ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH history


Tembipada, a "hill town" parish, is situated in the central suburb, at bhandup, mumbai. it was bifurcated from holy trinity parish, powai, in the year 1989. this parish is managed by the blessed sacrament Fathers from 1993. it caters to 3500 and odd strong and traditional catholics. An analytical break up of this strength is as follows : Tamil speaking Catholics is 85% and Konkani speaking Catholics, who hail from Mangalore, form the rest.


Relying on the available sources, one may guess that the so-called entire 'church land' has been in possession of catholic community over a period of 55-60 years. What is to be told as loud as possible is how this had its beginning and how it grew and developed from strength to strength to the level of an independent parish.


It all began with a small thatched shed made up of leaves and sticks uner a mango tree on these bhandup hills with pictures of our lady and st. anthony fixed to the tree to observe the month of rosary and invoke the blessing and protection of intercessors. Why under a mango tree?The area around the mango tree must have beenlittle plain, with rough stone and small boulders, which could then serve them as a meeting place, where the tamil settlers(1) could perhaps gather together to have their daily rosary and other prayers. It Was Very Interesting to Listen to the narration on how that year (1953) Christmas was celebrated: An old crib set was collected from the neighbouring parishes in the city in the year 1953. And in the same year, as Mr. Gaspar puts in his write up, they purchased a small statue of St. Anthony from the amount they realized from the christmas celebration and decided to dedicate the so-called chapel to St. Anthony in the year 1956. At this stage of settling down,perhaps, one should not fail to imagine the kind of landscape of the place: a terrain of this kind of place might have been a scanty jungle and a scaring canyon in sight. Indeed, they had to rely on the supernatural powers to live in such a place where nothing was in the offing to live safely. Hence, the choice of St. Anthony of Padua as their patron saint.


As I have gathered some information from the late Mr. Chinnappan Kounder's oral narration and from a small write up done by the late Mr. Gaspar may their souls rest in peace. I would briefly put some of the yesteryears development, that which paved the way for what Tembipada parish is today. The settlers (mainly the Catholics) - men and women alike - used to gather after their early night meal to clean up the area right opposite(2) the spot(3) where the mango tree stood, They took part in this daily routine in order to have a bigger place for further expansion. One would say that this was indeed a noble thought. The area which they cleaned tirelessly day after day used to be a rocky ground. Their cleaning up job was mainly breaking the boulders and leveling the ground. To make the story short, the area that had been leveled by them ultimately provided a larger space both for some more new settlers to put up their huts and a reasonable space for putting up a chapel for a larger number of faithful who in the meantime had continued settling down in this area.

 

A chapel was put up with a thatched roof without walls around. The year of such event is between the periods of 1954-1956. Some senior members remember even today how and where the first chapel ever was, namely, not in the east-west direction, as the present structure stands today, but it was in the north south direction beaming at the eastern end of the occupied space of that time. After three years (1958) the same shed with the thatched roof had to be removed to give way for a better shed with tin sheets, but still without proper walls around the chapel but mere thatched sheets serving the purpose. This chapel was a little bigger though. It was put up in the same direction as that of the present structure stands. By this time, the area of encroachment was much bigger, almost as same as the space occupled by the chawls on the left side of the occupied space. With what a foresight and great struggle, this area was guarded and protected and was kept open as possible development that would have to come true one day.

 

As the whole Bhandup hill range and its locality begun to swell with new occupants, the settlers belonging to different faiths grew jealous and were envying the quantum of space these quarry workers occupied. Despite a mighty handed opposition from the legal heirs of the so-called original land lords, and constant harassment and ridicules from the later settlers, the Catholic community remained united for the sake their faith. Regular masses in the chapel and frequent visits by the priests, namely, Frs. TO Jacob. Jayaseelan and Gnanmuthu, not only supported their faith but it also strengthened their unity and brotherhood as to stand united against many odds that were part of this growing Tamil Catholic community.

 

There was another significant move by the committee of yesteryears. The occupied space had an equal share of space for chawls (9 rooms ) as that of the space where the chapel and an open space were. The committee members. who visualized the need for a bigger and larger open ground for various developmental plans in the future, decided to shift the hutments to a nearby area, which is now called Gandhi-Nehru and Anna Mestry chawls. This shifting lasted for two years as such a move needed some monitory transaction to put up alternative huts for the ones who were to vacate their huts from the church land. Thanks to the families who readily accepted the proposal of shifting to other location. The area where the present hall and the open space on the right side of the church are thus added to the already existing church premise. This well guarded space with foresight has served them with enough rooms for all the subsequent developments and constructions in the area, giving all the shaping and re-shaping that took place. The present small hall in the premise was put up in the meantime, to begin a Tamil medium school for the children of those who landed here from Tamil Nadu. But it had to be closed down owing to the administrative problems.

