V Rev. Msgr. Denis Jerome D’Souza

Builder of the present Church building

and the founder of Milagres College

V Rev. Msgr. Denis Jerome D’Souza who founded the Milagres College in June 1967 at the astounding age of 83 can be compared to the great patriarch Abraham giving birth to a child at the old age .  Definitely Our Lady of Miracles was with him to realize this miracle. Another great feat wasthat  he managed  to bring  Dr  P.  GururajBhat, a great researcher as its founder principal.   V Rev. Msgr. Denis Jerome D’Souza was the parish priest of Milagres church for two different terms. Once from 1934 to 1942 and yet again from 1954 to 1971.  In the first term, he rebuilt the present day Milagres Cathedral structure which was 140 years old  and in dire need of restructuring and inaugurated and blessed it in the year 1942.  Now  we it is the Platinum Jubilee of this monumenyalstrure that we are celebrating.  In the second term, he founded other great structures in the form of Milagres College,Goretti Hospital and St Teresa Little Flower of Jesus Church, Kemmannu.

V Rev. Msgr. Denis Jerome D’Souza  was born on 8th March 1884 in Kodialbail Mangalore. He had his  college education  at the St Aloysius educational institutions and completed his seminary studies in St Joseph Seminary Mangalore.  He was ordained a priest  in the year 1910 and in the same year came to Milagres Church, Kallianpur as a Assistant Parish Priest. During those years, he showed  great interest in the Milagres  educational institutions and was responsible in staring a school in Perampalli. Later he was transferred to BarkurParish . He took great interest in the Boarding School, Barkur so the PanchayatPresident  entrusted him the responsibility  of looking after this school. Then he was  transferred to Kundapur’s Holy Rosary Church where he started the primary school he started and  today it is  a famous Pre-University College. He also started a school for girls there and today it is a famous girls high school in the area.

         In 1934, he was appointed as the Parish Priest of MiIlagres Church, Kallianpur church. During this time, he brought L V T P school into the fold of Milagres Church. He  also started a primary school in Thottam. In 1938, he built St Ann’s Church at Thottam and later constructed the Church at Kemmannu. In 1940, he started to rebuild the present church which was 140 years old and it was blessed in the year April 1942. Later he was transferred to Milagres Mangalore where he converted a primary school into a high school and today it is has grown into a degree college. He started Padua High School which is  populardegree college today.

  In 1954, Rev. Msgr. Denis Jerome D’Souza came to the Parish as Vicar for the a second time term and immediately began his missionary work with great zeal.  In 1956, he started a separate section for girls in Milagres High School and built a separate block for it. In 1958, he founded Goretti Hospital. In 1960, he celebrated his Golden Jubilee of priesthood during which Pope John XXIII conferred the tittle of Msgr. on him.  In June of 1967, June with the able support of Msgr. William Lewis and the parishioners he founded Milagres College which was inaugurated by Mr T A Pai. The College began with PUC with Arts and Commerce combinations and degree with B A and B Com. His fore sight made him to  get Dr P. GururajBhat, a great researcher and scholar as its founder principal. In 1968, Manipal Academy honored him for his contribution to the field of education. He retired in 1970 after the Diamond Jubilee of his priesthood and spent his last days in Goretti Hospital. On 4th June 1975 after working in Lords vineyard for nearly 65 years, he passed away to his heavenly abode.

MsGR. William Antony Lewis

Vicar General and Vicar Capitular of Mangalore Diocese

Msgr. William Antony Lewis is the  priest who reached the highest position in the diocese of Mangalore. He was Vicar General from 1st November 1959 to 30th March 1972. During this period, the Bishop of Mangalore Rt Rev. Dr Raymond D’Mello was transferred to Allahabad diocese on 30th April 1964  and Bishop Basil D’Souza was appointed as the new Bishop of Mangalore Diocese on 11th May 1965, Msgr. William Lewis was the administrator (Vicar Capitular) of Mangalore Diocese. As Vicar General  he gave moral and administrative support to Msgr. Denis Jerome D’Souza to start Milagres College in Kallianpur in 1967.  

In his earlier days from the year 1932 to 1957 he served as the founder parish priest of Kanajar parish and built a strong vibrant parish. Kanajar parishioners loved him so much that his body was finally laid to rest in the portico of their church.

