ST. FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH (SFS)

Shaanwadi, Nagar Road

SFS Parish Church stands on the land purchased by Fr. Francis Moget in 1965. Shaanwadi receives its name from the village of Shaan in Liechtenstein, Switzerland. Thanks to the support and help of the people there, SFS School and Parish Church has become a reality. In 1990 Fr. Perry Da Silva msfs as Parish Priest initiated the process of marking the boundaries and recording the number of Parishioners who were affiliated to SFS Church. From 1991, Fr. Terrie Pinto took charge and helped to consolidate the faith of the parishioners. Under his initiative SFS Church and the Priest-residence were built and inaugurated. Through the years the Parish grew in number and fervour. This encouraging reality led to the sub-division of the parish into three parts. SFS Church continues to serve the needs of about 900 parishioners.

ST. JOSEPH PARISH

Kurla, Mumbai

The Fransalians were keen to have a foothold in Bombay. In 1968 Fr. Reginald D'Souza received the invitation from the Archbishop of Bombay, Valerian Cardinal Gracias. The extended Parish of Holy Cross on Kurla West was divided due to the growth in number of parishioners. This meant that the new Parish of St. Joseph would have to serve people on the East and West of the railway lines. This technical divide affected the unity of parishioners of St. Joseph Church. The Church was blessed in June 1970.

Fr. P.J. Mendes msfs was the first Parish Priest. He spared no pains to offer pastoral service to the people in the parish. His decision to begin an English medium school in the parish proved a blessing for the Fransalians. Even with the limited space the Church and School functioned in peace.

The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Christ the King collaborate in the mission in Kurla. The present Parish Team includes FR. JERRY MISQUITH msfs, Superior, FR. BAPTIST D'SOUZA, the Parish Priest, FR. PEPPIN JAYARAJ msfs, Principal, Fr. Clement Mendonca Assistant Priest.

Fransalian Mission At Khoperkhairane

Vashi, Mumbai

Its pioneering work commenced in 1996. With the idea of venturing into social service towards street-children and rag-pickers, Fr. Francis Mulackal took residence in Sacred Heart Church, Vashi. He was able to offer pastoral help in the Parish at Vashi and also Koperkhairane.

After the building of Mermier Bal Ashram was put up, the ground floor space has served as the Mass Centre for the Catholics of Koperkhairane. Fr. Jerry Misquith was appointed the Priest Incharge after Fr. Francis.

Fr. Timothy Raj is the present Parish Priest. Efforts are on to secure a separate place of worship for the faithful.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALISE PARISH (SFS)

Nallasopara

The expanding Bombay city became increasingly over-populated and enticed people to move to the remote suburbs. Fr. Joe Rebello and Fr. Mario D'Souza made a request to the Archbishop of Bombay, Simon Cardinal Pimenta, for a Fransalian centre in the suburbs. The Archbishop handed the mission area of Nalasopara to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) in 1989. After a thorough study of the prevailing situation in Nalasopara Fr. Joe was strongly inspired to begin a school in the parish. St. Francis de Sales (SFS) School was started in 1990 with the Pre-Primary classes in the residential quarters of the Fathers, 'Pawansuth', in Nalasopara East. In a couple of years a plot of land for a school was bought at Patankar Park in Nalasopara West.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH - Cotto de Fatorpa

South Goa

Fr. Tony Nazareth, the first Fransalian Parish Priest at Cotto, writes, "The Parish had to be built from within and without." The entry of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales into this region found amidst the numerous people two graduates and four youth members who had passed S.S.C. in 1989. The men folk served as bonded labourers on large estate farms receiving a noon day meal and a bottle of country liquor as a daily wage. The women folk helped their families by doing odd jobs. The dedication and spiritual association with the children and elders by the first parish team, Fr. Tony Nazareth, Fr. Francis Dias and Fr. Daniel Alphonso, earned them the confidence of the simple country folk. The people were now ready to 'break themselves' in the construction of their Church building. Each family contributed Rs. 500/= in two instalments over a period of two years, giving 50 stone bricks per family and pledging themselves to free service in groups for any number of times until the completion of the construction. This fact was widely known: "The village contributes Rupees 10 lakhs in the form of labour." Such a miracle of sorts is possible when people are poor, open and simple like those of Cotto de Fatorpa.

