St. Michael's Church, Mahim — Attraction in Mumbai

St. Michael's Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Mumbai. The church is situated in Mahim, located at the intersection of L.J. Road and Mahim Causeway. The church was originally built by the Portuguese in 1534. Initially known as San Miguel, it is the oldest Portuguese Franciscan church in Mumbai.[2] It was rebuilt a number of times; the present structure dating to 1973.

The church also served as a refuge to the popular icon of the Virgin Mary from Our Lady of the Mount chapel, Bandra from 1739 to 1761.

Due to its location, it is also informally known as Mahim Church.

The church is famous for its Novenas on Wednesdays, which is visited by thousands

Novena St. Michael's sees a large number of people on Wednesdays every week, when novena prayers to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour are held throughout the day. These services are attended by people of all faiths. Devotees believe that visiting the Church on nine consecutive Wednesdays (Novena) will grant their wishes. Some of them offer wax figures of what they desire, for example, a wax house. According to Father Hugh Fonseca, around 40-50,000 devotees visit the church every week.

The weekly Novena services were started in 1948, when a Father Edward Placidus Fernandes from Bombay noticed a similar ritual celebrating Our Lady of Perpetual Succour at Belfast, Northern Ireland, during his visit to Europe. Fr. Fernandes brought with him a picture touched to the original icon at Rome. On 8 September 1948 the Birthday of Mary, concurrent with a Wednesday that year, Fr. Fernandes as the vicar held the first Novena services. Initially, only two services were held every

Wednesday, but today from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm, the thirteen services are held in various languages: English, Konkani, Marathi, Tamil and Hindi. In 2014, A painting of the Our Lady of Perpetual Succor was gifted to St. Michaels by the Vatican. The painting is an authentic hand painted version of the original icon in Rome

St. Michael's Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Mumbai. The church is situated in Mahim, located at the intersection of L.J. Road and Mahim Causeway. The church was originally built by the Portuguese in 1534.

The old church was narrow. It could house only two rows of pews. It had a side porch near the grotto. In the lateI960's the porch collapsed. The old structure walls were left inside, while a new, modern, spacious and airy one was constructed outside and was completed in l973 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Our Lady of Perpetual Help novenas. Today , St Michael's church at Mahim is simple and solemn, large yet intimately prayerful in atmosphere, a 'populist' church in the best sense of the word.The Church is close to the sea with a fishing village nearby but is almost in the market-place amidst crowds with the main road buzzing with heavytraffic. It has no parking space for devotees and no aesthetic beauty but is geographically strategically positioned. As such this arterial route is often a conduit of cultural transmission.

St Michael's is a city shrine almost in the centre of Mumbai, i.e., the end of the city and the beginning of the suburbs. With the opening up of manyresidential sub-divisions and industrial areas in the northern part of thecity and beyond, Mahim has become one of the busiest transportation hubsin Mumbai.

St Michael's church at Mahim from 6.00 in the mornings to 10 at night, the unceasing streams of devotees pour in for twelve services held in English, Konkani, Marathi, Hindi and Tamil. These services testify to the popularity of this devotion. Parishes elsewhere in the city have adopted this novena for the convenience of their parishioners. Since then the crowds only increase with each passing year!

St Michael's church is managed by the Archdiocese of Bombay under thedirection of the Cardinal, The Parish priest and his assistants outline the policy parameters and execute the day-to-day management of the...

St. Michael's Church is a historic Roman Catholic church located in the Mahim neighborhood of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is one of the oldest and most prominent churches in the city and holds significant religious and architectural importance. Here are some key features and information about St. Michael's Church, Mahim:

Historical Significance: St. Michael's Church is believed to have been built in the early 16th century, making it one of the oldest Catholic churches in Mumbai. It has a rich history and has witnessed the transformation of the city over the centuries.

Architectural Style: The church is built in the Portuguese-style of architecture, reflecting the colonial influence in the region during that period. It features beautiful and intricate architectural details, including arches, columns, and ornate facades.

Religious Devotion: St. Michael's Church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, a significant figure in Christian theology. It serves as a place of worship and devotion for the Catholic community in Mahim.

Feast of St. Michael: The church celebrates the Feast of St. Michael every year, typically in late September, with religious processions, prayers, and festivities. This event draws a large number of local Catholics and visitors.

Interior Decor: Inside the church, you can find beautiful stained glass windows, religious artwork, and altars adorned with statues and religious symbols. The interior provides a peaceful and serene atmosphere for prayer and reflection.

Community Engagement: St. Michael's Church is not only a place of worship but also actively engages with the local community. It may host social and charitable events, as well as educational and religious programs.

Accessibility: The church is easily accessible and welcomes visitors of all faiths who wish to explore its historical and architectural significance or participate in religious services.

St. Michael's Church, Mahim, is not only a religious landmark but also a historical and architectural treasure in Mumbai. It stands as a testament to the enduring presence of the Catholic community in the city and continues to be an important spiritual and...

It’s always a delight to visit this church. Every Wednesday, they have special novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.

But the traffic here can get a little too much to handle at times especially during the feast. Hats off to the local police station and traffic police teams for handling the traffic so well. During the feast or special occasions, it is always advisable to visit this place by taking a local train and a shared taxi/cab or you can take an Ola or Uber from wherever you're coming.

For those daredevils still eager to drive down here in their car (like me), there are parking spots available at the back of the church. Just take the road going to the back of the church and one of the volunteers will guide you to an available parking spot. I would not recommend double parking your car along the road as the traffic police may not be as forgiving as the Lord Almighty.

During the feast season, the church management makes special arrangements and places the photo of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour outside the church to avoid crowding the place. To visit this shrine of the photo, you’ll have to take the side path through the cemetery. There are seating arrangements made for people who want to spend some time in prayer, reflection and meditation.

Refreshments and beverages are also available.

A word of caution. If you cannot handle crowded places, especially with sweaty people with varying degrees of body and mouth ordure. Afternoons and evenings can be a challenging time to visit this church as courtesy the humid weather in Mumbai. I have seen people fainting or getting queasy. So it will help if you have a face mask on.

This church also has counselling sessions where people can seek help or if you’re just want someone to talk to and lend you an empathetic ear, this is the place for that as well.

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