Religious
Sacraments & Procedures
Baptism
Prior to scheduling the date of Baptism, please bring to the Parish Office the following documents:
1. Xerox copy of Hospital Discharge paper or Municipal Birth Certificate
2. Xerox copy of Church Marriage Certificate of Parents of the child to be baptized
3. In the case of a Mixed Marriage, the original “No Objection” Letter of a non-Catholic Parent for baptism of the child must be given in writing
4. Xerox copy of Pre-Baptism training programme certificate of Parents and God Parents. Pre-Baptism training programme can be completed in any Catholic Church
Baptism is administered on all Sundays by prior appointment (at the Parish Office) except on certain nominated Sundays. The Baptism Rite begins at 11.15 am. Please be punctual.
Parents are expected to be present for the Baptismal Ceremony. God Parents (only Catholics) must also be present for the Baptismal Ceremony, unless they in writing, nominate a proxy. Kindly also bring a decorated candle for the Baptismal Ceremony
First Holy Communion
A baptized Catholic is eligible to receive the First Eucharist and the child must be our parishioner, studying in Std IV in the current school academic year or at a later age, for certain reasons. Registration begins in the first week of June annually.
Along with the prescribed nominal Registration Fee, a Xerox copy of the child’s Baptism Certificate and a Xerox copy of the Parents’ Marriage Certificate is to be attached while filling in the Registration Form. The child must compulsorily attend the Children’s Mass every Sunday at 9.00 am in the Church followed by class from 10.00 am to 11.00 am in the school building.
The date for administering the First Eucharist will be communicated to the Parents at the first meeting in June, unless specified otherwise. The parents are expected to be present for all ceremonies when required.
Reconciliation / Confessions
Priests are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday from 6.00 pm to 6.45 pm in the Church. Priests are also available at other times, by prior appointment.
Confirmation
A baptized Catholic is eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and the child must be our parishioner, studying in Std XI in the current school/college academic year or at a later age, for certain reasons. Registration begins in the first week of June annually.
Along with the prescribed nominal Registration Fee, a Xerox copy of the child’s Baptism Certificate and a Xerox copy of the Parents’ Marriage Certificate is to be attached while filling in the Registration Form. The child must compulsorily attend any of the Masses from Saturday evening to Sunday evening in our Church and class every Sunday from 8.30 am to 10.00 am in the School Hall
The date for administering the Sacrament of Confirmation will be communicated to the Parents at the first meeting in June or when held.
Matrimony
Those intending to get married should first contact and get registered for the Marriage Preparation Course conducted by:
Snehalaya Family Service Centre,
Victoria Church Campus, Near Sitladevi Temple,
Lady Jamshedji Road, Mahim (West), Mumbai – Mumbai 400 016
Contact: Monday to Saturday, Daily but closed on Public and Church Holidays. They are open for online telephone contact, but visits to the Office can only be done by prior appointments.
Timings: Mornings: 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and Evenings: 3.00 to 5.30 p.m.
Telephone: +91 (022) 214448218
Mobile: 9321179831
Email: snehalaya.family@gmail.com
The couple is should carry along their Baptism Certificate, register for the course convenient to you, attend the course along with your fiancé, obtain the Certificate issued by the Family Service Centre on completion of the course and then only you may approach any of the priest on duty in the Parish Office. Only then will the wedding be registered in the Mass Diary.
Nuptials are celebrated in our Church on any weekday (outside of Lent) at 5.00 pm and on Sunday at the scheduled 5.00 pm Mass. The same can be booked at the Parish Office in consultation and with the approval of the Priest on duty. Guidelines to be followed at the time of the Nuptials are to be strictly adhered to. Make sure you take a copy of the same at the time of booking of your wedding mass.
If the couple being joined in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony wishes to have their own Priest bless their nuptials (one not belonging to the Parish Team of Priests), please ensure that the Priest being invited sends a letter in writing, well in advance, requesting for the necessary delegation.
Due to the heavy demand for time-slots from our own parishioners, our Church is not available to non-parishioners. There can be more than one nuptial at a wedding mass. However, Mixed Marriages and Sacramental Marriages cannot be held together.
Holy Orders
Young boys and girls having an interest to become Priests/Nuns or to join Religious Life are requested to contact any of the Parish Fathers for guidance/assistance.
Anointing of the Sick
This is no longer referred to as the Sacrament of Extremeunction. It is now called the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick – a sacrament of healing. This Sacrament is administered to any Baptized Catholic who is sick and is in need of prayers and anointing. Please do not wait for a person to be on the ‘point of death’ to call for a Priest.
