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Catholic Shrine Basilica • Marian Shrine


BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE MOUNT, BANDRA, MUMBAI, INDIA

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Home » Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra, Mumbai, India


BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF THE MOUNT, BANDRA






INTRODUCTION



The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra more commonly known as Mount Mary
Church, is a basilica of the Latin Church in India, located in the Bandra
neighbourhood of Bombay (Mumbai).



For over a hundred years situated atop a hillock near Lands End Bandra,
overlooking the Arabian Sea is Mount Mary’s Basilica a beautiful edifice in
stone that simply stands out in its grandeur, an abode of tranquillity, peace,
reassurance and hope!

Mount Mary’s, affectionately beckons one and all. No invitations are required to
spend time with our Blessed Mother. Once inside this beautiful church even a
single glance at Mary with the child Jesus is a feast for the eye, both natural
and that of faith.

Thanking God or simply paying homage with the simplest or rarest of gifts, Mount
Mary’s provides ample scope. For those who are in need of divine grace, to all
of you who are troubled with the problems of daily life, come and worship at the
Shrine of Mary. She is the Mother of all mankind. She will grant you solace
understanding and Hope. Mother Mary leaves no one unaided.

This website would help you understand the background of this basilica, to keep
yourself updated on the timings for the availability of the various services and
to become aware of the other special programmes taking place in and around the
basilica. You may also use this website to explore the various spiritual
questions that time and again come to your mind.


ARCHITECTURE



This ‘minor basilica’ has morphed from a simple shrine into the current
beautiful semi – gothic structure that we see and enjoy today. Over the years,
devotion and love for Our Lady have helped scores of people contribute towards
its development and upkeep. This editorial helps explain the architecture of
Mount Mary’s. These pictures of the basilica have been carefully shot and
chosen, it puts into perspective – dimensions, materials, embellishments that
have worked in harmony to create this edifice in stone.


HISTORY




ORIGINAL ORATORY

1570 – With the Jesuit Fathers beginning to take care of ministry in Bandra
with  headquarters at Santa Ana Church (near the old slaughter house), a simple
Oratory made of mud emerges at the Mount near Lands End, for private devotion
only. A wooden statue of Our Lady, depicted as the Mother of God was brought by
the Jesuits from Portugal and placed on the main altar. This could be considered
as the first edifice, which immediately begins to attract a large number of
devotees.



1573 – The Priest-in-charge of Bandra area was Fr. Joao Diaz SJ.

1587 – The Mount Mary Oratory is placed under the authority of the Parish of
Santa Ana.

1616 – The increase of Christian population required the bifurcation of the old
parish of Santa Ana. The parish of St. Andrew was thus created and the Mount
Mary Oratory was placed  under the authority of the new Parish of St. Andrew’s.


CHAPEL

1640 – The Mount Mary Oratory is enlarged into a Chapel (2nd edifice) for use of
the increasing number of devotees, as well as for the Portuguese garrison
stationed in the Fort at Lands End.

1665 – Bombay island is handed over to the British by the Portuguese.

1700 – Bandra was invaded by a pirate army of the Muscat Arabs who, hoping to
find treasure, attempted to ransack the Shrine. When disappointed in their
expectations, they chopped of the right forearm of the statue, thinking it was
of gold! They also intended to set fire to the church, when a huge army of bees
attacked them so cruelly that they were forced to abandon their evil intentions
and leave. As the statue was damaged, it was probably stored in the lumber room,
and, in order not to disappoint the pilgrims, the statue of Our Lady of
Navigators from the side altar of St. Andrew’s Church was brought to the Mount. 



1739 – The last Jesuit Vicar of St Andrew’s, Fr Thomas Villanova SJ leaves
Bandra, and a local Priest, Fr. Paulo Dias, took charge of St. Andrew’s Parish
and the Mount Mary Chapel.

1741-61  Public devotion at the Mount comes to a standstill because of political
instability and a lack of priests to look after the Shrine.


CHURCH

1761 – Mount Mary Chapel was rebuilt for the third time. The broken statue of
Our Lady of the Mount was repaired by placing a detachable Child Jesus on it;
the statue that was brought from St. Andrew’s Church was returned to its
original place. This same year, the Archbishop of Goa, Dom Antonio Taveira de
Neiva Brum da Silveira, established the Confraternity of Nossa Senhora de Monte
attached to the Chapel.

1848 – Fr. Antonio Joaquim da Silva, curate of St Andrew’s since 1839, was known
as “Chaplain of Nossa Senhora de Monte” he now lies buried in the sacristy of St
Andrew’s.

1848-52  – With financial aid from Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy and family, in
gratitude for favours received, a road was constructed from the Bandra end of
the newly-built Mahim Causeway to Mount Mary Church.



1869-79 –  Fr Ersamo Francisco Xavier who was now Chaplain renovated and
embellished the chapel. He probably added a glass portico in front of the
chapel.

1882  – The Chaplain, Fr Elias Hypolito Fernandes (from Chuim), renovated the
Chapel yet again.

1885 – Mahim causeway came to be built, as well as the linking of the railway
line, causing a greater influx of pilgrims to the shrine.

1895 – A major devastating plague broke out in Mumbai.


