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Meghraj, Holy Family Church

The initiative of starting a Mission in Meghraj came from Bishop Gomes, SJ in March 1975 when he asked Fr. Ignacio Ordonez Parish Priest of Nana Kantharia to buy a suitable plot of land for a future Mission. The Registration of “Catholic Church Trust, Meghraj” was done in 1976. Fr. Eddie Fonseca, SJ was appointed the Parish Pariest and Sole Trustee by Bishop Charles Gomes. The blessing and inauguration of the temporary residence took place on 2nd of February 1980 by Bishop Charles Gomes with a solemn Eucharist in the presence of 125 people, and the Fathers and Sisters from Nana Kantharia and Bhiloda. Though it was an inauspicious day for most people in India because of the Solar Eclipse, the Feast of the Presentation made it a most auspicious one.

The arrival of the Vedruna Sisters on the 4th of August of 1981 was a blessing from the Lord. They were temporarily accommodated in the residence of the Mission till that very year they bought the plot of land adjacent to the school compound and built their Convent, Boarding for girls and a Dispensary. The Catechists Daniel Laxman Asari, Valji Kavda Asari and Chimanbhai were active and dedicated members of the Mission team with the Fathers and Sisters.

The hostel for boys in 1981 and the Primary School was started from Std. 1 to VI with classrooms in the hostels. Fr. Valerian Dias, SJ, (Assistant and then Parish Priest from October 1983) constructed the spacious building for Primary and High School in 1991. The arrival of Fr. Peter D’Souza as Parish Priest promoted ecological and land development programmes in the region under the mission centre.

In 2006, Meghraj Parish was handed over to the care of the Diocesan Clergy on 2nd July 2006 at a simple celebration in the presence of Abp.Stanislaus Fernandes and Fr. Keith Abranches, the Provincial, and Fr. S. G. Prakash was appointed as Parish Priest. But just a month later of 4th August, he passed away in a tragic road accident. Fr. Arockiasamy was then appointed Parish Priest. St. Xavier’s High School opened the Higher Secondary Section in 2010.

The parish currently has about 550 members.

Catholic Church, Meghraj
Sabarkantha Dt. 383 350
(02773) 244226
Parish Priest: Fr. Kiran Gohil
Community
Fr. Shankar Dodiyar, Fr. John Peter (Principal)
Monthly Mass at: 11 villages

Religious Houses
Shanti Deep-(Vedruna)Convent
(02773) 244426

School
St. Xavier’s High School
(02773) 244227

Institutions
1. Boys Hostel
(02773) 244226
2. Girls Hostel
(02773) 244426