History
History
The history of St. Joseph Church in Mira Road can be traced back to 1985 when people residing in Charni Road, Warden Road, Hill Road, Linking Road, Peddar Road, Napean Sea Road – all famous destinations and number one residential addresses – started asking the question
” Where is Mira Road ? ” ,
in response to a huge building plan and advertising blitz.
The Carmelites are here
The Bishop was again approached – a priest was needed. Heads turned in the direction of the Carmelite Priest Fr. Richard Castelino, residing at St. Louis Church in Dahisar in 1987.Under the direction of the Bishop, he was in the process of identifying candidates to the priesthood from Mira Road. Soon, for various reasons, and to the eternal joy of our early Catholics, the Carmelites had to forgo the parish at Dahisar due to increasing problems with regard to land and language, and take up the fledgling set of activities at Mira Road. The year was 1988. Fr. Richard Castelino pitched in – “I will willingly come to Mira Road, even if there are just 10 people to support me there”. The generosity of Fr. Richard prompted Rev. Fr. Provincial Joseph D’ Souza to take a bold step. Immediately, Carmelite priests landed in Mira Road.
The Carmelites are here
The Bishop was again approached – a priest was needed. Heads turned in the direction of the Carmelite Priest Fr. Richard Castelino, residing at St. Louis Church in Dahisar in 1987.Under the direction of the Bishop, he was in the process of identifying candidates to the priesthood from Mira Road.
Soon, for various reasons, and to the eternal joy of our early Catholics, the Carmelites had to forgo the parish at Dahisar due to increasing problems with regard to land and language, and take up the fledgling set of activities at Mira Road. The year was 1988. Fr. Richard Castelino pitched in – “I will willingly come to Mira Road, even if there are just 10 people to support me there”. The generosity of Fr. Richard prompted Rev. Fr. Provincial Joseph D’ Souza to take a bold step. Immediately, Carmelite priests landed in Mira Road.
Here we need to remember Fr. Richard in a very special way, because he put a condition to Fr. Provincial, saying that if he did indeed succeed in building a Church, it should be dedicated to St. Joseph. A story is also told that, in his time of loneliness and abandonment, Fr. Richard had a dream on St. Joseph! (Later Fr. John Pinto, Priest-in-charge from 1995 to 2002, attributed the building of the Church to a miracle at the hands of St. Joseph).
Enter the dreamer(and the builder) !
In 1996, Fr. John Alex Pinto came as priest in-charge, to take over the reins from Fr. Michael. More and more people had flooded Mira Road and it had become imperative to celebrate more Masses and have more priests. In 1996 came Fr. Melwyn D’ Cunha as assistant to Fr. John Alex Pinto, who got the necessary permissions from the higher authorities of the Archdiocese and the Provincialate of the Carmelites. The benevolent Fr. Pinto had arrived. With him, came big dreams!
Here we need to remember Fr. Richard in a very special way, because he put a condition to Fr. Provincial, saying that if he did indeed succeed in building a Church, it should be dedicated to St. Joseph. A story is also told that, in his time of loneliness and abandonment, Fr. Richard had a dream on St. Joseph! (Later Fr. John Pinto, Priest-in-charge from 1995 to 2002, attributed the building of the Church to a miracle at the hands of St. Joseph).
Enter the dreamer(and the builder) !
In 1996, Fr. John Alex Pinto came as priest in-charge, to take over the reins from Fr. Michael. More and more people had flooded Mira Road and it had become imperative to celebrate more Masses and have more priests. In 1996 came Fr. Melwyn D’ Cunha as assistant to Fr. John Alex Pinto, who got the necessary permissions from the higher authorities of the Archdiocese and the Provincialate of the Carmelites. The benevolent Fr. Pinto had arrived. With him, came big dreams!
Soon these dreams were spelt out. The growing number of parishioners warranted a new and larger Church. By now (1995), the number of Catholics had shot up to 1500. A temporary solution was needed, until the Church was built. In came the generous Holy Cross Convent Sisters – Masses could be celebrated in the stilt area of the Convent School. Sr. Neeta Alva and Provincial of the Holy Cross Congregation gave us the permission for the same.
Around this time, the long-cherished desire of the Carmelites, given their charism, started taking root in the form of planning a Parish and Spirituality Institute in Mumbai Archdiocese. It was Fr. Lawrence D’ Mello who saw that a clear agreement be signed between the Province and the Archdiocese of Mumbai regarding its apostolate in Mira Road with a view to beginning of the Institute of Spirituality after the construction of the Church.
Soon these dreams were spelt out. The growing number of parishioners warranted a new and larger Church. By now (1995), the number of Catholics had shot up to 1500. A temporary solution was needed until the Church was built. In came the generous Holy Cross Convent Sisters – Masses could be celebrated in the stilt area of the Convent School. Sr. Neeta Alva and Provincial of the Holy Cross Congregation gave us permission for the same.
Around this time, the long-cherished desire of the Carmelites, given their charism, started taking root in the form of planning a Parish and Spirituality Institute in Mumbai Archdiocese. It was Fr. Lawrence D’ Mello who saw that a clear agreement be signed between the Province and the Archdiocese of Mumbai regarding its apostolate in Mira Road with a view to beginning of the Institute of Spirituality after the construction of the Church.
Actual Feast Day: 19th March.
Celebrated:
On the First Sunday of December. In March due to annual examinations of children, summer heat and December date coinciding with the Inauguration week (year 2000) of the re-built St. Joseph Church, the PPC decided to celebrate the parish feast on this day.
Mode of Celebration:
A Nine day Novena celebration involving external preachers precedes the celebrations. A separate place of veneration to St. Joseph is prepared on our Church Campus, which is elaborately decorated and illuminated. The Feast Mass is generally celebrated at 9.30 am. The liturgy is specially prepared and the Parish Choir sings for the Feast Mass.
Intentions:
Parishioners and devotees can drop intentions in the box. These are collectively prayed over.
Infrastructure & Amenities:
Candles are made available during the entire Nine days Novena for devotees. On the Feast Day, sweets and soft drinks are served to those participating in the Feast Mass.
