The Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Wadala is a Roman Catholic church in Mumbai, India built in 1853. The parish of Our Lady of Dolours with its school, St. Joseph's was entrusted to the Salesians in 1948, about the same time as the Salesians settled in Matunga. The school was co-ed until the Salesian Sisters came into the Wadala Village with the Auxilium Convent for girls. The centerpiece of the church is a statue of the Pieta.
The parish extends till Kings Circle fly-over in the North, Naigaum, Sahakar Nagar and Kidwai Nagar in the South, Hindu Colony/Ruia College in the West and the Harbour Branch Railway line including the Reynold's Road, BPT Quarters in the East. These geographical boundaries were drawn after the parish of St. Dominic Savio, Antop Hill was carved out of Our Lady of Dolours church in 1981.
PARISH VISION STATEMENT :
The Legion Youth Day was joyfully celebrated under the banner of the North Bombay Curia – Legion of Mary, hosted at St. Joseph’s School Hall, Wadala (West) on 29th June, 2025. The programme commenced at 7:00 p.m. with heartfelt opening prayers followed by a warm welcome to all attendees.
Br. Decan Ivan and Fr. James Nigrel shared enriching talks that inspired and encouraged the young participants to grow in faith and stay rooted in Gospel values.
A series of interactive games based on the Gospel brought energy and fun to the evening, helping the youth to reflect on scripture in an engaging way. A short skit was also performed, shedding light on the challenges today’s youth face due to social media, prompting reflection and discussion.
The journey toward the Sacrament of Confirmation began meaningfully for the confirmands of Don Bosco Parish with a special commitment service held on Sunday morning. The event brought together confirmands, their parents, godparents, SCC animators, prayer guardians, and priests—emphasising that preparation for Confirmation is not just a programme, but a shared process involving the faith community.
The feast of St John Marie Vianney, patron of parish priests, was celebrated with great enthusiasm across various parishes in the province on August 4, 2024. The day was marked by special Masses, felicitation ceremonies, and community events, all aimed at honoring the dedication and service of our priests.
At Our Lady of Dolours, Wadala West, the day began with a solemn Holy Eucharist at 8:30 AM, presided over by Fr Bonnie Borges and concelebrated by Fr Solomon Rapol and Fr Nicholas. Fr Solomon's homily drew inspiration from the Gospel, highlighting St John Vianney's virtuous life and pastoral zeal.
The Parents and Grandparents Day celebration that took place on 21st July 2024 at Our Lady of Dolour’s Church, Wadala West, was a vibrant and heartfelt event. Preparation began two weeks prior, driven by the enthusiasm of catechists and children. The celebration kicked off with a children's Mass at 9:15 a.m., led by Fr Solomon Rapol, where prayers and blessings were offered for parents and grandparents. Following the Mass, attendees moved to St. Joseph’s School hall for the main program, featuring key guests including Fr Solomon Rapol, Fr Nicholas Arul, Fr Bonny Borges, and Mr and Mrs Fonseca.
The Day of the Girl Child was celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Wadala on September 10 at the 9:15 a.m. Children's Mass. The Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr Lester Fernandes, who brought out the theme beautifully in his homily.
After the Eucharistic celebration, the members of the Women's Cell had a get-together for the girls. We were happy to have Fr Lester Fernandes and Fr Bonnie Borges join in the celebration. Both of them gave beautiful messages. There were games conducted for the participants and snacks served. The programme ended with one of the girls presenting a heartfelt Vote of Thanks.