St. Anthony's Church

St. Anthony's Church is known for its very ancient ivory statue of St. Anthony of Padua. This marvelous statue of St. Anthony made in the birth place of the saint in Lisbon, Portugal.

ThambuChetty Palya (T.C Palya) was earlier called by name Sannathammanahalli, the same of under the jurisdiction of Mysore Deevan T.R.A. Thambuchetty. At that time, this Parish was also under the control of St. Francis Xavier' s Cathedral. The said Mysore Deevan had great respect towards the Christians. He also constructed a small mud church for the worship of Christians and granted this village to the Christians at large. By then this village was also named as Thambuchettipalya. In the year 1911 Rev. Fr. Gabier had built a additional small Church. The Church is known for its very ancient ivory statue of St. Anthony of Padua. This marvelous statue of St. Anthony made in the birth place of the saint in Lisbon, Portugal.

It began with the Archbishop of Lisbon offered the marvelous ivory Statue to one of his relative, a very high ecclesiastical dignitary who was proceeding to Goa (India). He placed the said ivory statue in St. Francis Xavier's Church in Goa for public veneration for more than 100 years. Another top dignitary in Goa gave back this ivory statue to the Mr. Borges family in Goa. The mother of Borges offered it to her son Fr. Borges; the then parish priest of St. Anthony's Church, ThambuChetty Palya and placed it in the Church for its veneration on 13th June, 1948. The Old Church was built by Fr. Lovis Mascarhenas, the then parish priest of St. Anthony's Church on 11.12.1959.

Since the installation of the said statue in our Church, thousands of people irrespective of religion who are the devotees of St. Anthony are visiting the Shrine especially on Tuesday. It was on Tuesday the first miracle took place after the death of St. Anthony. Thus Tuesday is dedicated to St. Anthony. On all Tuesdays special Novenas and prayer service are held in saint's honor. Rev. Fr. I Chinnappa, the then parish priest renovated the Old Church in the year 1988. Rev. Fr. A.S Anthony Swamy built Miracle park of St. Anthony in the year 1996 which is first in India. In the said park there is a statue of St. Anthony which is 25 Ft. height and weighs 22 tons which is the biggest St. Anthony's Statue in India. He also built 14 stations of the Way of Cross which is well known for its architecture.

Thus over the year the Catholic faith spread and the Church was built in 1959 became too small to accommodate all the Parishioners and need of a big Church was felt.

In the year 2007 Rev. Fr. T. Bernard, the then Parish priest laid foundation for the New Church. Rev. Fr. Mariyappa Gregory, the Parish priest and Dean of T.C. Palya Deanery has completed the new church to accommodate more people and the Shrine was dedicated and inaugurated for the glory of God by the Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev. Fr. Dr. Bernard Moras on 1st November, 2009.

There is also a relic of St. Anthony brought from Padua and the same is available for worship. The relic is blessed and consecrated by the Archbishop of Bangalore on 9.8.2010.

The Population in Thambuchettipalya and surrounding places is mixer of all religion and all are living in good harmony. Irrespective of their faith and religion, the surrounding people are visiting this Church and worshiping St. Anthony.

Especially on Tuesdays the worshipers will be much more. This Church comes under the jurisdiction of Arch-Diocese of Bangalore.