Mira-Bhayandar: St. Jerome Church marks its annual feast while ISKCON launches free meal programme at Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road | File Photo
Mumbai: St. Jerome Church, a Roman Catholic church in Kashimira, Mira-Bhayandar, India, built by Franciscan priests in 1595 during the Portuguese era, celebrated the annual feast on December 26. The church, located on a hillock along the Western Express Highway, is one of the oldest churches in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and holds historical and spiritual significance.
Every year, following Christmas celebrations on December 25, thousands of devotees from Bhayandar, Uttan, Dongri Gorai, Manori, and neighboring villages in Thane and Mumbai come to participate in the feast celebrating the birthday of its patron saint.
In keeping with a decades-old tradition, the parish conducts multilingual masses starting as early as 6 a.m. and continuing until 1 p.m. Devotees then line up to pay homage to the revered Saint, with the veneration lasting until midnight. Devotees take home local delicacies like water chestnuts and dried bananas, called sukeli.
ISKCON Govardhana Annakshetra has launched a daily free meals programme at Bhaktivedanta Hospital and Research Institute, Mira Road, from December 7 to mark the occasion of Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s appearance day.
This programme will benefit people, many of whom travel from far off regions such as Palghar Dahanu etc. to come to the hospital and then get back to their home. The nutritious meal comprises rice, dal, sabji, chapati and sweet. Th meal was a decision of the hospital leadership wto provide free meals at the hospital and ISKCON Govardhan Annakshetra is supporting the initiative.
