The Christian presence in this city began with the arrival of Dr. Shepherd in 1877. A Scottish Presbyterian with exceptional medical skills, he earned the deep respect of the royal household. It is said that the Maharana even gifted the land for the church near Chetak Circle to the British engineers who built the local lake. By 1891, the first Catholic missionaries, French Capuchin priests named Fr. Jean and Fr. Pius, arrived on foot from a distant station.
As the 19th century closed, the work of the Paris Province Capuchins expanded across the region. Fr. Charles settled in the Jhabua district in 1896, and alongside Fr. Bernard, he laid the foundations for what would eventually become our own diocese. Together, they established early mission stations in places like Thandla, Mahuri, and Ambapara, ensuring that even the most remote areas felt the touch of grace.
The modern history of our parish is inseparable from the tireless work of three French Capuchin Priests: Fr. Edgar, Fr. Victor, and Fr. Noel. In 1950, they began a humble mission in a small rented house. Soon after, the Sisters of the St. Mary of the Angels and the Prabhudasi Sisters of Ajmer joined this stream of service. While the Sisters began their own schools in rented spaces, the Fathers waited until 1952 to acquire the land where our primary school stands today.
Fr. Edgar, a brilliant educationist, started the school before passing the responsibility to Fr. Francis Castelino. For nearly thirty years, Fr. Avito Coutinho managed the institution, transforming it into one of the leading educational centers in the city. During this time, Fr. Coutinho also served as the Parish Priest. Since there was no dedicated church building yet, the faithful gathered in the school hall every Sunday to celebrate the Mass.
For decades, our community was part of the Diocese of Ajmer. However, the Holy Father recognized the need for closer spiritual supervision. On December 3, 1984, a Papal Bull officially divided the territory to create the new Diocese of Udaipur. On February 14, 1985, Rev. Joseph Pathalil - who had already spent twenty years working in the local missions, was ordained as the very first Bishop of this new diocese.
After years of gathering in temporary spaces, the dream of a dedicated spiritual home finally became a reality. On October 8, 2002, our new Cathedral Church was completed and dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. It stands today as a monument to the perseverance of those early missionaries and a sanctuary where every member of our diverse family is treated with equal respect and love.
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