Priests are always available to administer this sacrament to any Baptized Catholic who so requests for this sacrament. Do contact the Priest on Duty. Kindly inform the Priest of the Patient’s condition, e.g. if the person can swallow, in the case of Holy Communion.
Certificates & Parishioners’ Medical Aid
Issuing Certificates – Photographing details from any of the Church Registers is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN, UNACCEPTABLE as not official.
Baptism and Marriage
• ID Proof is a must for all certificates.
• Previous certificates or ‘Accepted Proforma’ is also accepted.
• Any Government ID (Xerox) of the person on whose name the Certificate is.
In case of collection of Certificate on behalf of another person:
• Your personal ID and the ID of the person on whose name the certificate is required.
• A Letter, authorizing the person to collect the Certificate on behalf of him/her.
Burial
Documents to be submitted the same as in Baptism and Marriage. However, please note: Burial Certificate will only be issued to next of kin like – spouse/son/daughter and NOT to any other party – even if authorization letter is given.
East Indian Catholic Remark
In order to get the ‘East Indian Catholic’ remark entered in the Remarks Column of his/her Baptism Register, the person concerned could directly approach the Chancellor at Archbishop’s House with a letter, addressed to the Parish Priest of their Church of Baptism, requesting him to add the ‘East Indian Catholic’ remark in the Remarks Column of his/her Baptism Register.
Along with this letter, he/she should also carry with the following documents:
1. The original certificate from either the ‘Mool East Indian Sanghatna’ or ‘The Bombay East Indian Association’ stating that he/she is a member of that Sanghatna or Association.
2. Alternatively, he/she could get a letter from any priest who knows him/her and could vouch that he/she is an East Indian.
3. The original or a Xerox copy of one’s Baptism certificate.
Please note that both, the Baptism Certificate as well as the original membership certificate, will be returned to the parties.
Name Change in Registers
1. Documents for change in Name and/or Surname of the child in the Baptism Register:
Municipal Birth Certificate with the correct name and/or surname of the child.
2. Document for change in date of birth:
Municipal Birth Certificate and Hospital Birth Card.
3. Documents for change in the Name and/or Surname of Parents of the child in the Baptism Register:
Baptism certificates and Marriage Certificate of Parents with their correct name and surname in both these documents.
4. Documents for change in Names in Marriage Register:
Baptism Certificates having the correct name and/or surname of bridegroom and bride and their parents.
5. Documents for change in the Funeral Register:
Baptism and/or Marriage Certificate of the deceased person having the correct name and surname.
6. When making changes in Government Gazette for Baptism Certificate:
Make sure that the old name is the same as stated in the Baptism Register. Do not add Father’s name or husband’s name and surname to the new name in the Government Gazette.
• For all changes in the Church Registers:
First please write an application to the Parish Priest stating clearly what the error(s) is and the corrections. Then a Letter will be given by the Parish Priest to the Chancellor, Archbishop’s House, and change in the register will be done only after permission is received from the Chancellor.
Portuguese Passport
1. Two Roman Catholic Parishioners who were staying in the same locality of our Parish as the person applying for this certificate make a sworn statement before God with their hand on the Bible and in the presence of the Parish Priest.
2. These two Roman Catholic Parishioners should have been staying in the same locality as the applicant before 1st January 1974 till after 31st December 1975.
3. In addition to making a sworn statement that the applicant was staying in their locality, they must also state in the sworn statement that the applicant and his family attended the religious ceremonies of St Anthony Church, Vakola, Mumbai 400 055 during the period of their stay in the above mentioned address including the period 1st January 1974 to 31st December 1975.
4. The applicant must bring an original copy of his/her Baptism Certificate and a Passport size photograph. The phrasing of our letter may be different from what the Embassy gives as a draft.
Medical Aid
1. Take the application form from the Parish Office and fill in all the details. Attach a photograph of the patient.
2. Attach all documents mentioned in the application form including a Xerox copy showing the amount you have to spend for medical treatment.
3. Get the statement of SCC Coordinator and S.V.P. member who will visit the house and verify the case.
4. After verification as per the policy and decision of the Parish Finance Committee, aid will be given. Cheque will be issued by the Parish Priest.
5. Those seeking further medical aid will be given letters of request for medical aid to other Parishes and Institutions as per the list selected by the person seeking medical aid.
6. The Parish Priest has the list of Parishes and Institutions giving medical aid. A letter may also be given as appeal to the Archdiocesan Corpus Fund – Medical Aid.
