About

1. Historical Background & Founding

The Fort Vasai list gives 1557; Dr Eugene D'Souza gives 1577 and a Dominican foundation. It was carved out of Sandor. The name "probably" comes from a statue of Our Lady "considered to confer favours." Destroyed in the plunder of 1690; the priests fled in 1739; rebuilt in 1939. On 28 June 1998 Cardinal Ivan Dias announced the creation of the diocese here.

1. Historical Background & Founding

The second parish of South Bassein outside the fort, a Jesuit foundation carved from Sandor. The heritage listing and GCatholic give 1574; Dr Eugene D'Souza gives 1565; a Portuguese-heritage page gives both. Its first villages were Davly (Remedy), part of Sandor and Maferegua, about 1,388 souls. Rebuilt in 1597 after the Chaul war. The church escaped destruction in 1739; after the Jesuits left it was served from Pali until it had its own vicar, and it was rebuilt in 1864. It is a single-nave church of load-bearing brick with a Mangalore-tiled roof on king-post trusses and "one of the oldest surviving false-front façades" in Vasai-Virar (MMR heritage Grade II B). On 15 August 1998 the first Bishop of Vasai was installed here and the church became the cathedral. A community-funded restoration in 2023–24 (conservation architect Ainsley Lewis; about ₹4.5–4.75 crore from parishioners; lime mortar, bell-tower stabilisation, roof repairs) won an Award of Merit in the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, announced February 2026. As the cathedral church: the Diocese of Vasai was erected on 22 May 1998 by Pope John Paul II, suffragan of Bombay; bishops Thomas Dabre (1998–2009), Felix Machado (2009–2024), Thomas D'Souza (appointed 9 Nov 2024). Parish count for the whole diocese: 49 parishes and 4 missions at end-2022 per GCatholic; 95 per Catholic-Hierarchy for the same year — the two directories count differently, so treat "about 50 parishes" as the safe figure until the diocese's own list is read.

1. Historical Background & Founding

After conversions in 1564 a Portuguese noblewoman, Donna Irina, commissioned a chapel named Nossa Senhora da Ajuda (Our Lady of Help); the first Mass was said there by Jesuit missionaries on 11 November 1566. The Wikipedia article says a picture of St. Thomas was enshrined in 1565, after which the chapel took his name — a year before the first Mass, so one of the two dates is wrong. It became a parish "some time before 1574". The church was destroyed by Gujarat Sultanate invaders in 1571 and rebuilt in 1573, damaged in 1679 and 1690, and survived 1739. Rebuilt in 1838 and enlarged in 1889; its three altars came from a church inside the fort. Between 1574 and 1606 Remedy, Papdy, Palle, Merces and Manickpur were all carved out of it, and Giriz in 1917. Sandor also serves Saloli.

1. Historical Background & Founding

A Franciscan foundation. The parish's own history reads: "According to the Franciscan Chapter-lists of 1585, it can be presumed that it was built sometime between 1577 to 1585"; the Fort Vasai list gives 1595. Locals called it Mãe de Deus. The church held "an image of Our Lady of great beauty"; in the storm of May 1618 the statue fell with its veil over its face, an event recorded by Fr. Antonio in 1635. Portuguese crown support stopped in 1730–39; the Franciscans abandoned it in the Maratha invasion of 1739 and "church and friary were destroyed." It was rebuilt between 1840 and 1844 on a new site about a hundred feet west of the original. Parishioners: 1,215 (1854), 1,397 (1859); today about 1,230 families and 5,200 people in Palle and Pardi. Land was added by Fr. Manuel Salvador Pimenta from 1932 and by Fr. J. Miranda and Fr. Pimenta in 1942–43. Mary Help of Christians, Naigaon East was served from here until 1999.

2. Novena

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Wednesdays 6.45 am and 6.45 pm; Mary Help of Christians, Saturdays after morning Mass; rosary 6.30 pm Monday–Saturday

1. Historical Background & Founding

Two dates stand in the sources. Dr Eugene D'Souza: founded in 1584 by Fr. Aleixo de Menezes (later Archbishop of Goa), originally under the Augustinians, constituted an independent parish in 1606. The Fort Vasai list gives "Mercês (1606)". Either way it was carved out of Sandor between 1574 and 1606. The church was destroyed in the Maratha invasion of 1739 and rebuilt in 1856. Before 1917 the Catholics of Giriz belonged to Sandor and Merces.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Before 1606 the people of Manickpur walked to Sandor for Mass. In 1606 the Jesuits put up a chapel of wood thatched with toddy leaves, on land donated in 1572 by Dona Ines Francisca and later bought and bequeathed by Dona Philipa de Fonseca (d. 20 June 1625). The parish was bifurcated from Sandor in 1608 under Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes. The stone church was begun by Fr. Adrian D'Silva, continued by Fr. Manuel Perez and completed by Fr. Manuel D'Costa. The Marathas destroyed it in 1739; diocesan priests served the parish from 1739 to 1949, and the Jesuits returned in 1949. The present church was rebuilt in 1851 by Rev. Fr. E. R. Hull. A restoration in 2025 under Fr. Asis Rodrigues restored the wooden doors and added a Holy Trinity ceiling painting. Gokhivare and the Ambadi Road parish both grew out of Manickpur. The parish publishes 38 shejols, from Church Road and Khumbharwada to Barampur 1–5, Naupada 1–3, Chulna Road 1–3 and Umelman.

