History of Our Lady of Fatima, Karjat Shrine

The Fatima Pilgrimage at Karjat known to many  celebrated special moments of joy, in October 2010 i.e. the Platinum Jubilee- 75^th year of the pilgrimage. Today there are number of Churches that are dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima however, Our Lady of Fatima Church at Karjat is the first to be named and dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, not only in India, but in Asia. The shrine is a special gift and a blessing to the Archdiocese of Bombay. It was in 1920 that the statue of Our lady of Fatima, which is presently placed in the church was brought for Fatima, Portugal. 

Karjat station which is mid-way between Mumbai and Pune is famous for “ vada bugger”  but for many catholics is a pilgrim place to the Shrine of  Our lady of Fatima. The  Shrine is next to Karjat Railway Station.  Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three children, Portuguese shepherds from Aljustrel, received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near Fatima, a city 110 miles north of Lisbon. Fatima is an Arabic girl name. The meaning of the name is `Abstainable’, which incidentally is the name of the sister of Prophet Mohamed. At that time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war. Portugal too was in political turmoil, having overthrown her monarchy in 1910; the government disbanded religious organizations soon after. Many missionaries fled the persecution by moving to different Countries. This is how in the year 1920, the present caved statue placed on the Main Altar of the Church at Karjat, was brought from Portugal.  

It was on 5^th March 1915, that the land close to Karjat station was purchased by Fr. Aniceto Pereira, the then Parish Priest of Holy Cross Church, Matheran, for construction of the Church, from Pestonji Bhikaji Balaporria and Ardesan Pestronji Bhikaji. This purchase deal was done on behalf of the Bishop of Daman for the Roman Catholic Mission, Karjat. There were not many Catholics in this locality except for the railway workers, since Karjat had by then become the hub of railway workshop, especially of the stream engine. When Our Lady appeared at Fatima in the year 1917, Fr. J. A. Gomes was in-charge of Karjat. The idea of having a Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima was conceived already at that time, but for some reason it did not materialize. Soon permission was granted and the statue brought in 1920 from Fatima Portugal was venerated by the Catholic Railway Staff in one of the rooms at Karjat stations. 

Matheran and Karjat being under the Gloria Church, Byculla, in the year 1929   Fr. Orphine Desa, then an assistant at Byculla and in-charge of Karjat was able to set aside some amount for the construction of the Chapel at Karjat. Under the supervision of Fr. Stephen Periera the construction of the new Chapel was completed in 1936. His Grace Archbishop Joaquim Lima blessed the site. The caved statue which was brought from Portugal was now placed in the Chapel. The importance of Fatima had grown by now and in the year 1935 the pilgrimage started.  

In the year 1937 this mission was handed to the Jesuits who were already running a mission and a Church at Kune, Kandala. In 1939 the Jesuits purchased additional land for the expansion of school and mission just behind the Karjat Church. The mission activities spread to the near by areas of Karjat, Kalapur and Panvel District by imparting education in the schools and with other reach-out programmes for the tribals. Fr Sanhez the first superior of the Jesuits and the other Jesuit priests viz. Fr. Victor, Fr. Nubiola, Fr. Thillo, Fr Morey, Fr A. Ribes and Fr Miranda are very well remembered by Mrs. Carmel the oldest surviving members of the Karjat Parish (age 92). During the time of Fr Morey the Church was registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950  on 30^th June 1955     (D-7Kolaba) under the name Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Morey SJ died on Sunday, 16 Oct 1965, as he was getting ready to come to Karjat from Kune, for the Feast Mass. Fr. Frank Britto, the first diocesan priest,  got a chance to serve Karjat as he opted to be in Kune mission substituting Fr. Anthony Ribes for short time from Oct 1974 to Jan 1975, before he took over Koralia Church. In 1974, the Gram Panchayat issued an order to tax all pilgrims coming to Karjat. This was not very well accepted and the decision was objected by the small but strong Catholic community. The letters from Fr. Britto and late Leandro D’mello created strong ripples at the Panchayat, and forced them to abort the decision. There was a similar move few years ago  to tax the buses that pile on the main road during the feast day but this too was put to halt with the effort of  few alert parishioners.

