By Verghese V Joseph; Pictures by Raphael Prasanna –
In the bustling heart of Bengaluru’s Indiranagar, where skyscrapers now pierce the skies once dotted with modest shacks, the quaint Resurrection Church stands as an inspiration of enduring faith.
On a sun-kissed Sunday evening, this iconic sanctuary burst into Golden Jubilee celebrations with unprecedented splendour: two cardinals, three archbishops, and over 35 priests converging for a historic Holy Mass. It wasn’t just a liturgy; it was a radiant proclamation of 50 years of spiritual fire, social uplift, and pastoral growth—a testament to how a tiny seed of charity blossomed into a thriving community of over 7,500 souls.
Fr. Amarnath Dinesh Roy, the parish priest whose warm welcome set the tone, reflected on the church’s humble origins. “Built in 1976 on land graciously provided by the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Resurrection Church began as a sub-station of the nearby Good Shepherd Church in Murphy Town,” he shared with delegates. “It gained independence in 1986 under our first parish priest-in-charge. Today, as we embark on this year-long jubilee, we’ve structured our celebrations around three pillars: spiritual enrichment, social uplift, and pastoral growth for our parishioners.” His words echoed the church’s evolution from a simple worship space to a vibrant hub fostering holistic transformation.
The day’s pinnacle unfolded with a welcome dance as His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão and His Eminence Cardinal Antony Poola—joined by archbishops from Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru (Most Rev. Jaya Rao Polimera), Andaman and Nicobar’s Port Blair (Most Rev. Visuvasam Selvaraj), and Tamil Nadu’s Madurai (Most Rev. Antonysamy Savarimuthu)—concelebrated the Mass.
Dignitaries included former Resurrection Church parish priest and Vicar General Msgr. C. Francis; Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India; and Rev. Dr. Christopher Vimalraj Hiruthya, his associate. Assisting Fr. Amarnath were Fr. Pavan Anthony J, the assistant parish priest, Mangalorean Archdiocesan priest Fr. Rahul Dexter D’Souza, deacons, and brothers. The air thrummed with chants, incense, and shared reverence, marking the dawn of jubilee festivities.
In another historic first, the Resurrection Church witnessed the heads of two highest Catholic bodies – Cardinal Poola elected as the new President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and this event being his first official engagement. Cardinal Ferrao is the President of Catholic Conference of Bishops of India (CCBI).
Cardinal Ferrão’s homily stole hearts, weaving a poignant tale of St. Mother Teresa that mirrored Resurrection Church’s mission. In the remote Australian town of Bourke, New South Wales, she entered a tin shack in an Aboriginal reserve. An elderly man, isolated and forsaken, insisted, “I’m alright.” Undeterred, she tidied his space, uncovering a dusty lamp in the corner. “Don’t you light this beautiful lamp?” she asked. “For whom?” he replied. “Months pass without a visitor.” “Light it for the Sisters,” she urged. They visited daily, igniting it together until he took up the flame himself. Two years later, his message arrived: “Tell Mother, my friend, the light she lit in my life is still burning.”
“This is our call,” Cardinal Ferrão proclaimed. “Be His light through humble acts of love—cleaning a room, kindling a lamp. What seems insignificant radiates God’s compassion, banishing darkness bit by bit.” The congregation, eyes glistening, absorbed the metaphor: just as Mother Teresa’s spark endured, so has Resurrection’s flame illuminated Indiranagar for half a century.
Roots in Radical Charity: The Good Shepherd Legacy
Chroniclers Vice Admiral Adolph Britto, Wing Commander Davis George, and Mr. M.A. Das affirm over 75 years, Resurrection Church mirrors Bengaluru’s Catholic ascent. From Michaelpalya’s baptismal dawn to today’s 7,500-strong flock, it’s a cohesive archdiocesan pillar.
