Our Lady of Remedies Church, Kirem is a Roman Catholic parish church in India situated at Kirem (Damaskatte), Aikala village, near Kinnigoli in Dakshina Kannada. The church is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore and is dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies.
History
Our Lady of Remedies Church, Kirem, is one of the oldest Roman Catholic parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore. The parish is believed to have been established during the mid-18th century and serves the Catholic community of Kirem and the surrounding region. According to parish tradition, the name Kirem (formerly Quirem) originated from Quirem in Goa, from where a missionary priest is believed to have established the church in 1730 and dedicated it to Our Lady of Remedies. Historical records indicate that Portuguese missionaries served the community before 1780, and a larger church was built around 1783. During the campaigns of Tipu Sultan in the Canara region, the church is believed to have been destroyed and many local Christians were taken captive. Local tradition also holds that members of the Bunt community helped protect the church, a contribution that continues to be acknowledged during the annual parish feast. Today, Our Lady of Remedies Church remains an important centre of Catholic worship, faith, and community life in the Kinnigoli region.