Catholic Churches In Vasai
The Churches in Vasai have played a very important role in development of the villages with the help of its Parish Priests and Parishioners. The Churches in Vasai were built under four different diocese, the information provided on this site is divided as per these diocese.

Daman Diocese
Bombay Diocese
Vasai Diocese
Goa Diocese

The Christian Community Of Vasai -
The Indian Christians in Vasai have been converted many centuries back. A traveler by the name Cosmos has written in his diary in the 6th century about Christians in Kalyan and Sopara. Bartholomew one of the twelve apostle of Jesus Christ preached the Gospel in the north konkan region. In 1322 Father Jordanus from Rome found that there were traders and locals who had already received faith of Christ, there existed a church dedicated to St. Thomas in the township of Sopara. He preached at Thane and Sopara and is considered as first Roman Catholic Missionary. In 15th century the Portuguese started preaching Christianity in north konkan region. During 1506 and 1542 the Portuguese were responsible for the large scale conversions in Vasai. Since the original Catholics of Vasai are all converts from the Samvedhi Brahmins, Somvanshi Shatriya - Panmali, Pathare and some other communities, culturally they share many things between them including their mother tongue.There were four missionary-Congregations actively involved in the work of evangelization around Vasai fort. The Franciscans, the Jesuits, the Dominicans and the Augustinians.Some of these were converted before the Portuguese rule and others from the following communities like Samvedhi Brahmins, Somvanshi Shatriya - Panmali, Pathare. Very few Koli, Aagri and Bhandari were converted but they retained their names.Between 1570 and 1590 many Brahmin families were also converted. The newly converted community were given new Portuguese surnames. Portuguese words and prayers were adopted along with cultural influence. The Portuguese also helped this new community with farming techniques, boat building and carpentry.In 1739 when the Marathas drove away the Portuguese few Christians were reconverted to Hinduism under the leadership of Bramhendra Swami, some of whom, to this date bear the dual surnames as Souz-Patil.Vasai was under the Archdiocese of Goa between 1535-1886 and later on under the Archdiocese of Daman between 1886-1928, and finally came under the Archdiocese of Bombay in 1928. The new Diocese of Vasai was created on May 22, 1998 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

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All the churches in Vasai are not included on this site, they will be added shortly. Please leave your e-mail address incase you want to be notified about the changes on this site