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CV NEWS FEED // Catholics in Maharashtra, India, are campaigning to restore and protect the 16th-century Our Lady of Mercy Church (Nossa Senhora Des Mercês) in Thane, after its omission from the revised development plan for the city.
The Portuguese-era church, built in 1562 by Jesuits, was absent from the Thane Municipal Corporation’s draft development plan, raising concerns about its preservation, according to UCA News.
Melwyn Fernandes, general secretary of the Association of the Concerned Christians, highlighted the omission after reviewing the draft.
“When we went through the draft, we found that the name of the church was missing from the official list of monuments,” Fernandes told UCA News.
His organization, along with the Bombay Catholic Sabha, filed complaints with Thane’s district collector in early December, seeking immediate rectification.
Justin Paul, a local leader of the Bombay Catholic Sabha, suggested the omission might benefit a private builder operating near the church. He warned of potential legal action if the authorities failed to address the issue. Fernandes and Paul believe the church’s historical and cultural significance makes its protection imperative.
The Maharashtra Directorate of Archaeology and Museums underscored the church’s importance in a 2021 letter, describing it as “an excellent specimen of Indo-Portuguese Cultural Heritage.” The directorate noted its deteriorated condition and recommended its inclusion in the heritage list. It also urged the district collector to prevent demolition attempts and ensure the site’s protection.
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According to UCA News, despite its historical value, the church has faced neglect and controversy. It was actively used until 1737 when a war between the native Marathas and the Portuguese forced its abandonment. Local Catholics subsequently relocated to St. John the Baptist Church in Thane.
The church’s ruins have since been partially claimed by a Hindu temple trust, sparking a long-standing legal dispute. In 1970, renovations revealed a stone with Hindu carvings, leading some locals to claim the church was built on a Shiva temple site. Fernandes, appointed as an intervener in the case last year, expressed frustration at the slow progress of the legal proceedings.
John Almedia, a local parish priest, voiced optimism that the situation could be resolved, noting that representations had been made to local authorities. The church, located in Pokhran, about 45 kilometers from Mumbai, stands as a symbol of the region’s rich Catholic history. Thane district is home to numerous centuries-old churches, with Christians making up about 2.5% of its population of over 11 million.
Catholics remain committed to preserving the church, with the Association of the Concerned Christians and the Bombay Catholic Sabha emphasizing their determination to protect this landmark of Indo-Portuguese heritage. The community continues to appeal for government action, legal intervention, and public support to ensure the church’s rightful place in history and the development plan.