 

In 1969- 1970 the committee decided to make the chapel little bigger to accommodate the steady increase of the catholic families around Tembipada. This chapel was fitted with manglaore tiles and wooden baton and beam with stronger walls made up of mud motor and rough plaster. It goes without saying that a structure of this kind required regular maintenance, which this chapel of 1969 and 1970 lacked. Exposed to all natural fury and the arrogance of hooligans adding to it, there came a point where this structure reached a stage of collapse.

 

In the meanwhile, Powai was re- erected to the level of an independent parish and, consequently the area of Tembipada was attached to the Powai jurisdiction. The Tamil Catholics received a closer and personal attention from the fathers in Powai parish. It has been noted that the help from the clergy of Powai parish was gracious and admirable. In the meanwhile, what one admires is how these simple Catholic faithful kept up their spirit and enthusiasm to continue to celebrate their patron's feast with ever increasing interest, gusto and gaiety. No wonder that there was a cordial understanding and fatherly concern shown by the parish fathers.

 

As said earlier, the chapel built in 1970 was in a collapsing condition, and it required to be replaced with a solid and lasting building. It was the sole effort of the late Rev. Ft. Joe D'Souza, that Tembipada Catholic community had another construction put up in the year 1980, with asbestos roof supported by pipe truss work. This chapel was blessed by His Eminence Simon Cardinal Pimenta(4). This structure had a small residential portion for the priest with a dimension of 32/141. The Catholic community which was almost steady in its number was looked after by many non-resident Tamil priests(5) who would come from Powai and Vikhroli depending where they resided.

 

Fr. L.M George was the first resident priest to become the priest-in-charge of Tembipada when it was erected as an independent unit. His strength and courage to consolidate the church land is loudly spoken about till today. A grotto in front of the church and a compound wall around the premises are his notable contribution towards consolidating the area In the year 1993, this parish unit was handed over to the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Gnanasekar, sss, was the first one to become the priest-in-change to look after the parishioners who were predominantly Tamils, He and his successors did their level best to provide adequate services and undertook developmental work which were then required. Fr. Nathan, sss did a bit of extension by adding veranda and front stage in the year 1996 & 97. We should not forget to acknowledge the troubles and efforts of Frs. Jegaraj, sss and Ravi Bosco, sss, taken together with some active parishioners for a new church at Tembipada by raising funds at Bandra and other parishes. Savings realized through such efforts, indeed, helped us at the initial stage of our construction. We must appreciate all notable steps made by Fr. Rosario, sss, and Fr. Peter Jeyakanthan, sss, towards legalising the land which we are using at the moment.

 

The present church building was one that was long overdue. Why? The front and rear walls were in dilapidated conditions on one hand and on the other the entire structure was in need of a complete renovation. In fact, we undertook the work of complete renovation, but at the foundation stage Itself the whole concept for a new structure had to be adopted, owing to various difficulties that presented itself. One would say that multiple reasons of various nature and tuture structural stability could be considered as rationale that forced us to adopt a new plan than that was envisaged at the initial stage of our planning for renovation. Thus the new and elegant structure with three steeples with a touch of the South Indian taste has seen the light of day.

 

As we complete this new construction and get ready for the opening ceremony, we sincerely remember each and everyone, who stood by us, and helped us, financially or otherwise, especially you, our dear parishioners and well wishers.

 

We invoke God's choicest blessings on you and upon your families. May St. Anthony and St. Peter Julian Eymard intercede for you and your dear ones. May Our Lady, the Mother Good Health be your constant support in your needs.

 

  1. They we a handful of migrants from Tamil Nadu. The story behind their plight which led them to migrate is very sad In the year 1953, the Southern part of India, especially Tamil Nadu and Andhra, suffered a severe famine, of such peninsula the north-western part of Tamil Nadu - the then South Arcot and North Arcot districts to be more specific -being the worst-hit area. Hit by drought and famine which shifted and shaped the history and life of the people, forced few families to move physically in search of green pastures, after spending a short sojourn in Bellary. Their search led them to the hills of Bhandup. A stone quarry on the slop of Bhandup hills provided them with readymade job to start with, Fr. Nathan,sss.. Tembipada Golden Jubilee Souvenir

  2. This very space is the entire land that is used as church land

  3. It is here that have a room for our play school in front of the church.

  4. As seen on the plaque affixed on the left- lower wall of the portico of the new church. 

  5. Frs. T.O Jacob, Fr. Jayaseelan, Fr. Gnanmuthu and others.