Msgr. William was born to Ignatius Protus Lewis and FelicinaD’Silva of Milagres Cathedral on 25th June 1903.  The couple had nine children and Msgr. William was the eldest among them. His father was a sacristan of the Milagres Parish. He had his education up to 8th std in MilagresChurch’s, schools and later studied in  St Aloysius Institutions.  He was ordained as priest for Mangalore Diocese on 15th March 1931. He began his pastoral work as Asst Parish Priest of St Lawrence Church, Moodbelle and continued there till 21st May 1938. It is during this time that the started the mission station at Kanajar with the able support of Belle Parish Priest Fr Lawrence Fernandes and FrSalvadore D’Souza, Parish Priest of St Lawrence Church, KarkalaAttur. The Foundation stone was laid for the chapel in Kanajar on 24th February 1934 and it was blessed on 24th July 1934 by Bishop Victor Fernandes and it was raised to the status of a parish on 22nd May 1938 with Msgr. William Lewis as its first parish priest.  He started a school in Kanajar and was instrumental in  starting a post office there in 1948.  He built the present Kanajar church building. He was  transferred to St Lawrence Church Attur on 30th April 1957.  The people of Kanajar still remember him as  asimple priest, a holy man of prayer and sacrifice, who worked tirelessly for their spiritual, social and educational development.

He served as Parish Priest of Attur Church up to 31st October 1959 after which he was appointed as the Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese. He was in this office till 30th March 1972. I was fortunate enough to receive the sacrament of confirmation from this noble soul in the year 1965.

In his twilight years, he served as the Parish Priest of St. Peter’s Church, Petri from 5th April 1972 to 5th August 1980, a church which was in its infancy then. He led the rest of his life asan  assistant in St Joseph’s Asylum. He celebrated the Golden Jubilee Year of his ordination in Kanajar Parish on 27th March 1981. On 25th January 1982 he breathed his last and he was laid to rest in Kanajar Church on 26-01-1982.

Contributions of

RevFr William Gonsalves to the growth of

Milagres Educational Institutions

Rev. Fr William Gonsalvesspent 15 years in Kallianpur as headmaster of Milagres High School, and as a Parish Priest and correspondent of MilagresEducational  Institutions. When he was the headmaster he helped Msgr Denis J D’Souza in establishing the Milagres College in 1967.  As a parish priest he completed the vision of Rev. Fr G L D’Cruz in establishing Milagres Educational Instituions and Science section of Milagres College. I asked FrGonsalves to tell about his contributions to the Mialgres Educational Institutions. Fr William Gonsalves was very humble to admit that he has done exactly what any other priest  would have if he was present at that time.

Reply from FrGonsalves.......

I have your letter. The questions you have asked are really difficult for me to answer.  I feel what I did, would have been done by any priest if he was there at that time.  I took the opportunity, as a God given opportunity with full energy and Joy.  I worked to realize the goal of Msgr. D. J. D’Souza.  He was an inspiration to me.  Even at the age of 82, he was very clear in his mind but weak in his legs.  He did the thinking, planning, writing, understanding his mind I went about executing his plan to his satisfaction. He was involving me in planning, I did the work of meeting the concerned officials, the Bishop, supervise the construction work, though my knowledge of construction was then poor, attended the committee meetings and so on.  It was a hectic work yet it was soul enriching one.

     We wanted the permission from the dept,.keep the bishop informed of the progress.We wanted the building ready on time, we wanted good staff members.  In all team work. I gave a good support to Msgr. at that time I was the H.M. of the High School and also Asst. Parish Priest. In the parish there were other two priests to help. They were old and they did what they could.  Fr W. Rebello was very helpful especially reaching outto the old and sick in the parish.  Both the headmaster work and assisting in the  parish was a little heavy for  me.

     The difficult work was collecting funds, doing from  home and abroad.  Msgr William Lewis was there in the beginning, doing his best in the area.  So also Fr Robert Lewis.  We visited many of Kallianpurianss at Mumbai. From many people we had to hear painful words but what I cherishmost  is the willingness with what they gave what they could.  Their one complaint was we approached them only when a need arose and left them out other times. we don’t even send them our invitations of our annualcelebrations.  I  prepared a file with their addresses and gave to the concerned when I was transferred in 1992.

     In establishing the college, I was there from the planning  to its completion. I was there at the appointment of the staff, and in fulfilling  all the needs of the college. I had good understanding with the principal and so involvedmyself  in all the activities of the college.  I was in the governing board. Also I was a staff member handling General Science. I feel happy that the students secured 100% in the University Exams.

