User talk:Sojimon

Sojimon (talk) 19:12, 12 March 2013 (UTC) St Thomas Catholic Church, Virar, is a Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in the western suburb of Mumbai, India. The Church is part of the Kalyan Diocese Diocese of Roman Catholic Church.

History It was in 1989 Rev. Fr. Varghese Nadackal along with late Mr Joseph David (resident of Bolinj) they visited Virar and were pleasantly surprised to find the increasing presence of Syro-Malabar Catholics in and around Virar. To take care of the spiritual and religious needs of this growing community, Rev. Fr. Varghese was appointed as the first priest-in-charge of Virar. The first Malayalam Holy Qurbana was celebrated by Rev.Fr. Varghese Nadakkal on July 2, 1989. Fifty-four members attended the Holy Eucharist. Soon, on 15 July 1989, the first working committee meeting was held. The Mr. Jacob Petta and Mr. C.K. Paul were elected as Trustee and Treasurer respectively. The members collectively decided to christen the Virar parish as ‘St.Thomas Catholic Church.’ The inauguration of the prayer hall and celebration of the Holy Qurbana was done by Mar Paul Chittilapilly, the first Bishop of Diocese of Kalyan on March 17, 1991 in prayer hall at Shangri-La Co-Operative Housing Society. The construction of a new church with more space and facility started under the leadership Fr.John Ponparackal. His Exc. Mar Thomas Elavanal, Bishop of Kalyan, in the presence of His Exc. Mar Jose Porunnedom, Bishop of Mananthavady, consecrated and blessed the Church on January 19, 2013.