By Sunil D’Cruz
Mumbai, July 8, 2026: Faith remains the heartbeat of community life as parishioners gathered in reverence for the Feast of St. John the Baptist at the historic St. John the Baptist Church in Mumbai.
The centuries-old St. John the Baptist Church at Santacruz Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ), Andheri (East), opened its gates on June 24 for a solemn 30-minute Adoration marking the Feast of St. John the Baptist.
The service drew parishioners from across the Archdiocese of Bombay, who offered prayers for peace and renewal of faith.
The church, built in 1579 by Portuguese priest Father Manuel Gomes, making it 447 yesrs old.
Though abandoned in 1840 following a local epidemic, its ruins — framed by banyan and baobab trees — continue to serve as a sacred site. A new church, St John the Evangelist Church, was built in nearby Marol. However, each year, the faithful are welcomed back on when Mass is celebrated.
Father Anthony J. Fernandes, parish priest of St. John the Evangelist Church in Marol, voiced hopes that the site might host monthly Masses. “We pray that the sacred land is given back to us, so that we can celebrate Mass here once every month,” he said.
Father Andrew Anthony Mukadom, former principal of St. Blaise High School, recalled the church’s historic role as the only parish in the area. “Centuries ago, the faithful used to come from Kanjurmarg, Powai, Sahar and other areas,” he noted.
The Feast of St. John the Baptist, celebrated on June 24, honors the saint’s nativity — one of only three birthdays observed in the Catholic calendar, alongside Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Known for his ascetic life and call to repentance, John baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, preparing the way for his ministry.
The day also coincided with the vibrant São João Festival in Goa and parts of Mumbai, where revelers wearing floral crowns leapt into wells and streams in symbolic joy, echoing John’s leap in Elizabeth’s womb at Mary’s visitation.
Music, dance, and Goan delicacies added festive color to the spiritual observance.
The gathering in Andheri underscored the enduring faith of Mumbai’s Catholic community, linking centuries of tradition with present-day devotion.
(Photo supplied)