HISTORY OF KUMBLA CHURCH
The present parish, St Monica Church was erected as St Philomena Church on 14th October 1934 by the then parish priest of Manjeshwar Rev Fr Joseph Menezes. It was started as a small Chapel dedicated to St Philomena which was blessed and inaugurated by most Rev Dr Victor Fernandes the bishop of Mangalore.
On 9th May 1970 Rev Fr Harold G DSouza took the charge of the Parish priest of Kumbla. The foundation stone was laid to build the new Church on 11th August 1970 by Most Rev Dr Basil D’Souza the bishop of Mangalore which was dedicated to St Monica.
On 13th October 1994 the church celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.
Very Rev Fr Gerald Isaac Lobo the episcopal vicar of southern Varado took charge of the Parish on 1st July 1998.
The extension and renovation of the church was started in October 1999.
On 17th January 2000, Vatican announced very Rev Fr Gerald Isaac Lobo the Parish priest of Kumbla as the bishop elect of Shimoga Diocese.
On 19th March 2000 Rev Fr Alfred J Pinto was appointed as a new Parish priest of St Monica Church Kumbla. The inauguration of the renovated church and new presbytery took place on 27th November 2000.
Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza the bishop of Mangalore inaugurated the Grotto and Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo inaugurated the new Church building. Msg. Valerian D’Souza the episcopal Vicar of Udupi inaugurated the new presbytery. Community hall was inaugurated by Msg. Edwin Pinto, the vicar general of diocese of Mangalore
On 28th November 2000, the foundation stone was laid to St Monica Institute for Learning and Education (SMILE) by the most Rev Dr Gerald Isaac lobo, the bishop of Shimoga.
On 1st June 2003 St Monica English medium school was establish for the rural children.
April 2003 St Monica Institute for Computer Education (SMICE) was started for external students.
On 13th August 2006 as per the request of most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangalore, the new congregation, sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy came to teaching ministry at Saint Monica English medium school.
Rev Fr Alban Rodrigues appointed as a Parish priest of Saint Monica Church on 1st July 2007. The platinum jubilee of the Parish was inaugurated on 9th November 2008. The Parish celebrated the finale of the platinum Jubilee on 28th November 2009.