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Missions

1. BILESHWARPURA

In 1995, the Diocese of Ahmedabad bought a plot in the Chhatral Industrial Estate at Bileshwarpura village. As this came under Kalol Parish, the Fathers maintained the plot till a person could be appointed to undertake some projects here. Industries were coming fast in that area and a presence of the Church to attend to workers who would be coming from distant regions of Gujarat and India would be required. The Center could also train the unskilled from among them with skills to make them more professional and competent for the jobs available in the industries and factories. With the establishment of the new Archdiocese, it was felt that some project should be started. Fr. S.G.Prakash was designated for this task and was appointed the first Director of this institution. SHRAMJEEVI NIWAS, hostel for working men was started on 21st June 2003, in order to give accommodation for youth ( boys ) from different areas of North Gujarat and elsewhere who are working in and around Chhattral, Kadi, Kalol GIDC. The Missionaries of Charity helped in the apostolate of this mission for five years.

There was no activity at the center for some months till Fr. Joe Pereira of Kripa Foundation that works for the rehabilitation of chemically affected persons, came forward to run a rehabilitation center at the SHRAMJIVI NIVAS, but the response was poor and the Rehabilitation Centre was closed. Few came to the Center to avail of the help offered. So Kripa Foundation discontinued its presence at Bileshwarpura. From September 2010, the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary reside at this centre and have taken up pastoral, educational, social and health-care ministries. In this year 2013, Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalians, MSFS) have accepted Shramjivi Nivas as their center for socio-pastoral work around Bileshwarpura.

Established: 21st June 2003
Address:
Shramjeevi Niwas
Bileshwarpura
Chhattral P.O., Kalol Tk.
Gandhinagar Dt. 382 729
Priest Incharge: Fr. Romeo Louis MSFS
Community: Br. Winston Barboza (Regent)
(02764) 232331

Dominican Missionary-Sisters of the Rosary Institution
(02764) 232331

Kripa Foundation: Rehabilitation Center for Drug Addicts

Institution
1. Tailoring and Needlework for women
2. Remedial classes for school students

2. DIVYAJYOT ASHRAM, KHERALU

During the episcopacy of late Bishop Gomes, land was bought in Kheralu in view of a new center. This proposal materialised with the establishment of the new Archdiocese. Fr. Victor Pais constructed the Parish House and established the Divya Jyot Trust. The Apostolic Carmel Sisters have a community appointed to Kheralu. As the services of Fr.Victor Pais were required at the Archdiocesan Social Works Center, the Parish Priest of Vadgam was put in-charge of this centre and visited the villages.Fr. Savariraj took charge till the mission was given to the Heralds of Good News Society. The congregation of the Helpers of Mary was also invited to work in the villages. However, both congregations experienced little welcome and did not continue. Once again the mission and villages have been entrusted to the Fathers of Vadgam. Both Frs. Isidore Almeida and Kiran Gohil are renewing contacts that hopefully will bear fruits.To keep the contacts, Fr. Kiran Gohil resides several days in Kheralu mission.
House started: 2009
Address
Divyajyot Ashram
Post Box No. 18
Kheralu
Mehsana District 384 325
(02761) 238587
Priest In-charge: Fr. Isidore Almeida
Fr. Kiran Gohil

3. JEEVAN WADI, Poshina
The legal aid ministry of Fr. William Pius Macwan from Modasa brought him in contact with persons working further north in Poshina. He impressed on his superiors that the area required attention. This would happen nearly two decades later in 2005, when the Jesuit Provincial agreed to send Fr. Peter D’Souza to open the new mission of Poshina. His earlier contacts from Vijaynagar mission enabled Fr. Peter to establish rapport with local tribal leaders. He has opened small hostels in a few villages where children who otherwise would not go to school are provided a residence and attend the nearby village schools. Poshina is a “mission in its beginnings” – missio inchoata – in old Latin parlance.

Priest In-charge : Fr. Peter D’souza sj
Address
JIVAN WADI
Poshina P.O. Sabarkantha Dt.
Gujarat – 383 422

Hostel for children in villages: 155 children

4. BLESSED MOTHER THERESA CHURCH, Siddhpur

Siddhpur is an important town situated between Mehsana and Palanpur where parish centers have come up. Siddhpur is also centrally located for other centers : Deesa and Patan to the west; Vadgam and Kheralu to the east. Since several decades a few migrant Catholic families had settled there. Their spiritual needs were attended to by the priests from Mehsana and later from Palanpur. Given its historic and geographic position in North Gujarat, Siddhpur was in line for a place on the map of Catholic North Gujarat. After some years of search, a suitable plot of land near Umru village, a few kilometers west of the town, was identified. The Little Daughters of St. Francis Xavier came forward to buy a part of the land and to undertake socio-pastoral work among the people. With the appointment in June 2012 of Fr. Xavier James to the new mission, the work of obtaining the permissions to build was taken up in earnest. At present, the Sisters and the Priest live in rented houses. Fr. Xavier James celebrates Holy Mass for the few Catholic families in the ‘hall’ of his home. On 27th January 2013, the Catholics of Siddhpur and many more of their wellwishers from the town gathered on the mission plot near Umru village to celebrate a marriage and the conferring of the sacrament of Confirmation to five youth. The celebrations were a witness of the faith of the small community of Catholics. The presence of the well-wishers and their goodwill augurs well for the ministry of service of the Church in the town. Siddhpur town has 23 Catholics.

Read more about our mission at Fr. James’ blog: Siddhpur Parish Blog

Established: 2012
Present Address
106, Ashirwad Apartments
Nr. Maruti Complex
Siddhpur
Patan District – 384 151

Address
Shital Chaaya Trust
Umru P.O., Siddhpur
Patan District-384151
(02767) 222308
Priest In-charge: Fr. Xavier James

Apostolate: Pastoral, Social and Educational

Religious House
1. Little Daughters of St. Francis Xavier (LD)
+91-9428412528

5. CATHOLIC CHURCH, BAYAD
The Salesians of Don Bosco established a centre in Kapadvanj (Ahmedabad diocese) from where they reached villages to the north in Bayad Tal., Sabarkantha district. A plot of land was acquired for the new Parish Trust and the Salesian Society. With the establishment of the Archdiocese of Gandhinagar, Bayad became a center of the new Archdiocese. The Salesians continue to attend to the projects and programmes in Bayad taluka from Kapadvanj.

Priest In-charge: Fr. Ivan D’Souza, SDB
Assistant: Fr. Mayank Parmar, SDB
Address
Don Bosco Society,
Bayad, Sabarkantha Dist.

Correspondence:
Don Bosco Society, P. Box.No -29,
Near Railway Station,
Kapadvanj P.O., Kheda Dist-387 620
(02691) 262501, 262375