History of Our Lady of Light Church

Nestled between the two historic villages of Agashi and Arnala, along the shores of the Arabian Sea, Jyoti is a picturesque Christian settlement renowned for its natural beauty and the fragrance of jasmine and mogra blossoms. Preserving a rich tradition of faith, love, and unity, this land has today acquired a distinct spiritual identity through Our Lady of Light Church.

In earlier years, the entire area formed part of the pastoral jurisdiction of Agashi Church. However, because of the considerable distance from Agashi Church, it was difficult for the faithful of Jyoti and the surrounding villages to regularly avail themselves of religious services. Recognizing this need, the then Parish Priest of Agashi Church, Rev. Fr. Richard Misquita, convened a meeting of the local residents and proposed the establishment of an independent worship centre for this region. The faithful wholeheartedly embraced this vision, thus laying the foundation for a new spiritual journey.

Subsequently, through the tireless efforts of Rev. Fr. Milton Miranda, Parish Priest of Agashi Church, and Assistant Priest Fr. James D'Silva, it was decided to begin the regular celebration of the Holy Mass in the Jyoti area. A special contribution was also made by Rev. Fr. Philip Tavares. Having an in-depth knowledge of the region's history, Fr. Tavares informed the committee members that, many years ago during the Portuguese era, a church had existed at this very location. It was known as "Nossa Senhora da Luz" (Our Lady of Light). In Marathi, this title translates as "Prakashachi Mata" (Mother of Light). In honour of this rich historical heritage, the new worship centre was named "Our Lady of Light Centre," or "Jyoti Mata Centre."

This dream began to take concrete shape on 18 November 1988. On that day, through the initiative of Fr. Milton Miranda, the first Holy Mass was celebrated at Jyoti. The principal celebrant of this historic Mass was Rev. Fr. Philip Tavares, while the Centre was formally inaugurated by Sr. Helande, Superior of the Agashi Convent. From that day onward, a new dawn of spiritual life arose in the Jyoti area, marking the beginning of a new chapter of faith, prayer, and service.

Over the years, the Centre continued to grow. In January 2001, the Jyoti Centre was formally entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco. Thereafter, the Salesian congregation assumed pastoral responsibility for the area. Through their dedicated ministry, the faithful received renewed spiritual guidance, and on 30 January 2005, under the leadership of Fr. Blany Pinto, the groundbreaking ceremony for the church was held, giving fresh momentum to the long-cherished dream of building a church.

At last, the fruits of many years of prayer, sacrifice, hard work, and community participation were realized on 6 May 2007. This day became a golden milestone in the history of Jyoti. In a joyful and festive atmosphere, Most Rev. Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Vasai, solemnly blessed and inaugurated Our Lady of Light Church. The ceremony was also graced by the presence of Fr. Ivo Coelho, representing the Salesians of Don Bosco. The dream of having their own church, cherished for many years by the local faithful, finally became a reality, filling the entire Jyoti community with joy, gratitude, and pride.

Today, Our Lady of Light Church is much more than a place of prayer. It has become a beacon of faith, hope, love, unity, and service. It stands as a living monument to the sacrifice, dedication, and unwavering trust in God demonstrated by generations of faithful believers. From this sacred place, the light of the Lord continues to shine forth, inspiring hope and strengthening faith in the lives of countless people.