Holy Spirit Church, Shevgaon is situated at Shevgaon-Paithan Road, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra. The Church is founded by the Society of Jesus. It is entrusted to the Pune Jesuit Province, at the territory of the Catholic Diocese of Nashik. Presently, we have three priests working in this parish which have over sixty five Mass centres.
A brief history:
Shevgaon, at the North-West corner of the Ahmednagar District was visited by Fr. Van Malderen, SJ on horseback on 1952 from Vambori, Kendal and after that contacted by cycle regularly from Harigaon and after construction of the bridge over the Pravara/Nevasa, Fr. Haldner came by jeep. In 1963, Fr. John Haldner SJ established a parish community. To cater to the pastoral needs of the people, he built a small house (priests' residence) and a boys hostel. The week days Masses were celebrated in the ground floor, last room and Sunday Masses were celebrated in a large hall at the boys hostel.
Since the number of the parishioners increasing over the years, the parish community felt the need to build a Church. The church work began in 1964 and completed in 1968. The patron of the Church is 'Holy Spirit' the third person in the Blessed Trinity. So Church sanctuary has the depiction of the Pentecost (Descend of the Holy Spirit (Trinity) upon the disciples). In 1969, Medical Mission Secular Institute Sisters were called to set up a hospital to care for the people at Shevgaon. The OPD was operational from 1969 and full hospital came into effect in 1974. To cater to the needs of the girls education, in 1972, Fr. John Haldner SJ then invited the Society of Helpers of Mary (Sisters). They started a hostel for girls, and pastoral visit to parish villages and initiated the self-help groups for women.
History of Parish Feast or Yatra
The patron of the Church is 'Holy Spirit', the third person in the Blessed Trinity. Since Fr. John Haldner SJ had special devotion to St. Thresa of Avila, on 15th of October, Church yatra was held, almost for fifteen years. From 1978 onwards, the yatra or Church feast was held on Saturday following the feast of Our Lady of Rosary (7th of October). To this day, we have the Church Feast in honour of Our Lady of Rosary.
Sub-stations/Mass Centres:
The Parish has over sixty five Mass centres of which many have churches and few others have family churches. Practically, once in a month, Mass is celebrated in these centers. To take care of the pastoral needs, there are catechists appointed in many villages to teach the people in faith and come closer to the person of Jesus and his bride the Catholic Church.
Presently Fr. Subhash Tribhuwan SJ is the parish priest, Fr. Jaya Singh T SJ is the Assistant to the Parish Priest and Fr. Luis Rebelo SJ is assisting to the Parish Priest residing at Shevgaon.
ADDRESS:
Fr. Subhash Tribhuwan SJ (9421581788)
Parish Priest
Holy Spirit Church, Shanti Niwas,
Shevgaon 414 502, Dt. Ahmednagar
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