The storeys of the Bombay Seminary are engulfed with stories, each marked by perplexing patience, long labyrinths, bewildering events, and unending hopes. Finally, in 1936 the undeterred spirit and apostolic zeal of Archbishop Lima brought to fruition the long nourished faith of the Archdiocese.
The Archbishop called Father Conget, the new Jesuit Superior, and asked him if the Society was willing to run the Seminary. Father Conget in turn consulted his General who heartily agreed but suggested that a formal agreement be drawn between the Archdiocese and the Society.
On the other hand, the Nuns informed the Archbishop that they would be ready to vacate the Parel premises by the end of 1935. The sisters left on December 15, 1935, and handed over the keys to the Archbishop on December 31, 1935.
Next, Fr. Chrysanto Zurbitu S.J. was appointed Chaplain of the Parel Chapel on January 1, 1936. While serving as a visiting priest of King Edward Memorial Hospital, Fr Zurbitu also supervised the structural alterations as required to convert the convent and school into a seminary.
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In the 1930’s Parel had emerged as the main thorough fare that crossed Bombay from south to north. It was accessible by bus, tram and rail. The ‘Bishop’s Villa’ was…
Before Parel surfaced as a viable location for the Seminary and became the subject of prolonged discussions and negotiations, other sites were considered and eventually abandoned by Archbishop Lima…
We have traveled through the winding roads of the history of the Bombay Seminary – a route brimmed by obstacles – personal and political, the dreary Double Jurisdiction, disunity,…
‘In 1900 the six seminarians then studying at St Xavier’s were moved to Kandy and the Bombay Seminary was closed for the second time in its long and tortuous history.’…
Fr. Warner D'Souza is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Bombay. He has served in the parishes of St Michael's (Mahim), St Paul's (Dadar East), Our Lady of Mount Carmel, (Bandra), a ten year stint as priest-in-charge at St Jude Church (Malad East) and at present is the Parish Priest at St Stephen's Church (Cumballa Hill). He is also the Director of the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum and is the co-ordinator of the Committee for the Promotion and Preservation of the Artistic and Historic Patrimony of the Church.
