The legend of Our Lady of the Mount in Bandra involves a statue brought by the Portuguese in the 16th century, destroyed by Marathas in 1738, and then found in the sea by a Koli fisherman. This Feast of Our Lady of the Mount is an important date in the Catholic calendar of Bombay.
Newsroom (September 4, 2025, Gaudium Press) Come September 8, and Bandra the Queen of the suburbs of Mumbai (Bombay city), will be agog with the festive season of the Feast of Our Lady of the Mount. Ten days prior to the Feast, the novena to Our Lady is
conducted. The Feast of Our Lady of the Mount is celebrated with pomp
and pageantry for the next 10 days. This Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of the Mount has a very chequered history. Let’s travel together in time.
Original Oratory
1570 – With the Jesuit Fathers beginning to take care of ministry in
Bandra with headquarters at Santa Ana Church, a simple Oratory made of
mud emerges at the Mount near Lands End, for private devotion only. A
wooden statue of Our Lady, depicted as the Mother of God was brought by
the Jesuits from Portugal and placed on the main altar. This could be
considered as the 1st edifice, which immediately begins to attract a large
number of devotees.
1587 – The Mount Mary Oratory is placed under the authority of the Parish
of Santa Ana.
1616 – The increase of Christian population required the bifurcation of the
old parish of Santa Ana. The parish of St. Andrew was thus created and
the Mount Mary Oratory was placed under the authority of the new Parish
of St. Andrew.
Chapel
1640 – The Mount Mary Oratory is enlarged into a Chapel (2nd edifice) for
use of the increasing number of devotees, as well as for the Portuguese
garrison stationed in the Fort at Lands End.
1665 – Bombay Island is handed over to the British by the Portuguese.
1700 – Bandra was invaded by a pirate army of the Muscat Arabs who,
hoping to find treasure, attempted to ransack the Shrine. When
disappointed in their expectations, they chopped of the right forearm of
the statue, thinking it was of gold! They also intended to set fire to the
church, when a huge army of bees attacked them so cruelly that they
were forced to abandon their evil intentions and leave. As the statue was
damaged, it was probably stored in the lumber room and in order not to
disappoint the pilgrims, the statue of Our Lady of Navigators from the
side altar of St. Andrew’s Church was brought to the Mount.
The legend of Our Lady of the Mount in Bandra involves a statue brought
by the Portuguese in the 16th century, destroyed by Marathas in 1738,
and then found in the sea by a Koli fisherman. While the original statue
was later found and restored, the story of the fishermen finding a statue
in the sea is also associated with the Our Lady of Navigators’ statue,
which was temporarily placed at Mount Mary in the 18th century.
(1741-1761) – Public devotion at the Mount comes to a standstill because
of political instability and a lack of priests to look after the Shrine.
Church
1761 – Mount Mary Chapel was rebuilt for the third time. The broken
statue of Our Lady of the Mount was repaired by placing a detachable
Child Jesus on it. The statue that was brought from St. Andrew’s Church
was returned to its original place. This same year, the Archbishop of Goa,
Dom Antonio Taveira de Neiva Brum da Silveira, established the
Confraternity of Nossa Senhora de Monte attached to the Chapel.
(1848-1852) – With financial aid from Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy and family,
in gratitude for favours received, a road was constructed from the Bandra
end of the newly-built Mahim Causeway to Mount Mary Church.
(1869-1879) – Fr. Ersamo Francisco Xavier who was now Chaplain
renovated and embellished the chapel. He probably added a glass portico
in front of the chapel.
1882 – The Chaplain, Fr. Elias Hypolito Fernandes, renovated the Chapel
yet again.
1885 – Mahim causeway came to be built, as well as the linking of the
railway line, causing a greater influx of pilgrims to the shrine.
1895 – A major devastating plague broke out in Mumbai.
Minor Basilica
1902 – Despite the plague the Fathers of St Andrew’s go ahead with the
project of building a better edifice on the Mount. The project is taken up
by Fr. Placid Hilary Henriques (Vicar of St Andrew’s) with the help of Fr.
Elias Braz Dias and Fr. Pedro Antonio Fernandes. This foundation stone
was only laid on 11th May 1902 by His Grace Archbishop D. Sebastiao
Jose Pereira of Damaun (who lies buried in the shrine). The Architect was
Mr. S. N. Chandabhoy, and most of the materials were brought by sea,
and lifted up with the help of bullock carts and donkeys.
1904 – The present Church, the fourth edifice, is completed and thrown
open to pilgrims, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the
Promulgation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
1943 – Archbishop Thomas Roberts gave the shrine an independent status
under a Rector of its own, in the person of Msgr. Dominic de Sa. (1st
Rector of the Shrine)
1950 – Msgr. Placidus Edward Fernandes constructed the Rectory
Marianella.
1954 – Inauguration of Oratory of Our Lady of Fatima, on 5th Dec.,
opposite the Church. This was the occasion of the Marian Year when for
the first time the statue of Our Lady of the Mount was taken on a
pilgrimage to all the parishes of the city, suburbs and Vasai. On 2nd Dec
the statue was brought back with pomp to the Shrine, where Cardinal
Valerian Gracias warmly welcomed this beloved Statue back in its abode.
On 5th December, the Cardinal crowned the statue of Our Lady and the
Child Jesus with gold crowns. That same day the Church was given the
status of a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII.
1964 – Pope Paul VI, on a visit to Bombay for the International Eucharistic
Congress, graced this beautiful Basilica with a visit.
1986 – St. Pope John Paul II, on a visit to India, visited the Basilica.
Mary continues to walk with us in our own struggles—to believe, to let go,
and to say yes. She understands those who hesitate before God’s call,
who long for clarity or strength. As we honour her today, let us turn to her
not only with reverence, but with a desire to follow her way. Mary, Model
of Faith and Surrender, pray for us—teach us to trust, to let go, and to
choose God with our whole heart.
by Jude H Gomes
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