St Roque Church is situated at a distance of 35 ks to the north of Mangalore and 6 kms from Niddodi, and is surrounded by Ferar, Niddodi, Sampige and Kateel parishes.

📜 History of Neerude Parish

Establishment and Growth of Neerude Parish

On January 20, 1945, the self-administered chapel (Kopel/Chapel) at Neerude was formally established by Bishop Victor Fernandes. At that time, Fr. Joseph Lobo, the parish priest of Urwa was appointed as the first vicar of Neerude. After serving faithfully for ten years, he was transferred on February 4, 1955.

He was succeeded by Fr. Lawrence V. M Fernandes, parish priest of Bajpe became the second vicar of neerude. During his tenure, a new church was constructed. The church was consecrated on April 19, 1960, by Bishop Raymond D’Mello. Subsequently, on January 9, 1961, Bishop D’Mello issued an official decree granting Neerude the status of an independent parish.

After rendering devoted service for fourteen years, Fr. Lawrence Fernandes was transferred on October 13, 1968. He was followed by Fr. Raymond Moras as parish priest. Thereafter, the parish was served successively by Rev. Fr. Cyprian Lasrado   

 7-5-1977 to 26-5-1979

Rev. Fr. Piathas D'Souza

26-5-1979 to 3-4-1984

Rev. Fr. Denis Moras (Admn.)

3-4-1984 to 17-5-1984

Rev. Fr. Alfred Pinto

17-5-1984 to 14-8-1989

Rev. Fr. Lancy D'Souza

14-8-1989 to 29-5-1992

Rev. Fr. Lawrence Martis

29-5-1992 to 4-5-1999

Rev. Fr. Andrew Nazareth

4-5-1999 to 12-6-2006

Rev. Fr. Ronald D'Souza

12-6-2006 to 31-5-2013

Rev. Fr. Archibald L. Albuquerque

31-5-2013 to 20-8-2014

Rev. Fr. Victor George D'Souza (Admn.)

02-9-2014 to 11-6-2015

Rev. Fr. Assisi Rebello

11-6-2015 to 15-7-2021

Rev. Fr. Alban Rodrigues

from 15-7-2021 has been appointed as the parish vicar of Neerude.

Over the past eighty years, the progress of Neerude Parish has been truly remarkable. The parishioners worked with dedication and pride in building the presbytery, church, and other parish structures. Even today, the Christian community of Budigad–Neerude remains well organized. Christianity flourished here through strong parish life, Christian customs, education, and social service, all of which continue to be clearly evident.

Earlier History and Connection with Pezar

Historically, Neerude was closely connected with Pezar. Many residents of Neerude shared family ties, property relations, and close kinship with Pezar. The Christian communities of Pezar and Neerude developed simultaneously, supported by educated Christian families from Pezar, Permude, Kanikatta, Kopla, Nelthir, and Neerude, who were primarily skilled cultivators engaged in agriculture and allied occupations.

From Pezar, parish boundaries extended over a vast region—from Kulur to Mulki, Kendar,kaudur , Hospet, Sankal-Kariya and beyond.

although estimates regarding the formal establishment of Pezar & royal records indicate that an organized Christian community existed there much earlier from Chapels at Rosario cathedral and Milagres were already in existence 20–30 years earlier. The church estate included lands and maintained by junth of pezar and a general procurator was elected from among the congregation.

In earlier times, Mass and sacraments were celebrated in Latin, with explanations given in Konkani. Prominent families of the Pezar congregation included the Sequiera’s of Bendyntle, Kamatigele suvaries family, Pai(Albuquerque) of bashantle , Anthony Souza , Diogo Prabhu and others from Kopla and Nelthir.

During the reign of Tipu Sultan, the Pezar church was destroyed and later rebuilt as a fortified structure. Records mention that families such as Pascal Kambothi(Sequiera), Panchiguri Balacho Anthony Souza (Prabhu) and others were taken captive to Srirangapatna. After Tipu Sultan’s death in battle against the British, the captives were released. From 1800 to 1864, the history of Pezar was recorded in Portuguese.

Villages such as Kendar,kavdoor,Bajpe,Agrar, Ferrar. & name of wards such as Kopla, Pinta Wado, Nelthir, Mochar, and Niddodi possess well-documented histories, including records of religious donations.

After realese from captivity pezarites united leaving the old broken structures and built a new grass roof small chapel in the ridges of the forest and tigers were common on the terrain and with help of pascal Kamath the kalavar land was bought and assets of the church seen growth even in Neerude’s Koppla the land were given to the     Seven tenants for agricultural purposes.

Growth under Later Clergy

A major turning point in Pezar parish occurred during the tenure of Fr. Basil Barreto (1826). He constructed permanent structures, including a stone cross and later a new church in 1876, whose altar was built by Diogo Fernandes of Mochar also founded the Neerude school and he used to go to mass at pezar fr. Barretto regularly visited Budigad, Ferrar, Gurupur, and surrounding villages and wards. He also built the grass roof chapel on government land at Ferrar.

In 1886, Pezar was freed from Goan jurisdiction, and Fr. Antony Colaco from Mangalore became its first secular vicar.

Formation of Ferrar Parish and Neerude’s Journey

In 1912, Neerude, Kopla, Mochar, Nelthir, Pinta Wado, Kombatt, and Gurupur together formed the Ferrar Parish. Fr. Reginald Pinto was appointed its first parish priest in 1916. He built school of grass roof at ferrar and promoted education in Budigad by purchasing an acre of land from government at Budigad and the school is shifted from Mochar , serving the spiritual needs of five Neerude villages.

He was succeeded by Fr. Joseph Menezes, who dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the spiritual welfare of Ferrar and Budigad villages. One acre of government land was acquired at Neerude–Budigad, where a school building was constructed. Later, Angeline Fernandes donated land for building a church at Neerude. Though foundations were laid, changes in parish administration delayed completion.

In November 1919, Fr. James Severine Sequiera from pezar was appointed vicar. He laid the foundation and completed the new Ferrar church through immense sacrifice and collective effort. Parishioners from Ferrar and Neerude contributed daily labor, resources, and donations to make the project successful. Fr. Sequiera was a great devotee of Our Lady of Pompei and promoted devotion through novenas, establishing her altar at Ferrar.

Despite illness, transfers, and hardships, clergy continued their mission. Recognizing the long-standing request of the Neerude faithful—nearly forty years—the bishop finally approved the establishment of a self-administered chapel at Neerude.

With the support of Bishop Victor Fernandes, Fr. Joseph Lobo was appointed despite the remoteness and challenges of the area. Thus, the self-administered chapel of St. Roch (Rokichi) was officially established at Neerude. Public announcements were made in Ferrar parish, and ten local families initially contributed land and labor.

TO BE CONTINUED 

ALAN MENDONCA

with refernce of archives

 Source: With reference from Parish Souvenir Books