The church’s story is inseparable from the visionary Good Shepherd Sisters, who in 1920 acquired land on Old Madras Road—then Bengaluru’s outskirts. Escaping the city’s clamor, they built “Lourdes Villa” in 1922, blessed by Bishop Dr. Teissier and chaplain Rev. Fr. Fego. This heritage dwelling birthed St. Michael’s Home for unwed mothers and orphans, sparking waves of philanthropy. Their grace touched 17 local families, leading to baptisms and the birth of Michaelpalya, Indiranagar’s first Catholic enclave.
By 1938, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish served the faithful. Growth spurred Good Shepherd Parish in 1967, but swelling numbers demanded more. On March 19, 1976, Archbishop Arokiaswamy laid Resurrection Church’s foundation on Sisters-provided land. Cardinal Lourduswamy blessed it on December 29 that year. The Sisters’ generosity extended further: from 1940, they donated plots for St. Anne’s Convent, a TB sanatorium, 80 Feet Road developments, and CV Raman Hospital. In 1982 came the Sisters of John the Baptists and Dominican Sisters of the Presentation; Montfort Brothers followed in 1984—all on Good Shepherd land.
Initially a Sunday Mass outpost under visiting priests, Resurrection Church became a full parish in 1986 with Fr. Varkey Valluttuthotil at the helm. Urban expansion—Indiranagar, Thippasandra, DRDO Colony—swelled ranks, necessitating a multi-purpose hall. Under Fr. I. Anthappa, annexes with meeting rooms and facilities arose, easing disruptions to worship.
Building Dreams Amid Challenges: Education, Skills, and Renewal
Resurrection Church’s spirit of service flourished through active groups: St. Vincent de Paul Society, Legion of Mary, St. Michael’s Association, and St. Sebastian’s Welfare Association. Choirs soared, associations thrived. Lacking schools, the parish eyed land behind the TB Sanatorium, gifted by the Sisters. On January 24, 1993, the foundation for Resurrection School was laid. Classes began in church premises—nursery through VIII—growing to 180 students by adding II and IX. St. Anne’s Sisters took over, fueling young minds.
Parallelly, the Resurrection Technical Training Centre (RTTC), funded by Germany’s Misereor, opened May 11, 1996, under Archbishop A. Mathias. It empowered 90 poor youths yearly in tailoring, welding, electrical wiring—boys and girls alike—with scholarships. The first floor housed the Chemmanur Joseph Memorial Hall, bolstered by parishioner gifts.
Adaptation marked resilience. By 2002, RTTC and the hall proved unviable; leased to IDIOM Design and Consulting in 2005, revenues aided archdiocesan rebuilding. The commercial lease was concluded in March 2005 between the Archbishop and the firm, revenues going to the Archbishop’s House, with intent to plough back resources to future re-building of Resurrection Church. A Parish Council team under Fr. Norman visited a cross section of Churches in Bangalore, but plans for a new building could not be completed.
Under Msgr. B. Joseph Francis in 2006, renovations ignited. Architect Nikki Thomas’s designs for a mega church and presbytery were shelved for urgent upgrades: a redesigned sanctuary, marble granite floors, icons, audio systems, and projection—all completed by 2009, thanks to parishioner donations and in-house architect Rita Moses.
Msgr. C. Francis’s 2010 tenure delivered the coup: the Presbytery and Pastoral Centre, started September 27, 2011, and inaugurated February 3, 2013, by Archbishop Bernard Moras. Funded by the Archbishop’s House, donations, and parish resources, it provided clergy quarters, catechetical rooms, and an auditorium—fulfilling long-held dreams.
Sacraments, Symbols, and a Unified Future
The jubilee Mass wove personal milestones into communal joy: baby Arya’s baptism and confirmations for Adam Bernard Chris and Annie Bernard Christa.
Women’s Commission members presented the Golden Jubilee logo, symbolizing unity.
Fr. Amarnath thanked F. Joseph Stanley, General Secretary of Skills For Progress, for instrumental in bringing the cardinals to church.
As celebrations unfold—spiritual retreats, social outreach, pastoral innovations—Resurrection Church invites all to light their lamps. In Cardinal Ferrão’s words, these acts transform isolation into illumination. In Indiranagar’s concrete jungle, this church endures not as relic, but revolution: a golden legacy urging all to fan the divine spark within.