Late Bishop Charles Gomez and the history of Chaklasi mission

Late Bishop Charles Gomez S.J.

Chaklasi celebrated the feast of the village on 11-02-2012 (Feast of Our Lady Of Lourdes). Please read the History of the mission 

 It was a time of Barvatias (gangsters) in the Kheda district years ago. It was hard for people to travel alone during the day time. The Barvatias used to attack people and rob everything they had. During this time Late Fr. Charles had wild dream to attract the Barvatias and Bareyas of kanjoda village.

Chaklasi Church

 The original missionary who built this chapel was Late Fr. Charles Gomez SJ {Bishop of Ahmedabad}

 The land was tilled by Punembhai who was a great admirer of Late Bishop Charlie and was the source of contacting other Bareya famillies in Kanjoda and Chaklasi Village.

 Bishop Charlie had a large photograph of the gang of Barvatias he took to Mt..Mary Bandra..when he was the cycling walla (man who rides cycle) father of Kanjoda and Chaklasi.

 He sincerely believed they had the Baptism of Desire. With that intention he built the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in Chaklasi a distance away from the Christian street. He must have got that land gifted as no one wished to be close to the Tanner's Plot. There was already a chapel dedicated to St. Peter and two bits of agricultural land. The famous Master who looked after the chapel was Master Herman Polycarp.

  Once the cyclewalla Bishop Charlie got infected with T.B. He had to be sent to Pachgani for recovery and with that all the Barvatias were gone.

 Ravjibhai Punembhai the son of Punembhai remained as care taker of Kanjoda Farm, cultivating Tobacco. Until late Fr. Chacko SJ took over.

So Chaklasi is story of vocation and migration.

Information by: Rev. Bro. Agnelo S.J.

 On 5 December 1949, Father Avellí accompanied us, FIVE Lay-Brothers: Araquistain, Recalde, Bastida, Gil & myself to meet the DSP at Kaira. From Anand we went to Nadiad by train. From Nadiad station we went to visit the Catholic Church and...to our surprise, me met in our way the great Charly Gomes lifting his cycle over the iron gate at the fence, in order to cross the Railway lines and proceed to KANJORA!!!!! (Kanjoda)

 Obviously, we were really astonished to see directly a missionary in real action: Charly had his white cassok lifted up as it was customary, he was wearing a kaki colonial topi, very long wild bear, his arms holding a cycle in the air... then crossing the railway-na patha, and jumping on his cycle, speeding away towards Kanjora!!!!

It was 63 years ago!!!

Information by Rev. Bro. Nicolás S.J.

Life of Late Bishop Charles Gomez S.J.

He was born on 5-Sep-1910 in Karachi 

Ordination 21-Nov-1936 in the Society Of Jesus

Bishop Ahmedabad 06-Oct-1974

Retired Bishop 21-May-1990

Died 15-Sep-2002 (Age 92 years) 

A priest for 65.8 years

A bishop for 27.9 years

Information source .catholic-hierarchy.org

Bishop photo courtesy  Rev. Fr. Lawrence Dharmaraj S.J.