Posted On: 03 May, 2025
The Catholic Church of St. Joseph, Ferrargunj, South Andaman, joyfully celebrated the Golden Jubilee and the inauguration of the newly constructed St. Joseph Chapel at Mathura on 1st May 2025. The chapel, a substation of the Ferrargunj parish, was blessed and officially opened by the Most Rev. Visuvasam Selvaraj, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Port Blair.
The St. Joseph Chapel at Mathura holds a significant place in the history of the Catholic Church in the region. With a legacy spanning 50 years, the chapel once served as the main parish before the formation of the Wimberlygunj and Ferrargunj parish, which was later entrusted to the Pillar Fathers and Salesians. To ensure better accessibility for the faithful, the parish was eventually moved from Mathura to Ferrargunj. Despite this shift, the community in Mathura remained steadfast in their faith and continued to request the construction of a new chapel to replace the old broken structure.
Responding to the heartfelt appeal of the local faithful and the parish priest, Bishop Visuvasam Selvaraj granted approval for the new chapel to be built on the original site. Through the dedicated efforts and sacrifices of the local community, the construction was successfully completed. The inauguration ceremony began at 4:00 PM with a grand welcome for all guests. Bishop Selvaraj presided over the Holy Mass in the newly consecrated chapel. The celebration also featured a lively cultural program organized by the faithful of Mathura. During the event, the faithful expressed their gratitude to all who contributed to the Church work, honoring the chief guests and well-wishers with tokens of appreciation.
In his address, Bishop Selvaraj thanked Fr. John Vigilius the parish priest, Ferrargunjand the faithful for their commitment to nurturing and renewing the spiritual life of the community through the construction of the new chapel. The Golden Jubilee and chapel inauguration concluded with a fellowship meal, marking a memorable day of faith, unity, and celebration for the Catholic community of Mathura.
