Pastor's Desk
“IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO BE BUSY; SO ARE THE ANTS. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE WE BUSY ABOUT?”
— Henry David Thoreau
Dearly beloved Parishioners,
After the good monsoon showers which have had a cooling impact on the whole atmosphere around us, we see small rivulets appearing to dance through twigs, thorns and bushes, gushing through rocks and hills, humming through huge mountains and valleys, forming and transforming into milky waterfalls, adorning and beautifying nature as like a new bride.
Sunday Announcements
- The liturgy for the 8.45 AM Mass next Sunday, will be conducted by the Community No. 01 Immaculate Conception.
- There will Triduum novena masses for the feast of St. Francis Xavier on 30th Nov, 1 st and 2nd Dec 2024. On 1 st Sun novena mass will be at 5.30pm. The feast day mass will be celebrated on 3rd Dec at 7pm followed by procession in the Church compound. All are invited to participate in it.
- Today we solemnly begin the advent season, the forthcoming preparation for the feast of Nativity of Jesus Christ Let us welcome the advent season with Hope.
- The Sacred Heart Goan Association will be celebrating their 24th Anniversary in honor of their Patron St. Francis Xavier with a Solemn Mass on Tuesday, 3rd December at 7.00 pm in our church. All the parishioners are cordially invited..
- The PPC meeting will be held on Thursday 05th December 2024 at 8 pm in the mini hall.
- PAC meeting will be held on Wednesday 4th December 2024 at 7.45pm. In the Mini Hall. Request all the Heads of Cells and Associations to be present for the same. Only in case of emergency you may send your Assistant Head to attend the meeting.
- SCC Steering meeting will be held on Friday 06th December, at 8.00 pm in the Mini Hall. SCC Coordinator's kindly make it convenient to attend this bi-monthly meeting. Please note, No substitutes will be allowed to attend.
- The Centre for Social Action (CSA) the social work office of the Archdiocese of Bombay raises funds every year to support the cause of the poor tribals and other vulnerable groups through the advent campaign against Hunger and Disease, Donors get an 80G tax exemption. Envelopes are kept at the entrance of the church. Kindly support.
- Women's Cell invites all Teenage girls from class 7th to 10th classes For a Girls Talk on 8th December from 11 am to 12.30 pm at the Community Centre. Names to be registered with the Catechism Teachers. Parents please encourage your children to participate in this program.
- Holy Spirit Hospital is delighted to offer a special Christmas Bonanza on Health Check-up packages from 01-12-2024 to 31-12-2024 for further details see the notice board
- St. Pauls Institute of Communication Education invites for free career guidance session for students of 10th and Junior College for further details see the notice board.
Heart to Heart Parish Newsletter
Our parish's newsletter, "Heart to Heart," serves as a channel of communication, assisting in the announcement of events and the reporting of information regarding the various initiatives of Sacred Heart Parish, Andheri East. It also serves as a testament to God's wonderful works among us in our parish through the activities of its various cells, groups, associations, and communities. Besides circulation within our parish (one copy per family), the bulletin is also sent to the Dean, Bishop etc. as reports. Spiced with humour, information about good health, professional opinion, interviews with leaders within the Parish, a message from the Parish Priest, articles for spiritual growth, and a Bible Quiz corner for Family, The Heart to Heart is a publication that is released quarterly, around the feasts of Easter, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Nativity of Our Lady and Christmas. Each issue focuses on a theme. The editorial team works within a scheduled timeframe and also takes into consideration the economics of publishing the bulletin.
Fr John Mascarenhas SVD
Parish Priest
Fr John Mascarenhas SVD
Parish Priest
Fr. John hails from Vasco da Gama, Goa. He was born on 11 th January 1966 to the late Andrew Francis and late Claudina Mascarenhas. He is the sixth among his siblings of six brothers and two sisters. Fr. John joined the SVD Seminary after completing High School in 1982. For his Overseas Training Programme, Fr. John was sent to Brazil for two years and has completed his diaconate in the Divine Word Seminary, Pune. He was ordained a priest on 14th May 1996. His pastoral motto is ‘To gather unto Him’ His first assignment as a priest was as Vocation Promoter at St. Francis Xavier Church, Goa for five months after which he was appointed as co-pastor at our Parish in October 1996. Soon after the inauguration of our Church in October 2000, Fr. John was transferred to St. Francis Xavier Church, Giriz, Vasai in order to learn Marathi.
In June 2001, the local bishop appointed Fr John as co-pastor at Mother of God Church, Palli, Naigaon West. Here, he assisted the Parish Priest in catering to the needs of the English-speaking Community. It was during this time that he completed his B.Ed. In June 2004, he was appointed as co-pastor at St. Theresa’s Church, Bandra. Initially, he worked as a teacher in the Secondary Section of the school and was eventually promoted as the Head-Master of the Primary Section and Vice-Principal of the Secondary Section. In June 2009, Fr. John was appointed as the Principal of the School and for the next 11 years Fr. John continued in this capacity and had also been assisting the Parish. In June 2015, Fr. John SVD joined for a second tenure in our Parish as co-pastor and also as Manager of St. Arnold’s School. He left our Parish in 2016 to undertake an important assignment, as Rector of St. Francis Xavier Seminary, the SVD Seminary and as Director of Ashirwad in Raia, Goa. Later, in 2017 he also became Prefect while continuing as Rector.
