SAINT PHILOMENA CHURCH MYSORE
Origin of St. Françis Xavier church. Bangalore
When Father Chevalier (MEP Priest from France), who later became the Bishop, first suggested the idea to construct a church on the top of St. Johns Hill in Bangalore, the elder priests were not that much convinced by this idea, they were saying why to construct a church in the middle of a desert, indeed at that time very few were living in that area, few retired British army officers bungalows were scattered here and there and all the rest was only a dry land. But later they accepted altogether the idea.
That is when a French catholic widow who was living in that place, where the church was suppose to be constructed, died and had donated this place to the mission. The French missionaries got the permission from an English general to build this church, and the church of Saint Xavier church was built.
After the construction of the church, in the area where it was First a desert which has turned slowly into a oasis, then a small town, and the catholic population doubled, even as early as 1876 there was a need to make more space in the church. Which soon was done, extended, but was again still insufficient.
Thirty years passed, more and more Catholics started coming and settling in Johns Hill, even after the extension of the church, it was insufficient, a new church had to be constructed on top of Johns Hill, it should be huge, solid, built in Granit stone. Father Vissac made the plans, and father Servanton is looking after the construction since 20 years.
At one point of time, we could see the old and the new church next to next, like the mother and daughter. The first one old but still beautiful, the second one new but still under construction, reaching the sky with its massive pillars ...the daughter will soon become the new basilica, and the mother will become a small chapel.
Source: translated from french. Vieilles-traditions-Bangalore-FX-MEP H. Bailleau. Mission de kumbakonam. 1926
Rev. Fr. Jean-Baptiste Servanton - Bangalore
Rev. Fr. Chevalier was the first parish priest of St. Francis Xavier Church, Bangalore. The Church built in 1851 was situated on a site measuring 550 square feet. Mrs. Zulime Watkins, a French Catholic and the widow of an English Commander, Capt. Watkins, donated this land to Fr. Chevalier.
Rev. Fr. Jean-Baptiste Servanton is a French Priest from the “Missions Etrangères de Paris”. He was born in 1865 at Saint Romain-les-Atheux, Loire (Lyon) France. He joined the “Missions Etrangères de Paris” on the 18th September 1886, he was ordained priest on the 21th September 1889. On 11th of December 1889 Servanton left for the "Mission de Mysore" from France.
In 1898 Jean-Baptiste Servanton was appointed the parish priest of St. Francis Xavier's Church. When he came to Bangalore St. Francis Xavier's church was a very small church. The old Church was becoming inadequate due to growing population. In 1905, the cross from the tower of the old Church fell down, which he considered to be a sign to rebuild a new Church.
The foundation stone for the new Church was laid in 1911. His dream was realized after 21 years, the new Church was opened on 26th May 1932.
During his 50 years, Fr. Servanton worked without taking a single holiday and never went back to see his homeland. He loved his flock and gave generously to the poor. He used to get up at 4 o’ clock, he was the first to open the church and the last to close, he used to sleep in just a sleeping chair. The tireless Father Servanton started also the St Anthony's and St Rock's primary schools in the cathedral compound.
Rev. Fr. Jean-Baptiste Servanton was also the spiritual adviser of Sir T.R.A. Thumboo Chetty the father of Sir T. Thumboo Chetty. Many people in the family were baptized by him, the daughter of T. Thumboo Chetty called Philomena Thumboo Chetty (Rukmavathy) was baptized by him in the year 1913.
Even at 80 years he used to go by bicycle to visit nearby villages, Fr. Servanton died at the age of 83, in 1948, after a heroic life and is buried in his own Church. The Corporation of the City of Bangalore honored him after his death, by naming the Circle in front of St. Germain High School as "Rev. Fr. Father Servanton Circle" in 1961.
Saint Philomena Oratory- Mysore
In 1926, when Rev. Fr. M. Cochet was the Priest of Mysore Saint Joseph Church, that is when Mr. T. Thumboo Chetty, a fervent Catholic and who is also the Huzur Secretary of the Mysore Palace (s/o the Late Dewan of Mysore), approaches Rev. Fr. M. Cochet and expresses the desire to donate a statue of “Saint Thérèse of the child Jesus” (Saint Thérèse of Lisieux) to the Church of Mysore.
Rev. Fr. M. Cochet accepts the Idea of T. Thumboo Chetty. But since they could not find a suitable place in the small church; it was decided to construct not only One but Two Oratory in the enclosure of the Church compound. One for the “Saint Therese of the child Jesus” and another Oratory for the “Saint Philomena”.
At that time Sir T. Thumboo Chetty was very worried for one of his daughters, who was also named Philomena Thumboo chetty, exceptionally gifted and a very talented young Violinist, who was only 14 years old when she expressed her strong wish and intention to go to Europe for her higher musical Studies.
Since she bore the same Name of the Saint Philomena, Sir T. Thumboo Chetty decided to place his daughter under the powerful protection of the Saint.
Once the newly built oratory of St. Philomena was erected. The devotion to the Martyr Saint Philomena surpassed all previsions, at the point where in the year 1934, a new church is being constructed in the honor of the Saint Philomena, replacing the old small St. Joseph’s Church, and an unprecedented event, His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore accepted to lay the first Stone of the Church.
Some days earlier, the Queen Mother, the Regent Maharani, sent a beautiful Indian dress with golden embroidery for the Saint.
