph Thykkattil.
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