2. Novena

20–28 September

1. Historical Background & Founding

The parish of the Vasai fishing community. UCA News: established 1913; one list says 1933. Substations today: the Shrine of St. Gonsalo Garcia and the Vasai Mata Upasana Centre, with a Mass centre at Pachubandar. In June 2025 the parish ran a four-day Life in the Spirit seminar for the fisherfolk with about 2,100 participants (parish priest Fr. Francis Dabre).

1. Historical Background & Founding

"It is believed that this church was built as a result of a promise made to St Roque by the people of Gokhivare in 1914 when the village was severely affected by an epidemic of cholera." About 200 villagers built a structure of 40 by 18 feet in his honour. It was raised to a parish in 1943 with Fr. Nubiola, a Jesuit, as the first resident priest (one list says 1930, which may be the blessing of the chapel). In 2009, "with an increasing Catholic population, especially due to migration from Mumbai, a new and larger church is presently under construction." A second entry, St. Roque Church (Waliv), with the Waliv Community Centre as substation, sits in the same directory. Gokhivare was once under St. Michael's, Manickpur.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Built by the Catholics of Giriz, who until then walked to Sandor or Merces: the foundation was laid on 14 February 1917 and the church completed a year later "without foreign aid," at which point Giriz became an independent parish with Fr. Augusto D'Souza as first parish priest (Daijiworld gives 1918). A porch and community hall were added in 1968 (Fr. Francis Gratian Monteiro), the church was extended and a parochial house built in 1977 (Fr. Dominic Pereira), and the two spires were replaced in May 1981.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Listed as 1946. Sunday Mass 8.00.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Listed as "Fatima Mata, Chulan Gaon (1964)"; a parish of the Latin rite at Chulne PO. The present Bishop of Vasai, Thomas D'Souza, was born in Chulne on 23 March 1970. Masses: Sunday 7.30, weekdays 6.00.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Listed as 1974. English Mass Sunday 9.00 and Wednesday 7.15 pm novena with Mass; Marathi Sunday 7.30 and daily 7.30.

2. Novena

Wednesdays 7.15 pm with Mass (English)

1. Historical Background & Founding

A Salesian (Don Bosco) parish: the first Catholic family arrived in the new colonies on 1 May 1994, the first community Mass was on 25 November 1994 (Fr. Dominic Furgose), the area was served from Mother of God, Palle, and it became a separate parish on 3 October 1999.

1. Historical Background & Founding

The UCA News directory dates the parish to 2001, at "Near Bishops House, New Barampur, Vasai (W)". The church building was inaugurated by Bishop Thomas Dabre on 8 February 2009 after a decade of fundraising; the parish priest at the time was Fr. Valentine Pawkar, and the report describes a parish with "a large number of Konkani-speaking people" — the Bishop's words at the inauguration were that "the entire Vasai Diocese is for the people of all languages."

1. Historical Background & Founding

The newest of the Vasai West parishes began as a zone of St. Michael's, Manickpur: families who had moved out from Mumbai wanted English Masses, and in 1988 "the young and the old both joined hands and began the search for a plot of land to build the church." In 1991 a small cross with a shed was put up and named the Ambadi Cross, inaugurated by Fr. Rudy Fernandez; Fr. Tony Jurschik, who was in charge, chose the name St. Ignatius Loyola. The trust (Snehanjali Samaj Kendra) was registered on 22 June 1995, Fr. Simon Fernandes bought the plot in 2001, the foundation stone was laid on 1 January 2003, and the church — built on the first floor above the school — was consecrated by Bishop Thomas Dabre on Easter Sunday, 16 April 2006. The UCA News directory dates the parish to 1999. 99 registered families and 322 parishioners in 9 communities; 13 numbered zones.

2. Novena

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Wednesdays 6.30 pm followed by Mass

1. Historical Background & Founding

Listed as a Latin parish at Evershine City. (The St. Thomas Church at Evershine City is Syro-Malabar, Archeparchy of Kalyan — a different church.)

1. Historical Background & Founding

"The first church of the Latin rite" in Vasai, within the citadel. Founder: not named.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua; about 250 tombstones in its floor; St. Francis Xavier is said to have lived in the complex; the 1739 surrender was signed in its courtyard; its bell tower was destroyed in the war. Restored by the ASI (completed before June 2026).

