Thomas de Castro
Encyclopedia
Dom Thomas de Castro was a native of Divar
in Goa
. The Holy See
appointed him Vicar Apostolic of Canara
on 30th August 1675. He later founded the famous Milagres Church
in Mangalore
, South Canara
(present Dakshina Kannada district), Karnataka
state, India. He was the nephew of Dom Matheus de Castro
(1594−1677), the first Indian Bishop of The Catholic Church.
by his uncle Matheus de Castro Bishop of Chrysopolis. there he joined the congregation of Divina Providencia or the Theatine order. It is recorded that in Rome he was appointed professor of Philosophy and Theology and Prefect of the aspirants for various sacerdotal degrees. He was consecrated Bishop of Fulsivelem by the Vatican in 1671.
In 1674 he arrived in India and began his missionary work from August 30 1675 as the Vicar Apostolic for the kingdoms of Cochin, Tamor, Madurai
, Mysore, Cranganore, Cannanore and the Coast of Canara. He also remained the Vicar Apostolic of the Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly (1675–1684), in present Varappuzha
in Kerala.
He built The Milagres Church
in Mangalore
, Karnataka
, India, which was completed in 1680. This church is a prominent place of worship for Mangalorean Catholics. Bishop de Castro died on 16 July 1684 at the age of 63 years, his grave in the Milagres cemetery can be identified by a bronze slab next to the St. Monica Chapel.
Divar
The island of Divar lies in the Mandovi river in the Indian state of Goa.-Location:...
in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. The Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
appointed him Vicar Apostolic of Canara
Canara
Canara can refer to:* Kanara – a region in Karnataka, India* Ovidiu – a town in Constanţa County, Romania...
on 30th August 1675. He later founded the famous Milagres Church
Milagres Church
The Milagres Church is a historic Roman Catholic Church situated in the Hampankatta locality of Mangalore. The church was built in 1680 by Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine from Divar, Goa. The original structure was constructed at the site of the present-day cemetery...
in Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, South Canara
South Canara
South Canara was a district under the British empire, located at . It was bifurcated in 1859 from Canara district. It was the undivided Dakshina Kannada district...
(present Dakshina Kannada district), Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
state, India. He was the nephew of Dom Matheus de Castro
Matheus de Castro
Dom Matheus de Castro was a native of Divar, Goa, India. He was the first Indian Bishop of the Catholic Church. Consecrated Bishop of Chrysopolis by the Vatican and appointed Vicar Apostolic to the Kingdoms of Idalxa , Pegu and Golconda....
(1594−1677), the first Indian Bishop of The Catholic Church.
Biography
While in his teens he was taken to RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by his uncle Matheus de Castro Bishop of Chrysopolis. there he joined the congregation of Divina Providencia or the Theatine order. It is recorded that in Rome he was appointed professor of Philosophy and Theology and Prefect of the aspirants for various sacerdotal degrees. He was consecrated Bishop of Fulsivelem by the Vatican in 1671.
In 1674 he arrived in India and began his missionary work from August 30 1675 as the Vicar Apostolic for the kingdoms of Cochin, Tamor, Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, Mysore, Cranganore, Cannanore and the Coast of Canara. He also remained the Vicar Apostolic of the Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly (1675–1684), in present Varappuzha
Varappuzha
Varappuzha is a Northern Suburb of Cochin city. It is a census town in Paravur taluk, Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. The nearest town is North Paravur 8 km away. The village is situated in the NH 17 connecting Edapally with North Paravur...
in Kerala.
He built The Milagres Church
Milagres Church
The Milagres Church is a historic Roman Catholic Church situated in the Hampankatta locality of Mangalore. The church was built in 1680 by Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine from Divar, Goa. The original structure was constructed at the site of the present-day cemetery...
in Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India, which was completed in 1680. This church is a prominent place of worship for Mangalorean Catholics. Bishop de Castro died on 16 July 1684 at the age of 63 years, his grave in the Milagres cemetery can be identified by a bronze slab next to the St. Monica Chapel.