Sir T. Thumboo Chetty
One of T. Thumboo Chetty’s daughter who later became a renowned violinist was named after the Saint Philomena, but T. Thumboo chetty did not know much about the Saint and did not have any particular devotion for this Saint at that time. When his daughter was baptized she was named after the Saint by Rev. Father Jean-Baptiste Servanton, Parish priest of St. Francis Xavier's church, Bangalore.
Until, a few years later, one of his brothers who had a profound devotion to Saint Philomena asked T. Thumboo Chetty if he could get a relic of the Saint from Rome. The remains of the Virgin Martyr were enclosed in a figure in the sitting posture preserved in a Sanctuary not far from Mugnano del Cardinale.
In the Year 1926, T. Thumboo Chetty wrote to His Grace the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Peter Pisani, DD. , who was for some years the Delegate Apostolic of India and was then residing in Rome, requesting him to send him the relic of the Saint Philomena.
He waited but did not receive any reply. After few months Mr. T. Thumboo Chetty went on a tour with His Highness the Maharaja to the North of India. After visiting several places in the Himalayas, and while returning back, when they had made a stop in Benares, T. Thumboo Chetty had the agreeable surprise to receive a packet by post from Rome. This packet was redirected from place to place. The parcel contained the relic of the Saint Philomena, together with a certificate of the Bishop Augustine Zampini of Rome, testifying the genuineness of the relic and authorizing the exposition of the same for public veneration.
Saint Philomena church
In his humble effort to spread the devotion of the Saint, T. Thumboo Chetty presented the relic to Rev. Father J. Cochet who was then in charge of St. Joseph’s Church, Mysore. He took charge of the Saint's relic and promised to help him in the effort to spread the devotion to St. Philomena.
A beautiful statue of Saint Philomena was received from Paris and stands resplendently in the sanctuary erected for the Saint. The Reliquacy in which the precious bone of the Saint is preserved was sent from Lourdes the world renowned place of pilgrimage. On the 10 of October 1927, the day of birth of T. Thumboo Chetty's little daughter, the Bishop of Mysore blessed the Statue and the Relic and for the first time exposed for public veneration.
Father Cochet received the relic of the Saint from Mr T. Thumboo Chetty, but it was Father Rene Feuga who decided and supervised the construction of the new church in honour of Saint Philomena which was completed by Father F. Audiau. The relic of Saint Philomena is preserved in a catacomb below the main altar.
Foundation of Saint Philomena’s church Mysore
Speech by His Highness The Maharaja of Mysore of the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of Saint Philomena’s church. His Highness Sri Krishnarajendra Wadiar
28th October, 1933.
My Lord Bishop, Reverend Fathers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me very great pleasure to come here today to lay the foundation stone of the great new church which you have planned to erect here, and to associate with the name of your patron saint, Saint Philomena.
I believe with deep conviction that religion is fundamental to the richest and strongest life of the nation. There are diverse religions in this land of ours, and frequently there exists a most irreligious hostility between them. But we have gradually been coming to understand that the unity is much deeper than the differences, that while in creed and custom we are far enough apart, in worship and in aspiration we are one. This being so, the creed and custom of each religion among us is surely worthy of reverent study by the followers of every other.
You have reminded me that your present church was built by my grandfather of revered memory ninety years ago, and it is interesting to recall the inscription that was put upon it then. It ran : -“In the name of that only God the Universal Lord, who creates, protects, and reigns over the Universe of Light, the mundane world and the assemblage of all created lives, this church is built 1843 years after the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Enlightenment of the world, as man.
Thoughout these many years the church thus dedicated has been the spiritual home of innumerable people, where in poverty and suffering they have found peace, and in trouble a wisdom that passes the mere understanding, so that every stone of it has become dear to them. There is some sadness in the tought of its disappearance, yet it is joy to think of the rising up of a worthier temple, to be brooded over by the same eternal spirit, and to remain for centuries a shrine of holiness and healing.
The new church is nobly planned, and it will be built largely from the devout offerings of the very poor. This Church indeed will be strongly and securely built upon a double foundation, divine compassion and the eager gratitude of men. Nor can I forget, as foot by foot it rises, those devoted labours of the clergy without which it must have remainded a dream. You, my Lord Bishop, have been associated with Mysore as a parish priest, and later in your present high office, for as many years as I can remember. To you and to your clergy the State and City of Mysore are indebted for countless deeds of charity and goodwill, and for endless effort for the enlightenment and uplift of the people. Yourselves you have long forgotten, but your labours cannot be hid, and this great building will be a memorial of heroic toil and sacrifice.
May this church of Saint Philomena, the foundation Stone of Which I now proceed to lay, be not merely the worthy center of the spiritual life of your own Roman Catholic people, but also a fountain of peace and goodwill and the zeal for all true service.
Source :
- Compte-rendu des travaux / Société des missions étrangères. Date : 1934. https://c.bnf.fr/C4L
- "The Indian Fiddler Queen." A short sketch of Philomena Thumboochetty.
- http://archives.mepasie.org/fiches-individuelles/servanton
- http://archives.mepasie.org/fiches-individuelles/feuga
- http://www.children-of-bangalore.com/sfxchrch.htm
- Source: translated from french. Vieilles-traditions-Bangalore-FX-MEP H. Bailleau. Mission de kumbakonam. 1926
- The Indian Fiddler Queen : A Short sketch of Philomena Thumboochetty, Author Kesari, K. N., Publisher Madras : At The Lodhra Press, 1937.
-Life Of St. Philomena T. Thumboo Chetty 1931by T. Thumboo Chetty,Topics Life Of Saint Philomena, T. Thumboo Chetty, 1931.
https://archive.org/details/booklifeofst.philomenat.thumboochetty1931