Our Patron
St Anthony of Padua

Parishes & Convents

TUNGABHADRA DAM - ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH (1965)

Parish : St. Joseph's Church
Established : 1965
Patron : St. Joseph
Catholics : 2040
Families : 325
Address : St. Joseph's Church, Netaji Nagar, T. B. Dam- 583 225, Ballari Dt.
Tel : 08394-259175
Deanery : Hospet
Parish Priest : Fr.Robert Paul
Mob : 9731476110
Email : frppushparaj@gmail.com
PPC Vice.President : Mr. K.F. John
PPC Secretary : Mr.Christu Arasu
Associations : Altar Servers, Youth Association, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent De Paul Society,YCS, Self Help Groups

Mass timings :7:00 am on Sundays, 7:00 am - Mon & Thur, 5:30 pm - Tue at Ambedkar Nagar, 5:30 pm - Fri & Sat

A brief history of the parish :
The Tungabhadra Dam Project works - an irrigation and hydro - electric project was started in 1945. The staff and labourers, many of whom were Catholics, brought from Tamil Nadu and Kerala for project. These Catholics approached the T.B.Board authorities to allot land for constructing a chapel. The T.B. Board leased a portion of land on the southern side of railway station and high - level canal in February 1952. Under the initiative of late Fr. A.M. L.Pinto, who was the parish priest of Hospet, people collected funds and began to construct a small chapel. The chapel was blessed by Bishop John Forest Hogan ofmon 21 December 1952.

On 17 May 1964, during the feast of Pentecost, Bishop Ambrose P. Yeddanapalli ofm, came to T. B. Dam. Seeing the huge congregation of people, especially children and youth, he wanted to make this an independent parish. On 13June 1965, Fr. Sebastian Kulathinal was appointed the first parish priest of T. B. Dam, while he stayed at Hospet.When Fr. Denis Menezes took charge of T. B.Dam on 1 June 1967, he built a house attached to the church. It was Fr. C.V. Silva sj, who succeeded him, completed it on 1March 1973. For sometime, the parish was given to the Salesians. Frs. Anthony Valluran sdb and John Kannath sdb,were the first team of salesians to arrive in the parish for about 4 years. Then, Fr. Rajappan was appointed parish priest and he renovated the old church with a little modification in 1993. Fr. Irudayaraj P.J. demolished the old sub-station chapel in Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (Vankai Camp) and a new chapel was built with the help of the Manos Unidas.As the Catholic population was growing bigger, there was a need for a bigger church. Under the leadership of Fr. Leo Michael Y. S., the construction of the new church started on 1May 2007. The new church was dedicated by Bishop Henry D' Souza on 1 May 2010.Fr. Bhagavanth Raj applied to TGB Board for additional land,and grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was constructed.

Names of the Priests/Religious from the Parish
Late Fr. Elias P.Nayan, Fr. Gnanapragasam L., Sr. Lilly Divyanathan, Sr. Eliza Lourdu, Sr. Susaimary, Sr. Arul Sheeli, Sr. Anto, Sr. Susheela & Sr. Anthony Arogya Mary.

Convent
• Sahaya Matha Convent - Fatima Sisters
• Laverna - Adoration Monastery of St. Clare
• Daya Nilaya Convent of Deena Seva Sabha

Institutions
• Child Labours Home & School by Don Bosco
• St. Joseph's Nursery School
• St. Joseph's Higher Primary School
• St. Joseph's High School
• St. Joseph's ICSE School

Hostel
• Abhaya Home for Special Childrens