In 2018, Fr. John was assigned as Assistant Parish Priest at Holy Family Church, Marcela, Goa and he took over as Parish Priest in 2020. Fr. John is appointed as Parish Priest at Sacred Heart Church effective June 2023.
Fr. John is a people’s Pastor who is always available for the sheep of his flock. He is well known for his melodious singing and friendly presence. His cheerful disposition always brings a smile to those around him. His work with the Youth of our Parish is well remembered.
Fr Edwin Vas SVD
Co-Pastor
Fr Edwin Vas SVD
Co-Pastor
Fr. Edwin Joined the SVD Seminary on 30th May 1968. He studied at St. Philomena’s College, Mysore and graduated in Arts from the University of Mysore. He further did his BA in Philosophy and BA in Theology from Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. His Seminary formation was at Divine Word Seminary, Pune. In 1990, Fr. Edwin pursued his master’s in mass communications from Leicester University, U.K and also obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Christian Communication from Cairos, Maynooth, Ireland in 1991.
He was ordained priest on 10th May 1984 by Rt. Rev. Bp. Basil D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore at Our Lady of Remedies Church, Kirem.
Fr. Edwin served as an assistant at Catholic Centre, Sangareddy, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh from June 1984 - May 1985, and as a co-pastor at Holy Spirit Church, Velvarthy Nalgonda Diocese, Andhra Pradesh from June 1985 – June 1986, He was appointed Procurator at Gyan Ashram, Andheri, Mumbai from June 1986 – May 1988.
Fr. Edwin has a rich experience in the field of Communication having worked as a Sound Engineer for 30 years at Ishvani Kendra, Pune, in three separate tenures: from June 1988 to May 1989, as Assistant Director from June 1991 to May 2009 and from June 2011 to May 2023.
He was the Head of the Communication Department and Asst. Director/Superior in his last assignment prior to his appointment at our Parish.
He has worked as a Camera Person, Editor and Director and has produced 4 Video Music Albums, for Ishvani Kendra. He has also edited and directed 3 Video Albums, for other Christian Religious Centers. He has made more than 25 documentaries and prayer videos.
He had been conducting regular classes on Media Education, Sound Recording and Film Making (Video production) at Ishvani Kendra and other Communication Centers in India.
Fr. Edwin has also served on the Communications team at the Divine Call Centre, Mulki from June 2009 to May 2010 and as a Spiritual Director at Vidya Niketan - SVD Seminary, Mysore from June 2010 to May 2011.
His Pastoral motto is “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Fr. Edwin joins our Parish as a Co-pastor in June 2023.
Fr Callisto Gomes SVD
Co-Pastor
Fr Callisto Gomes SVD
Co-Pastor
He is the third of five siblings. He was born and brought up in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. As a youngster, he was active in the Youth Movement and after completing graduation, he joined the Society of the Divine Word in Indore in 1989. Fr. Callisto pursued Philosophy and Theology at the SVD seminary, Pune and completed an overseas training in Japan.
His ordination took place at the St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ujjain on 29th December 1998 by the Bishop of Indore, Rt. Rev George Anathil SVD. Fr Callisto has quite a varied and diverse experience. He has been co-pastor of Mother of God Church, Naigaon-Pali during 1999-2001, Rector at Shishyalaya, SVD Seminary Giriz-Vasai during 2001-2007, Treasurer at Mangaon Raigad during 2007-2008, Rector at SVD Minor Seminary Raia-Goa during 2008-2012 and Procurator at Divine Word Seminary Pune during 2012-2014. He was the Provincial Treasurer of the SVD India Mumbai Province for the period 2014-2020 and also served as a member of the Provincial Council for one triennium. Fr. Callisto is known to have been involved in the formation of seminarians and in administrative responsibilities.
Fr. Callisto Gomes SVD is appointed to Sacred Heart Parish, Andheri for his pastoral experience, effective from June 2020.
His Pastoral Motto is to be ‘A channel of God’s compassion, kindness and peace.’
Fr. George Mepurath SVD
Co-Pastor
Fr. George Mepurath SVD
Co-Pastor
Fr. Lucas Parkhe SVD
Co-Pastor
Fr. Lucas Parkhe SVD
Co-Pastor
Sacred Heart Parish Anthem
We’re Sacred Heart parishioners, joining hands together
Sharing our time and talents, caring for one another
Building loving communities, in love we come together
The Father, Son and Spirit, we all worship together
We’re Sacred Heart parishioners, joining hands together
Sharing our time and talents, caring for one another
Building loving communities, in love we come together
The Father, Son and Spirit, we all worship together
With vibrant priests and deacons, and associations
Committed to your mission, filled with zeal and passion
With all our families and friends, as parish we are one
Living in communion, marching with a vision
Parish Website Team
Fr. John Mascarenhas, SVD
Fr. Edwin Vas, SVD
Fr. Callisto Gomes, SVD
Fr. George Mepurath, SVD
Fr. Lucas Parkhe, SVD
Sarita Almeida
Rosita Dias