The greatest gift given to Shirva by Msgr Hilary Gonsalves is St Mary’s High School. It was started on 01-06-1947 as a middle school having I, II, and III Forms with Mr. Aiya Durai as the headmaster. Next year Fr. Aloysius Rebello replaced him Within two months. On 1-6-1949 Mr. Louis Mendonca a young and energetic local youth became the headmaster. At the end of June that year, permission was given to open IV Form with a maximum strength of 25. The first batch of SSLC exam appeared in 1952 and gave 30.6% result. The headmaster and his assistants took it as a challenge and worked hard to improve the results. The hard work paid dividends. The school got cent percent results in 1958, 1960, 1964 and 1965.

The work of the hall began in 1959 and ended in 1965. The old students helped in erecting the stage. Mr. S.G.K. Shetty, Sales Manager of Dinesh Mills donated enough cloth for the screens.

The progress of the school was rapid. In 1967 XI Standard was opened. A new building was added to the east of the main building: Bishop B. S. D’Souza blessed and inaugurated in 1970. Third December 1971 was a day of immense joy for St. Mary’s. Fr. Hilary Gonsalves the founder of the school was made “A Chaplain to the Holy Pope with the title of Monsignor. He celebrated the Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee, a unique occasion for the people of Shirva and bid a heartfelt farewell to him on the next day.

Fr. Aloysius Rosario became the Correspondent on 9-1-1972. Under his guidance and Mr. L Mendonca’s leadership, the Silver Jubilee of the school was celebrated under the presidentship of Mr. Badri Narayana, the then Hon-Education Minister of Karnataka. St. Mary’s was one of the very few institutions to become a Junior College that year. To commemorate the Silver Jubilee, a new building was constructed on the northern side. Sri Aroor Ram Mohan Rao laid the foundation. Mr. Edward Gonsalves, a retired Judge and Msgr. Gonsalves Nephew inaugurated it on 16-2-1979

26-8-1975 was a sad day for St. Mary’s. Its founder Mgr. Gonsalves, Maker of Modern Shirva, went to the abode of the creator of this universe for his reward. The next day his funeral took place in the portico of the church. Before that his mortal remains was brought in a procession from Irmiz to the church.

St. Mary’s needed an open-air stage for cultural activities as the hall proved too small. Mr. Lawrence D’Souza, a business magnate in Kuwait and also an old student and an admirer of Msgr. Gonsalves donated the stage, the staff room above it and the life size statue of Msgr. Gonsalves.

The teacher’s day in 1980 was eventual for us. Principal L. Mendonca was awarded best teacher State Award. The management, Staff, Students, Old students and the public felicitated him. Next year he retired after serving the school for 32 years as headmaster. By that time the name and fame of the school had reached all the corners of the world. He was given a fitting farewell

Mr. Alban Rodrigues who joined St.Mary’s in 1949 as a student of I form  succeeded him. The number of students went on increasing in PUC section. The rush for science class was so great that it had to be bifurcated. St. Mary’s always got first rank in Udipi Taluk. In 1990 in Arts section, St Mary’s stood first in the state and in commerce section it stood second, really at creditable achievement. In 1993 District level sports meet for PU College was held successfully in St. Mary’s grounds.

In 1996, Mr. Alban Rodrigues retired and Mr. Felix Andrade was appointed Principal in charge. Next year Mr. J. B. Miranda came here as the principal.

Meanwhile Rev. Fr. Lawrence Gomes had assumed charge as the Correspondent in 1994. The Golden Jubilee of the school was celebrated in November 1998. Bishop Aloysious Paul D’Souza presided over the function. Dr. Muzzafar Hussain Assadi proposed the school toast Former Correspondent and retired teachers and rank students were honoured. A Souvenir called “Swarna Shikara” was released. A science block was constructed to in the memory of this event.

Rev. Fr. Valerian Pinto, the Correspondent took charge in 2001. He repaired the buildings, renovated the hall, constructed separate toilets for boys and girls, and raised the height of the compound wall. In order to get rid of trespassers he closed some entrances and erected a gate to the main entrance. Computers are provided Midday meal scheme is introduced. Separate library and laboratory were provided.