:: Bellary Diocese ::

Parishes & Convents

GANGAVATHI- INFANT JESUS CHURCH (1980)

Parish : Infant Jesus Church
Established : 1980
Patron : Infant Jesus
Catholics : 372
Families : 74
Address : Infant Jesus Church, Gangavathi - 583 227, Koppal Dt
Deanery: Koppal
Parish Priest : Fr. P.J.Irudhayraj
Mob : 9448021130
Email : frpjiraj@yahoo.com
PPC Vice President : Mr.Chowrappa Buddini
PPC Secretary : Mr.Samuel Saladin
Associations : Altar Servers & Youth Association

Mass timings : 8:30 am on Sundays, 6:00 am on week days

A brief history of the parish
Gangavathi being a fast-developing town, with immigrants, even Catholics, was first served from T.B.Dam parish. Fr. Silva C.V. SJ and Fr. Denis Menezes catered to their spiritual needs from T.B. Dam regularly. Fr. Joseph Panjakal MSFS, Parish Priest of Munirabad also started visiting Gangavathi and the sub-station Anegundi often. Thereafter, land was purchased for the construction of the church and the presbytery. On 19 December 1980, Fr. Thomas D'Souza was appointed as the first parish priest of Gangavathi, residing temporarily in Munirabad with Fr. Anthony Raj P. as his Assistant. After Fr. Thambiraj was appointed parish priest of Munirabad, Fr. Thomas D'Souza shifted his residence to a rented house at Gangavathi in July 1981 and started his ministry. During the time of Fr. Anthiah R. C., the present church was built and dedicated on 22 August 1990 by Bishop Ambrose P. Yeddanapalli. The school building was constructed and blessed by Fr. P.R. Paulraj A. in 1994. It was named after Bishop John F. Hogan ofm, the first Bishop of Bellary. When Fr. Pushparaj P. was Parish Priest, the church and school buildings were renovated and blessed by Bishop Henry D'Souza in 2013.In the year 2015 the school came under Grant-in-Aid system.

Priests/Religious from the Parish:
Frs. Jeevan Dandavathi, MSFS, Joseph SDB and Sr. Jyothi Dandavathi (SCC).

Sub-stations:
• Anjaaneya Halli (6 families)
• Chikka Rampur Katri (10 families)
• Shreeram Nagar (7 families)
• Basaveshwar Camp (2 families)
• Kotayya Camp (1 family)
• Oddara Hatti (1 family)
• Anegundi&Vanna Ballari (15 families)

Convent
• Asha Kiran Convent of Sisters of Charity

Institutions
• Bishop Hogan Primary School (Kannada Medium)

Boarding
• Asha Kiran Girls' Boarding