1. Historical Background & Founding

Begun 1546 on the orders of King João III, enlarged 1601; the tallest church in the fort, with a 63-step spiral stair and the most Portuguese inscriptions; the saffron flag was raised on its tower on 16 May 1739. It served as the seat for visiting Bishops of Goa.

1. Historical Background & Founding

The College of the Holy Name was founded by St. Francis Xavier in December 1548 on his last visit; the church was built 1549–1578. Gonsalo Garcia studied here for eight years. It is "the only functional church within the fort," hosting the annual feast of St. Gonsalo Garcia; ASI-restored.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Dedicated to Blessed Gonsalo (diocese site); the largest of the ruins, with a bell tower. One list also places this 1583 Dominican foundation at Gass, so the location is uncertain.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Damaged in the cyclone of 15 May 1618; ruins; slated for ASI restoration. Also within the walls: a hospital (the Brothers of St. John of God were present), town hall, courthouse and prison. By 1674 the town had two colleges, four convents and six churches. All six fort houses are ruins today under the Archaeological Survey of India (monument N-MH-M14, Bassein Fort).

1. Historical Background & Founding

The Fort Vasai list and others give 1557; Dr Eugene D'Souza gives 1580, and a photo caption reads "built in 1580, rebuilt in 1856." Nandakhal was served from Nirmal before 1573; Gass (1942), Mardes-Wagholi and Gomes Ali (2004) were carved from it. The founding order is not named on any page read.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Every list gives 1568 (one travel site says early 1600s). No page names the founding order, though the Franciscan Fr. Antonio do Porto had built an orphanage for forty boys at Agashi as early as 1535. James.

1. Historical Background & Founding

"Built in 1573 by Portuguese missionaries" after large conversions in the Nandakhal area from 1558; until it was finished the people went to Nirmal. In 1585 Fr. Amodar Ana and Fr. Pauladi Potticulla were the first Franciscans appointed. It is the only church in the diocese dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and it survived the Maratha attacks of 1737–39 when most churches fell. Wooden material came free from the Shirsat forest in 1907, Dinda Kurel gave the big bell in 1908, four metal pillars went up in 1910, the front "Alpari" was added in 1920, and Fr. Simon Borges (from 1 June 1978) rebuilt the sacristy, office and residence. Daughters: Umrale (1970), Nanbhat (1975), Rajodi (1999), Bolinj (2001), Virar East and Virar West. In December 2016 the parish had 2,150 families and 7,339 members across 29 village groups, from Nandan (585 families) and Ghosali (767) to Dontalao/Agodi/Sakharbhat (704) and Persav (552).

1. Historical Background & Founding

Fr. Ismail Da Costa built a hut chapel near Arnala beach in 1919; with help from local people of all faiths he built the Church of St. Peter, blessed by Archbishop Joaquim Lima of Bombay on 27 December 1931.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Gass is the village the sources give as St. Gonsalo Garcia's birthplace. The parish was carved out of Holy Cross, Nirmal in 1942; the church building was constructed between 1957 and 1962, with artisans "from all religions — Hindus, Muslims and Christians" pooling money and skills (Dr Eugene D'Souza). Another account gives "built in 1942 by Msgr. Louise Caitan D'souza, a Goan priest, and renovated in 1957"; a local site calls it Gothic and "the tallest church in Vasai." One list also records an earlier Dominican "Church of the Invocation of Sam Gonsalo (1583)" at Gass — the same 1583 Dominican foundation the diocese site places inside the fort, so the location is uncertain. Wikipedia names this church the saint's major shrine.

1. Historical Background & Founding

The first centre to separate from Nandakhal, an independent parish in 1970. Nothing else found.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Bifurcated from Nandakhal. Efforts began in 1949, a prayer house followed in 1953, Sunday Mass from 1965, and on 1 June 1975 — through the efforts of Monsignor Philip Tavares — Nanbhat became an independent parish. About 3,000 residents across twelve villages, with centres at Atoli, Bhati and Sittarbhat.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Listed by UCA News as established 1988. Nothing further found.

1. Historical Background & Founding

Rajodi was the last centre carved from Nandakhal; the church was inaugurated on 1 May 1999 (one list gives 2004).

1. Historical Background & Founding

A daughter of Nandakhal: the Bolinj centre was separated from Holy Spirit parish on 10 June 2001. The parish has an official site (christthekingchurch.web.app), and a video title records a "Dedication, Christ The King Church Bolinj, 25 April 2026" — read as a title only, so the dedication of a new building in 2026 is unconfirmed.

1. Historical Background & Founding

A daughter of Holy Cross, Nirmal, dating from 2004. Listed as "Gomes Aali Church (2004)"; the Don Bosco Yuva Kendra has run youth work from the parish.

1. Historical Background & Founding

A daughter of Holy Cross, Nirmal. Velankanni Mata Church, Mardes–Wagholi is listed as established 2004.