     I don’t remember any special reason for transferring P. U. section to the College.  At that time P. U. sections were mostly attached to the first grade college.  The other reason could be that high school section should be separate from the P. U. Section. P. U.  will get better training and better direction if managed by the degree college.

     When I came back in 1984, Fr G.L. D’Cruz had already begun the science section.  The Building was incomplete.  To complete the building I went to Bombay and even to Canada to my friends to raise funds. Milagres Mother helped us. The Principal did everything needed academically

     The English Medium School was the dream of Fr. D’Cruz.  He had obtained the required permissions, put up the required Building, appointed the staff, with A. C. sister as the H.M.  The school had reached V std.  My task was to continue his work, giving my best to the school raising it high with good academic performance, school activities and good discipline.  What I had to do was to build a staff community, friendly and understanding and  a good and co-operative teacher parents association.  That I did.  We worked together in co-operation. The teachers and parents gave me good support.

     As the school was reaching VII std, a need was felt for the Eng. Medium High School. That means getting required permission and putting up  a Building for it.  I got the Departments permission easily. For the puttingup  of the building KallianpurPanchyath raised objections. Mr JayaprakashHegde M.L.A. helped me to get it from the Dist. Commissioner.

     To put up this building of the Eng Medium High School, Mr Cyril Quadros the contractor  was of great help.  As per my suggestion, he prepared the blue print of the school, got an engineer to supervise the construction.  He was very considerate in his charges.  He was really a friend in need.  To raise funds I had to go once again to Bombay and remained there for a month. A small Milagrian group was very helpful to me.  Mr John D’Souza not only took me round but also entertained me many times in his house. I am grateful to these people.

     A need was felt to have a separate K.G. Section.  With the money available with us we raised it K.G. Section had a spacious place. Next responsibility  was to give a shape to the Kannada Medium school and also provide a kitchen space to the hall.  It was done with the funds available with us.

     My experience as H.M. is a happy one.  When they appointedme to this post I had hardly any experience, knew hardly any Govt. regulations.  Besides I was too young, one of the youngest in the school.  In the beginning one Senior Teacher resented it, claimed his right and other young teachers were not so favourable to me.  But other  senior teachers stood  by me, encouraged me.  When I was thinking to quit the next year they came personally to me telling me  to stand  firm and offered  all support.  In the planning in the school year, in the staff meetings they were with me.  One of them, the one who was claiming to be H.M., every day came to my office, atteneded to the mail and sent the required replies to the Govt.  I learnt the office work through him. As days went by, we became a close knit  friends.  This experience helped me to organize Padua High School when I was there for 13 years and Urva Eng. Med. School, when I was there for a year.

     As a correspondent, I was very much concerned with the standardsof  discipline, activities and above all the neds for a friendly atmosphere in the school.  There was very good co-operation among the staff.  I wanted that school to be  a home away from home. I was not very much involved in the College, as much as I was active in other schools.  I met regularly the staff had regular staff meetings and parent teacher association.  I felt the school should be appreciated by the parents, stand in camparison with other good schools.  This would ensure the flow of students.

     You personally know me as a vicar with the co-operation of all.  We had healthy relationship in the parish, the various church activities were  well attended, peaceful and constructive parish council meetings and active church sodalities.  The vice-president Mr Richard Lewis gave his best  to the church work, especially looking after the church property.  I used to visit the families on and off and this made me know my parishioners in their life situation and they came to know me a little better.  This built a relationship securing a  fund for houses. I helped around 20 people to have their own houses.  It was revolving fund. The beneficiaries had to pay yearly what they could, so other could be helped to have their own house. I must also remember with gratitude  Mr Leslie D’Souza and another lady who were devoted and co-operative.  They were office staff.  I must remember with gratitude Mr R.L. Lewis every week he used to come and check the accounts and helped to maintain the church account properly.  He was retired as a Bank Manager.  We cannot forget Mr Alphonse Lewis, the sacrestian and the other church employees for their co-operation and neat work.

     Looking back on my life, especially at Kallianpur, I feel happy and satisfied.  I had spent 15 years of my priestly life there- first I was an Asst Parish Priest and H.M. for 8 years, then for a period 7 years as a Parish Priest and correspondent.  I have a great respect for the Milagrians for their love and co-operation.  They still remember me.

     I don’t know what I wrote to you answering your questionsis helpful to you.  I tried to put down certain events as the came to me.

     You have a good opportunity to move the College towards its next stage diamond Jubilee.  May you experience a strong support from all and Godsblessings.