Catholic Parish Community of Bandel in Bandel, West Bengal, India.

The Catholic Parish Community of Bandel is centered around the Basilica of the Holy Rosary, commonly known as Bandel Church, located in the suburban town of Bandel within the Hoogly district of West Bengal. As one of the oldest Christian churches in India, this site stands as a significant memorial to the Portuguese settlement in Bengal. Founded in 1599 and dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Our Lady of the Rosary, the church serves not only as a place of worship but also as a hub for community activities. Its history dates back to the mid-16th century when the Portuguese established Bandel as a port and received permission from the Mughal Emperor Akbar to build a town and preach the Catholic faith. The original church was constructed in 1599, over a century after Vasco Da Gama's arrival in India, though it was destroyed during the sacking of Hooghly by the Moors in 1632. A newer church was built over the ruins in 1660 by Gomez de Soto, with the key stone of the original 1599 structure still visible on the eastern gate of the monastery. Recognizing its historical importance, Pope John Paul II declared the Bandel Church a minor Basilica on November 25, 1988.