At the consecration of the Church on 4th May 1996, the Archbishop-Patriarch of Goa and Daman, Rt. Rev. Raul Nicolau Gonsalves expressed his confident hope, 'that they will now strive, with renewed vigour and enthusiasm, to build and fortify the real and living Church of God at Cotto de Fatorpa, of which all the parishioners are the living stones united in heart, mind and prayer'. The village continues to reap the benefits of dedicated unity in faith. The present Parish Priest is Fr. Daniel Alphonso (2006). The present parish team consists of Fr. Daniel Alphonso and Fr. Felix Mendes

OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH

Valpoi, North Goa

Valpoi is a remote village in Satari Taluka of Goa state. The area is hilly with forests and rivulets for the most part and a valley in which most of the population lives. On one side Valpoi is bordering with Belgaum in the State of Karnataka and on the other side it is bordering with Maharashtra. The population consists of Hindus, Muslims and Catholics, respectively, in numeric order. Valpoi is proud of its infrastructure like Government Offices, banks, post office, primary health centre, schools and shops.

The Church in Valpoi was established in 1880. For many years this was the centre for the surrounding Christian villagers. The parents living in Valpoi as well as the villages within a radius of 15 Kms. prefer to send their children to the oldest parish school in the Taluka. The school has about 750 students on roll from Std. V to X.

For sometime the Salesians of Don Bosc were in charge of the parish. In June 1996, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) too charge of the parish from the Archdiocese of Goa. The catholic population is around 180 families.

The present Parish Priest, Fr. Agnel Lawrence, found it necessary to construct a new Priest-residence in place of the 100 years old structure. He has also taken up the renovation of the weak and old school and Church. Help from well-wishers and benefactors is much desired.

St. Peter's Parish

Gangapur City, Rajastan

The Provincial Congress of 3rd November 1999 opted for Expansion. Accordingly, Fr. Mario D'Souza and Fr. Joseph Malayil shared with the participant the result of their mission survey in the Diocese of Ajmer-Jaipur. Their report highlighted the following:

1. An English medium school is essential to provide a fitting entry into the state of Rajasthan and to contribute towards evangelization in the Diocese.
2. The Pune Province is responsible for the infra-structures, the personnel required for administration and the service given.
3. The Fransalians will be given the railway parish in the city of Gangapur with pastoral responsibility of the remote centres of Lakheri, Sawai Madhopur and Karauli.

The Bishop of Ajmer - Jaipur Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ignatius Menezes appointed Fr. I. Alphonse, Parish Priest and Fr. Johnson Gonsalves as assistant in June 2000 to begin work there. The 60 catholic families in the parish of St. Peter provided the opportunity for pastoral service. Regular pastoral visits to the other centres gave a sense of belonging to the few Christians residing there. St. Francis de Sales School which began two years ater provides educational opportunity to all seeking admission there.

With the creation of the new diocese of Jaipur in 2005, the mission of St. Peter's Church comes within the jurisdiction of Bishop Oswald Louis.

Fr. Gregory Butello, Parish Priest, Fr. Jude Thadeus Principal and the assistant priest and Fr. Anthonoy D'Souza and Bros. Charles and Lawrence form the present Fransalian Team.

OUR LADY OF GOOD HEALTH CHURCH

Salem

SFS Parish Church stands on the land purchased by Fr. Francis Moget in 1965. Shaanwadi receives its name from the village of Shaan in Liechtenstein, Switzerland. Thanks to the support and help of the people there, SFS School and Parish Church has become a reality. In 1990 Fr. Perry Da Silva msfs as Parish Priest initiated the process of marking the boundaries and recording the number of Parishioners who were affiliated to SFS Church. From 1991, Fr. Terrie Pinto took charge and helped to consolidate the faith of the parishioners. Under his initiative SFS Church and the Priest-residence were built and inaugurated. Through the years the Parish grew in number and fervour. This encouraging reality led to the sub-division of the parish into three parts. SFS Church continues to serve the needs of about 900 parishioners.