Quick answer: St Michael’s Church, often called Mahim Church, is a Roman Catholic church at the junction of Mahim Causeway and Lady Jamshetjee Road in Mahim, Mumbai. Its origins go back to a Franciscan foundation of 1534, and it is best known for its Wednesday novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, which draws thousands of people every week. Entry is free; the parish does not publish its novena timetable on a working official website as of October 2026, so check service times locally.
St Michael’s Church at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Junction of Mahim Causeway and Lady Jamshetjee Road, Mahim, Mumbai |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of Bombay |
| Founded | 1534 (Franciscan); present building 1973 |
| Known for | Wednesday novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour |
| Entry fee | None |
| Busiest days | Wednesdays, and the annual novena from 18 June to the feast on 27 June |
| Nearest station | Mahim (Western line) |
History of St Michael’s Church
A 16th-century Franciscan foundation
St Michael’s traces its origins to 1534, when, according to published histories of the church, the Franciscan church builder António do Porto founded a convent and church here. It was first known by the Portuguese name São Miguel (St Michael). That makes it one of the oldest Catholic foundations in Mumbai, though the building you see today is much newer.
An earlier version of this article said the church was “the oldest Portuguese structure in Mumbai”. The foundation is old, but the present church was rebuilt in 1973, so that description has been dropped.
A refuge for Mount Mary’s statue
During the Maratha campaign against the Portuguese at Bassein (Vasai) in the late 1730s, the chapel of Our Lady of the Mount in Bandra was destroyed. The statue of the Virgin from that chapel was taken to St Michael’s for safety and was sheltered there from 1739 until 1761, when the Bandra chapel was rebuilt. It is now in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount (Mount Mary Church).
The 1853 dispute over the church
In the 19th century St Michael’s was caught in a long-running dispute within the Catholic Church in Bombay between the Portuguese Padroado (the Portuguese crown’s right to appoint clergy) and the vicars apostolic appointed directly by Rome. The vicars had run the church for nearly 60 years when, in 1853, Bishop Anastasius Hartmann barricaded himself inside with supplies for 15 days while his opponents blocked the doors. On the 15th day the civil authorities stepped in, and control passed to the Padroado clergy.
Rebuilding
The church was renovated several times over the centuries, and the present structure dates from a rebuilding in 1973. Much of the older interior was lost in the process.
The Wednesday novena
The devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (also called Our Mother of Perpetual Help) has been part of the church’s life since it was introduced in 1948. A novena is a cycle of prayers, and at St Michael’s it is held every Wednesday of the year. According to a June 2026 report by Radio Veritas Asia, the weekly novena offers 12 services in five languages and draws thousands of people. The parish has offered services in English, Konkani, Marathi, Hindi and Tamil.
Many devotees, not all of them Catholic, attend on several consecutive Wednesdays as a personal vow. The novena services are open to everyone, and people of all faiths come to pray.
The annual novena and feast
Each year a nine-day novena is held before the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour on 27 June. In 2026 it began on 18 June, and Radio Veritas Asia reported about 12,000 people attending each day during the feast week, rising to about 17,000 at weekends.
Mass and novena timings
An earlier version of this article listed a full timetable of Masses and Wednesday novena services. That timetable dated from 2021 and could not be confirmed against a current parish source, so it has been removed. Third-party church directories list weekday Masses in English in the early morning and evening, and the Wednesday services run through the day, but times change. Check with the parish office or the notice board at the church before you plan around a particular service.
Visiting St Michael’s Church
- Entry: there is no entry fee.
- Wednesdays: expect queues and heavy traffic around the church for much of the day. If you want a quiet visit, come on another day.
- Dress and conduct: wear modest clothing and keep your phone silent during services.
- Stalls outside: vendors near the church sell candles, flowers and garlands for offerings.
How to reach St Michael’s Church
- By suburban rail: Mahim station on the Western line is the nearest station, a short walk or auto-rickshaw ride away.
- By road: the church is on Mahim Causeway, the main road between Mahim and Bandra, so taxis, app cabs and BEST buses pass close by. Traffic is heavy on Wednesdays.
- From the airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is in the western suburbs to the north; a taxi is the simplest option.
Places to visit near St Michael’s Church
- The Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra, whose statue was sheltered here in the 18th century.
- Bandra Bandstand, the seafront promenade below Bandra Fort.
- The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which crosses Mahim Bay.
- Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, a short drive south.
- Also nearby are the Mahim Dargah of the Sufi saint Makhdoom Ali Mahimi and the ruins of Mahim Fort on the bay.
Frequently asked questions
Why is St Michael’s Church called Mahim Church?
Because of its location in Mahim. Many Mumbaikars simply call it “Mahim Church”, especially in connection with the Wednesday novena.
What day is the novena at Mahim Church?
Wednesday. The novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is held every Wednesday throughout the year, with services spread across the day in several languages.
When was St Michael’s Church built?
The church was founded by the Franciscans in 1534. The present building dates from a rebuilding in 1973.
Can people of other faiths attend the novena?
Yes. The novena is open to everyone, and many of those who attend are not Catholic.
When is the feast at St Michael’s Church?
The feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is on 27 June, preceded by a nine-day novena that begins on 18 June.
History and novena details were checked in October 2026 against published histories of the church and Radio Veritas Asia’s June 2026 report on the annual novena. Service times change, so confirm them with the parish before you visit.
