Shania D'Costa
VIRAR, MARCH 26, 2012: On March 22, 2012 the parishioners of Resurrection church, Virar (E) visited fourteen churches in Vasai to make the pilgrim way of the cross accompanied by our assistant Parish priest Fr. Osborn Furtado .We left the parish at 9:00 am.
For the first station we stopped at St. Michael's Church, Manickpur and then continued by saying one station in every church. Visiting various old churches was another experience in itself as these Churches were built by the Portuguese –destroyed by the Marathas and rebuilt by the people who were Christians by conviction and who wanted to follow Christ.
The uniqueness of every church was the beautifully carved wooden altars, which are still in good condition and well maintained. Fr. Osborn Furtado enlightened us with the history of every church in Hindi as well as English, this made the visit even more meaningful. Just to mention a few old churches we visited and when they were built:
Nirmal- Holy Cross Church-1558
St. Michael's Church- 1606
Papdi- Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace Church-1574
Remedy- Shrine of Our Lady of Remedy-1577
Palle(Naigaon)- Mother of God Church-1585
Mercies- Our Lady of Mercy Church-1606
This pilgrim way of the cross for all was very meaningful, prayerful and inspiring. May this journey that we have taken bring Peace and Joy of Easter in every home and may Christ reign in our hearts forever.