Brief History of Borabanda Parish

The history of Borabanda Parish dates back to the late 1970‘s, when St. Theresa’s Parish, Sanathnagar (the mother Parish) was entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) by Archbishop Samineni Arulappa in 1975. Fr. John Lens SDB pioneered the mission in this area. He was a Belgium-Salesian missionary. During the course of his ministry, he noticed that there were a few isolated Catholic families at Borabanda, 2 kms away from Sanathnagar. The accessibility to these Catholic families at Borabanda was difficult due to poor transport facilities. However, he began to gather these scattered families for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. By 1980, the number of families increased to thirty.

Around this time the Parish Priest was informed that there was some government land in possession of a certain Catholic person who claimed to have all the required documents for it. He offered it to the Church for Holy Mass and other liturgical celebrations. When Fr. Jacob Malayatty SDB succeeded Fr. Lens, he constructed a Chapel there. The Stations of the Cross were soon added around the Chapel. The Compound Wall was completed during the time of Fr. Chacko Thattil SDB. The Revenue Department raised a few objections, but they were amicably settled and all together 1,162 square yards was officially handed over to the Church.

Considering the gradually rising Catholic population of Borabanda, Fr. Maddichetty Michael SDB built the present Church dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. It was blessed by Fr. Pascual Chavez Villanuena SDB, the Salesian Rector Major on 6th February, 2006, who was on a visit to Hyderabad to conclude the Centenary Celebrations of the Salesian presence in India. A new Borabanda Quasi-Parish under the patronage of St. Francis Xavier was declared at Borabanda, Hyderabad on 8th July, 2007 by Archbishop Marampudi Joji. Fr. Noel Maddhichetty SDB, the Provincial, Fr. Medabalimi Balaswamy SDB, several other Salesians, few Religious and large number of Faithful participated in this historic event. Later St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Borabanda Quasi-Parish has been raised to the canonical status of an independent Parish by Archbishop Marampudi Joji with effect from 03rd December, 2007. Thus in addition to Sanathnagar and Bandlaguda, Borabanda is the third Parish that is entrusted to the pastoral care of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Hyderabad Province.

Sub-Station In The Parish

1.Rehmatnagar Rehmatnagar is one of the two substations. The Church at Rehmatnagar was named as Holy Family Church. Rehmatnagar was started by Fr. John Lens, SDB. Today there are 100 Catholic families approximately at Rehmatnagar. The Sunday Mass is at 7.00 am. All the religious and liturgical services are held there as in the Parish.

2.Kondapur The Church at Kondapur was named as Church of Our Lady of Good Health on 15th August, 2011. Mr. Wilfred Benjamin Frazer who runs Walter Memorial School in that area generously allows the Catholic Community there both Latin Rite and Syro-Malabar Rite to have celebration of Holy Mass in the School Premises. It was started by Fr. Androth Jose SDB the then Parish Priest. From then onwards, they started to have the Holy Eucharistic celebration at 9:00 am on Sundays over there. Today there are 50 Catholic families approximately at Kondapur. The attendance for Mass is around 200 people.

Men & Women Religious Congregations

Society of St. Francis De Sales (SDB): : Apart from the pastoral care of the above-mentioned Parish Salesians of Don Bosco-Society of St. Francis de sales (SDB) Fathers also run Don Bosco High School established in 1984 at Motinagar. The present strength of the School is around 3000. In addition to it Don Bosco Degree College affiliated to Osmania University was started in 1999.