MINOR BASILICA



1902 – Despite the plague the Fathers of St Andrew’s go ahead with the project
of building a better edifice on the Mount. The project is taken up by Fr Placid
Hilary Henriques (Vicar of St Andrew’s) with the help of Fr Elias Braz Dias and
Fr Pedro Antonio Fernandes. This foundation stone was only laid on 11th May 1902
by His Grace Archbishop D. Sebastiao Jose Pereira of Damaun (who lies buried in
the shrine). The Architect was Mr. S. N. Chandabhoy, and most of the materials
were brought by sea, and lifted up with the help of bullock carts and donkeys.



1904 – The present Church, the fourth edifice, is completed and thrown open to
pilgrims, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Promulgation of the Dogma
of the Immaculate Conception.

1943 – Archbishop Thomas Roberts gave the shrine an independent status under a
Rector of its own, in the person of Msgr. Dominic de Sa. (1st Rector of the
shrine)

1950 – Msgr. Placidus Edward Fernandes constructed the Rectory “Marianella”.

1954 – Inauguration of Oratory of Our Lady of Fatima, on 5th Dec., opposite the
Church. This was the occasion of the Marian Year when for the first time the
statue of Our Lady of the Mount was taken on a pilgrimage to all the parishes of
the city, suburbs and Vasai. On 2nd Dec the statue was brought back with pomp to
the Shrine, where Cardinal Valerian Gracias warmly welcomed this beloved Mot
Mavli back in its abode. On 5th December, the Cardinal crowned the statue of Our
Lady and the Child Jesus with gold crowns. That same day the Church was given
the status of a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII. 

1964 – Pope Paul VI, on a visit to Bombay for the International Eucharistic
Congress, graced this beautiful Basilica with a visit.



1986 – St. Pope John Paul II, on a visit to India, visited the Basilica.


FEAST DAY - 8TH SEPTEMBER



The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated here on the first Sunday
after 8 September, the birthday of the Virgin Mary. The feast is followed by a
week-long celebration known locally as the Bandra Fair and is visited by
thousands of people.


THE BANDRA FAIR (ANNUAL FEAST)




The term Bandra Fair refers to the celebrations that are connected with the
annual Feast of Our Lady of the Mount on 8th September, known as the Feast of
the Nativity (Birth) of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It becomes an important
historical event, because with the birth of Mary comes “the dawn of our
salvation”, since Mary’s Son, Jesus, would be the Saviour of the world. If Mary
had not consented to be the Mother of God, to bear Jesus in Her womb there would
have been no Redemption.



Mary’s answer of “yes” to the Angel at the Annunciation ensured mankind’s
deliverance from sin. We do not know the exact birthday of Mary, and so 8th
Sept   has been fixed by tradition. Devotees will therefore throng to the
Basilica on this day; a shamiana erected for the purpose ensures that the
pilgrims can celebrate Mass in the shamiana and then enter the Basilica to pay
homage to Our Lady.

But this feast is too solemn to be contained in a day! 

The official Feast is celebrated over an “Octave”, i.e. an eight-day period,
from the Sunday after the 8th of September to the next Sunday. And this
eight-day celebration is preceded by a nine-day “novena” of prayer directed to
the Virgin Mary. That makes the Bandra Feast last a total of 17 days! During the
novena, the masses are both in the mornings and evenings; during the octave,
masses are only in the mornings, leaving the Basilica free for “darshan”
especially for those of other faiths.


THINGS TO DO



People who suffer from any disease bring wax figures depicting their illnesses
to the Mount Mary Church in the hope that they would be cured. For example, a
person with a broken leg will bring a wax figure of a leg.


MASS TIME




WEEKDAYS

 * 6.30 am
 * 7.30 am


SUNDAYS

 * 6.30 am
 * 8.00 am 
 * 9.30 am


PERSONAL PRAYER / DARSHAN - WEEKDAYS

 * 9.00 am to 1.00 pm

 * 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm


PERSONAL PRAYER / DARSHAN - SUNDAYS

 * 6.00 am to 1.00 pm

 * 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm


CONTACT INFO



Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount,
Mount Mary Road, Near Shanthi Avedna Sadan,
Bandra (West), Mumbai , Maharashtra – 400 050, India


PHONE NO.

+91 22 2642 4452  / 2642 3152, 7506981522

Youtube Dribbble


NEARBY PLACES

‘Father Agnel’ is another church sited on Carter Road, close to Mount Mary
Church. The famous Jogger’s Park is also situated in Bandra and is a must-visit
for all tourists.


ACCOMMODATIONS





CONNECTIVITY



Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra is well connected Bus Station, Railway
Station and Airport facilities rest of the country.


AIRWAYS

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, is the closest airport, the
Basilica is situated approximately 12 Kms. from the international airport and
about 8 Kms. from the domestic airport.


RAILWAYS

The closest railway stop is the historical Bandra Station, it is approximately
2.5 Kms. away.


ROADWAYS

The public bus (BEST) route no. 211 from the Bandra Station turn arounds at
Lands End. From there a fairly steep but short uphill climb (via Kane Rd.) to
the Basilica is required. Another bus route no. 214 from the Bandra station too
has its turnaround point near the steps of the Mount via St. John the Baptist
Rd. This bus stop is referred to as ‘Mount Mary Steps’ these steps allow one
access from the eastern side but are used only as an exit route during the
Bandra Fair in September.


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