Brief History of Bowenpally Parish

Fr. Allam Marreddy (1980-1985) who was taking care of Bowenpally purchased land and started Mount Carmel School, and was the founder and Principal of Mount Carmel High School, Bowenpally. The Parish came into being when Archbishop Samineni Arulappa, seeing the vast area and growing population decided in 1989 to bifurcate St. Anthony’s Church Mudfort by creating a new Parish at Bowenpally, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Prior to bifurcation Bowenpally had a mud Chapel and a Catholic Cemetery which was used by the British Regiments to bury the dead. Thus the Parish was established in 1990. Fr. Swarna Bernard took charge from 1985- 1991 and during his tenure, Mount Carmel Church was established. He had a dual post that of principal of the School and Parish Priest. Fr. Swarna Bernard had started working on plans of building a proper structure for the Church as the People had no place to worship except the School Hall. But he was transferred and the next Principal cum Parish Priest was late Fr. Maramreddy Anthony Reddy (1991-1996), assisted by Fr. Kandi Marreddy, was the instrumental in building the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel during his tenure at Bowenpally.

They had a Church, but the need for a Parish house was not felt as the Priests lived in the school premises. However Archbishop Samineni Arulappa, in his wisdom thought it right to separate the duties of School and Church. He appointed a Priest for the School and another Priest for the Church in 1996.

Fr. Thumma Solomon (1996 - 1997), as Parish Priest, built the Parish House and erected a Bell Tower. Fr. Thumma Arla, 1997, as Parish Priest made a clear bifurcation of the Cemetery and Church campus. He also helped the economically backward women of the parish, with a loan from the CFCA to generate Self Employment for them. He served for one year as the Parish Priest. Fr. Golamari Inna Reddy, was Parish Priest from 1997- 1998. He built a Grotto of Our Lady in place of the old mud Chapel. Fr. Thatireddy Julian Reddy, was the Parish Priest from 1998-1999. He built the pathways in the Cemetery so people could move easily in the area. Fr. Mettu Johannes Reddy, was the Parish Priest from 1999-2004. He renovated the Church.

They had a Church, but the need for a Parish house was not felt as the Priests lived in the school premises. However Archbishop Samineni Arulappa, in his wisdom thought it right to separate the duties of School and Church. He appointed a Priest for the School and another Priest for the Church in 1996.

Fr. Kandi Marreddy, was appointed for the second time as Parish Priest from 2004-2009. During his time, he noticed that the Church was really growing with the number of families. Therefore, he took-up the extension work on both sides of the Church. Archbishop Marampudi Joji blessed it on 22nd July, 2007. He also felt that the Parishioners needed a Parish Hall and a few more guest rooms for visiting Priests, and he built them above the Parish House in the first floor and in July 2008 Archbishop Marampudi Joji blessed them.

Fr. Pentareddy Gnanareddy (2009-2014) as Parish Priest, renovated and rebuilt the Grotto of Our Lady, he also built a permanent Bell Tower and renovated the Altar and Sanctuary. Fr. Mallavarapu Sundar Rao as Parish Priest (2014-2019) built Adoration Chapel, which was designed, sponsored and constructed by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish community on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Church. It took just 4 months for construction and completion of the Adoration Chapel. It was blessed by Archbishop Thumma Bala on 01st November, 2015. He renovated the Graveyard and built a stage for Holy Mass with the Pieta Statue enshrined within the Cemetery. He also levelled out the steps in front of the Church serving a dual purpose, making it easier for walking into the Church and using it as a platform for celebrating Holy Mass outdoor.

Fr. Golamari Inna Reddy serving for a second term (2019-till date), renovated the interior design of the church. He replaced all the old benches and chairs. He made all the new benches in the church. The Parish offers its Parishioners ample opportunities to participate in the life and mission of the Church. The Parish is alive with Legion of Mary, Choirs groups both in Telugu and English, the Children’s Choir, Youth Group, Junior Youth Group, Altar Servers, active faith formation programme for children run by parishioners. To cater to the pastoral needs of the Parish, liturgical services are held in Telugu and English. For the spiritual growth of the Faithful, the parish is divided into 5 zones. Zonal masses are held once in 2 months for each zone.

The Areas Under Its Pastoral Care Are : In the South: From Tadbund cross roads upto Fatehnagar railway gate along the Tadbund to Balanagar road.

In the West: From Fatehnagar Railway Gate to Chintal covering the colonies of IDPL Colony, Balanagar and upto Chinthal.

In the North: From Chintal to Kompally covering the areas of Quthbullapur, Durga Estates and Neighbouring Colonies on the road to Suchitra Electronics and along the Nagpur Highway upto Kompally.

In the East: From Kompally to Tadbund covering the Colonies along the Nagpur Highway, Colonies of Old Bowenpally, i.e, HAL Colony, Samantha Colony, Mallikarjuna Colony, Syndicate Colony upto Sarojini Pulla Reddy’s House and Tadband.

Apart from the above mentioned Parish, the Archdiocese of Hyderabad runs Mount Carmel High School at Bowenpally in the Church Campus established on 20th June, 1980. The present strength of the school for the academic year 2019-20 is 1100.

Men & Women Religious Congregations

Society Of Jesus (SJ) : Jesuit Fathers have Samadarshini established at Bowenpally in 1997. It is mainly used for family Apostolate and for counselling married couples. They have Thara (Tender Home for Anawim Rest and Awakening Society) at Bowenpally established in 2003. They take care of the street children and orphans and their education, social welfare.

Apostolic Life Community of Sisters In The Opus Spiritus Sancti (ALCS-OSS) : Sisters established their community in 1981. Mission of the Congregation is to serve the Church in all spheres of humanity, as a Church in miniature, to continue and bring to perfection the mission of the Lord in the Holy Spirit so that “God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). They have their Provincilate & Holy Spirit Formation House (Athmadharanikethan) and Hostel for Working Women at Jeedimetla. They actually come under Jeedimetla Quasi-Parish. From June 2016, Jeedimetla is temperorily merged in Bowenpally Parish. Therefore, from May 2016 onwards they are going to Bowenpally Parish. Ministries in the Parish are distributing holy Communion, helping in the Parish Church, visiting families and the sick.

Sisters of St. Ann Of Providence (SAP) : Sisters established the Community in 2016. They have St. Ann’s High School at Pet-Basheerabad. Mission of the Congregation is Education. They actually come under Jeedimetla Quasi-Parish. From June 2016, Jeedimetla is temperorily merged in Bowenpally Parish. Therefore from May 2016 onwards they are going to Bowenpally Parish. Ministries in the Parish are distributing Holy Communion on Sundays and helping in the Parish activities.