Mission Centres

History:

Mavinakere is a beautiful hamlet surrounded by picturesque hills, dense forests and situated close to the famous Mavinakere lake. The people who lost their houses and lands during the construction of the Linganamakki Dam across the River Sharavathi in 1960 were rehabilitated by the Government of Karnataka at Mavinakere Village in Bhadravathi Taluk.

Around 1964, a few Catholic families whose lands were submerged in the backwaters of the Linganamakki Dam shifted to Mavinakere. In 1968, the Faithful of Mavinakere put up a small chapel for their spiritual needs, which was dedicated to St Theresa of the Child Jesus by Most Rev. Alphonse Mathias, the then Bishop of Chikmagalur. The Faithful of Mavinakere were placed under the care of Mary Immaculate Church, Bhadravathi New Town from 1964 to 1982.

With the erection of a new Parish in Bhadravathi Old Town, the Faithful of Mavinakere were placed under the care of Our Lady of Vailankanni Church, Bhadravathi Old Town from 1982 to 1989.

From 1989 to 2019, the Faithful of Mavinakere were put under the spiritual care of St. Anthony's Church, Karehalli. Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo constructed a spacious new Church and Presbytery at Mavinakere and blessed it on 14.04.2005. From 2009, Resident priests catered to the spiritual needs of the Faithful of Mavinakere. Bishop Francis Serrao declared Mavinakere as an Independent Mission Centre on 31.12.2019 and appointed Fr Venus Praveen Colaco as its First Mission Director.

The Mission Centre has presently 30 families spread out in 4 villages.