Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel & Shrine of St. Anthony, Sion
# Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel & Shrine of St. Anthony, Sion

Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel & Shrine of St. Anthony former Our Lady of Good Counsel Church initially known by its name in Portuguese, Nossa Senhora de Bom Concelho, is one of the oldest churches in, Bombay built by the Portuguese Franciscans. It was built at Sion and was initially affiliated to the St. Michael's Church at Mahim in 1596. The artistically done stained glass windows of the Church portray the martyrdom of Blessed Thomas of Tolentino, Fr. James of Padua, Fr. Peter of Siena, a Cleric and Br. Demetrius of Tiflis at Thane, in April 1321.

## History

### The coming of Franciscans to Bombay

When the Portuguese took possession of Bombay, the seven small islands out of which it had formed had by then partly coalesced. Colaba and Al-Omanis still remained to the South separated by narrow channels. But between the islands of Bombay, Mazagaon and Parel the creeks had silted up. A broad but shallow lagoon occupied the center, invaded by higher tides. But for the most part consisting of salty marsh. The sea flowed in by a narrow channel between Mahim and Worli, while the deep gulf between Mahim and Sion, while the deep gulf at Breach Candy was the only one which always required passage by boat.

This "seven-island kingdom" as some authors wish to call it thus identifying it with the Heptanesia of Ptolemy, was not thickly populated. The inhabitants with the exception of some Mohammedans at Mahim, were mostly Hindus of the Kolis and the Bhandari castes, agriculturists, toddy tappers, gardeners, fishermen. Only after they had established themselves in Bassein and Salsette Island did the Franciscans venture on Bombay-island. In the course of the 16th and the 17th centuries, the Franciscans established several Churches and Chapels in Bombay; among them was the Chapel of O.L. of Good Counsel, Sion. The discord between the Portuguese (the Friars were Portuguese) and the English resulted in the expulsion of the Franciscans from Bombay.

### The return of the Franciscans to Bombay

In 1925, the Franciscans of the ancient "Provincia Angliae" arrived in India. For three years they worked in Hyderabad. The Franciscans of Bellary, formed in 1928, looked to Bombay to ultimately establish a Franciscan Friary because Bombay possessed a large and excellent body of Catholics and vocations were numerous. In the course of 1943-1944, Archbishop Roberts offered the Friars the choice of three places : Byculla, Chembur or Sion. It was decided to accept Byculla with a view of setting up a new parish there. However, it soon became evident that it would not be possible to find a suitable plot for a Parish and residence in Byculla as the prices were prohibitive. A proposal was then made that the Friars should take over St. Ignatius'church at Jacob Circle. Again difficulties, financial and otherwise, came in the way, so that this idea too had to be dropped.

In the meantime Archbishop, now Cardinal, Gracias, allowed the Friars to review their original choice and apply for Sion, which, up to then had only been a chapel, dependent on St. Michael's Church Mahim. The Chapel was separated from Mahim, constituted it into an independent Parish and entrusted it to the Franciscans. Since the Residence of Sion constituted of only two rooms that served as quarters for the Fathers, refectory, library, Parish and school Office, a loan was obtained to extend the Residence and erect new premises for the Our Lady of Good Counsel School.

By 1957, The Parish of O.L. of Good Counsel, Sion, consisted of about a thousand Parishioners. One Priest performed all the Parish duties. The other Friars were occupied with special work, such as preaching of Missions, Retreats, Triduums, special sermons and conferences for Sisters. As far as the school is concerned, it had grown to such an extent that it was necessary to extend it still further. Another storey was added in 1957.

