Imagine the scent of incense mingling with the sea breeze right here. This is Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church. Many know it as OLPS Church. It is a Roman Catholic Redemptorist church. OLPS Church stands in Chembur. Chembur is a suburb in eastern Mumbai.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is revered under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. The Redemptorist Fathers founded OLPS Church. They wanted to serve the spiritual needs of Chembur Catholics.
A group of local Catholics wanted a place of worship. They began by building a small chapel. It held about 200 people. The chapel was expanded later. The growing congregation needed more space. Fr Joseph Rodrigues celebrated the first mass on June 29 1958. This was the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
In 1959 the Archdiocese of Bombay acquired land. The land was near Sion-Trombay Road. This was for a new church. Construction started in 1960. Local Catholics volunteered time and resources. It was a community effort. Valerian Cardinal Gracias consecrated Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church on June 25 1961. He was the Archbishop of Bombay.
OLPS Church blends modern and traditional church architecture. Charles Correa a renowned architect designed it in the Gothic style. Local basalt stone was used. The bell tower reaches 85 feet high. The bells were cast in Germany.
Inside Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church there is a nave. There are two aisles too. A transept completes the space. The nave is 85 feet long and 45 feet wide. It soars to 37 feet high. Stained glass windows depict Bible scenes and saints’ lives. The altar is made of marble. It features an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. A large crucifix adorns the wall behind the altar.
The Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is central to OLPS Church. It is a Byzantine-style icon. It shows the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. Many believe the icon has miraculous powers. Thousands venerate it every Wednesday. This occurs during the Novena to OLPS.
Every year on the last Sunday of June Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church celebrates its annual feast. Many devotees come from all over Mumbai. Celebrations include a nine-day novena. There is a procession too. A high mass is celebrated. Various Small Christian Communities conduct cultural programs. The church is beautifully decorated with flowers and lights.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church is a vibrant parish community. It offers many activities and programs. There are 22 Small Christian communities. Various cells and associations work for the parish’s betterment. These include Sunday school a youth cell and choirs. The church also has adult faith formation classes.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church is involved in charitable activities. It helps poor and marginalized communities. The church offers baptism classes and counselling services. It publishes a parish bulletin called 3i every Sunday. A magazine called QUEST captures all church activities. It comes out thrice a year.
OLPS Church has an active youth group. It organizes retreats sports events and social service. The music ministry provides music for masses and services. The choir has over 100 members. They perform traditional hymns and contemporary Christian music.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church also runs outreach programs. These serve the local community. There is a school for underprivileged children. A vocational training center serves women. A shelter is available for homeless women and children.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church Chembur is more than a building. It is a living testament to faith community and service. Its history architecture and activities make it a beacon of hope in Mumbai. The clergy consists of Fr Theodore DSouza CSsR Parish Priest and Fr Juvance Serrao CSsR Assistant Parish Priest.