In 1978 May, Jesuits moved out from Karjat with no alternative to continue the mission work at Karjat. These can be considered as the dark years, as the Archdiocese categorically mentioned in the letter dated July 1978, inability to continue the pilgrimage to Karjat due to lack of priest. Parishioners under the leadership of ex Sarpanch late Leandro  D’mello called a meeting and urged the Bishop to reconsider the decision. After the meeting with the representatives from the Bishop’s house, the matter was sorted. Fr. Frank Britto who was in Koralia (4 hours distance by bus from Karjat), agreed to keep the pilgrimage going. It was under his supervision the feasts in the years 1978-79 were celebrated. During these two years the parish of Karjat was in limbo. At the request of the Bishop house, priest from Amarnath came to celebrate the Eucharist occasionally since Fr Frank  was given the additional responsibility to look after the pastoral needs of the faithful at Khopoli from Koralia. Today Khopoli  has become an independent unit 

From 1980, the Pilar fathers from Amarnath officially took charge of Karjat parish. During the two years limbo period, the Central Railway withdrew the special train services, which brought the devotees from Mumbai. A reminder to them about this matter by Fr. Durado who had taken charge, at the feast of 1980, was not consented, by the railway authorities. Karjat was under the Pilar Fathers and a part of the north East Salsette Deanery, till 1991. Fr Greg periera appointed at Khopoli in the year 1991 June, was slowly paving way to take charge of Karjat Parish though not officially. For two years occasionally Fr Greg Diocesan Clergy celebrated the Eucharist for the people here. In the year 1993 the MSFS priest took charge of Khopoli and Karjat beginning with Fr Vincent, then Fr. Timothy, Fr Peter finally. During the time of Fr. Vincent, the boundary wall was demarked and built, though not completely. The deal for the land in front of the Church was finalized in the year 1996. during Fr. Timothy’s tenure and during the final year of Fr. Peter in 2004, a house called Sara Villa was purchased, which became a blessing for the parish. Today this has became the priest residence, a house in the midst of the people, over viewing the church.

Knowing the importance of a resident priest for the growth of the parish, Fr. Gervis the first Diocesan Resident Priest was appointed.  He remained for the full appointed term which can be considered not less than a miracle and God’s blessing, knowing the past situation. It was not that easy to complete one full term in the area like Karjat where there were hardly any facilities like that we have today. Fr. Gervis put the land records and the trust matters, in order and also gave a new look to the parish. He became a true pastor to the parishioners, in the real sense of the term, who were without a full time pastor. 

Though it is named “Shrine of Our lady of Fatima” there is proposal given to the Cardinal to elevated this Shrine to the status as “the  Archdiocesan Shrine of Fatima”   Very soon this dream will be fulfilled. The term Shrine as cannon law states is a Church or other sacred place which with the approval of the Local Ordinary is by reason of a special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims. The distinguishing characteristic of a Shrine is that it is a place of pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a journey by the faithful to a Shrine, a place made sacred.   A number of people come to Fatima Church as pilgrims and today the Shrine of our Lady of Fatima is one of the famous Shrines and is sometimes referred to as the Fatima of the East. The vast concourse of devotees, hailing from every creed and community, who throng the Shrine with their votive offering during the feast day in October, is ample testimony of the people’s trust in the power of the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima and her help in the hour of trouble and need.  

Today the Church at Karjat is looked after by a Diocesan resident priest Fr. Calistus Fernandes  Efforts are made to spread  the message of Fatima Mother  through media .The message of Fatima to spread to the nerves of Karjat and specially to the people of other faith greater stress is given to the Vernacular and Indianisation. Care is taken to mention to the devotees of all faith that they come here not to worship but to venerate Fatima mother, For we catholic she is not a Devi or Goddess but a holy immaculate virgin who has played a vital role in the salvation plan of her Son Jesus Christ. Thirteen of every month is opened to the devotees for prayer and devotion followed by mass since this day is  special to Fatima Mother. We pray that the church of Fatima turn to Archdiocesan Shrine of Fatima.

Fr Calistus Fernandes

Parish Priest

Archdiocese of Bombay

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine

Karjat, Dt. Raigad 410201

Maharashtra

calistusf@gmail.com

+91-9422095931