In the early 1980’s, to take care of the social, spiritual and liturgical needs of Kerala Catholics who had migrated to in and around Thane, Priests belonging to CMI Congregation conducted services at St. John’s Church, Thane, coordinated by the KCA’s Thane unit. Following the formation of the Diocese of Kalyan in 1988, under the leadership of Fr. George Porathur about 100 families of Syro Malabar Rite in Thane area were identified and to cater to their needs, liturgical services in Syro-Malabar Rite were started every Sunday in Our Lady of Mercy Church, Pokharan Road No. 2, Thane, with Fr. Thomas Kalapura as the first Parish Priest. In the initial stage, 83 families were enrolled in this Parish, which had subsequently grown to more than 200 families grouped into 9 units. Under the leadership of Fr. Vincent Parayil, St Thomas Welfare Centre came into existence in 1993. In 2001, premises were acquired in Shastri Nagar area for residence of priests under the leadership of Fr. George Porathur.
From 1/4/2003, a separate centre at Tikujiniwadi was formed covering Majiwada and Manpada areas in Thane as well as Vasant Vihar area under Vartaknagar. In the meantime new premises were acquired for the purpose of residence of the Parish Priest, nearer to the Church premises when Fr. Xavier Kadaplakal was Vicar. The premises used as residence was converted as play school-cum nursery under the name “Little Heart’s Nursery”. The place of worship was fully renovated when Fr. Peter Panjikaran was the Parish Priest, and Mar Thomas Elavanal blessed the new renovated centre on 13th June 2003 following which Masses conducted at the Our Lady of Mercy Church was stopped with effect from 29th June 2003.Thereafter regular Qurbana were being said at St. Thomas Bhavan. The Vartaknagar Centre was upgraded as a full-fledged Parish with effect from 1/4/2007. The units were later reorganized into 7 with 147 families.
In 2009-10 after acquiring premises adjacent to the Church, the existing church building was demolished and new church was built when Fr. Davis Tharakan was the Parish Priest. The new Church was consecrated on 20/3/2010 by Mar Thomas Elavanal.
The flats acquired in 2001 had come under renovation in 2010-11, and therefore the “Little Heart’s Nursery” had been shifted to rented premise near to the present priest’s residence. As the lease of the premises expired from June 2012, the Little Heart’s Nursery was unavoidably closed down with effect from 2012-13 till alternative arrangements are made. Under the guidance of Fr. Shinto Vallanattu the presbytery and Jubilee Memorial Hall were built.
Priests worked in the Parish are Fr. Thomas Kalapura, Fr. Ephrem Pottenplackal, Fr. Vincent Parayil, Fr. Jacob Edakkalathur, Fr. Johnson Olakkengil, Fr. Thomas Choondal, Fr. Paul Pulikkottil, Fr. George Porathur, Fr. Peter Panjhikkaran, Fr. Xavier Kadaplakal, Fr. Davis Tharakan, Fr. P. K. James, Fr. Joseph Kusumalayam, Fr. Shaji Parickappallil and Fr. Shinto Vallanattu
Fr. Shijo Parayil replaced Fr. Shinto Vallanattu in 15th Oct., 2013. Fr. Jomon Thekkumthala took charge as the parish priest from 09th February 2017.
DETAILS
Forane: Thane
Status: Parish
Parish Priest: Fr. Jomon Thekkumthala
Establishment of Parish Community: 30/04/1988
Official Erection as a Parish: 01/04/2007
Date of the Consecration of the Church: 20/03/2010
Area of the Church Property: 2100 sq.ft.
No. of Family’s: 147
No. of Family Units: 9
Address: 17/127, MHB, Vartaknagar Thane West, 400606
Phone No.: 258556049
How to reach:
QURBANA SCHEDULE
Holy Qurbana: Sundays 8:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Church, Vartak Nagar.
Weekdays Qurbana: 7:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Church, Vartak Nagar.
Name of the Religious Congregation & Province: Nil
Type of the Institutions at parish territory: Nil
MORE DETAILS
Email id: [email protected]
Website: