Himmatnagar, St. Francis Xavier Church

Himmatnagar has been a recognised Mass centre since 1952. Initially, Jesuit priests from Mirzapur Cathedral in Ahmedabad visited the town, celebrating Mass in the home of Mr. Santan Fernandes and ministering to the needs of the few Catholic families residing there. With the establishment of the Bhiloda centre, Jesuits from Bhiloda, along with the SMMI Sisters, began overseeing the pastoral care of the Himmatnagar community.

In 1998, diocesan priests from Nana Kantharia began regularly celebrating Sunday Mass. The SMMI Sisters continued their involvement and eventually opened a new community specifically for the Himmatnagar mission. That same year, the parish was canonically erected, and Fr. Rocky D’Silva became the first resident priest, initially living in a rented house.

The mission soon expanded its outreach through education. In 2002, a primary school offering both English and Gujarati mediums was established. The Pre-PTC College began in 2004, followed by the PTC College in 2005. However, due to a shortage of students, the Pre-PTC College closed in 2007 and the PTC College in 2011.

A significant milestone was the blessing of the newly built parish church on 27th January 2008, marking a new chapter for the faith community. Continuing its educational mission, St. Xavier’s Secondary School, with both English and Gujarati mediums, was inaugurated on 11th June 2012, further strengthening the parish’s role in providing holistic formation to the region.