St. Peter's Colony Zone

St. Peter's Co-operative Housing Society aka "The Colony", has been in existence for 45 years. Consisting of five blocks of flats named after Jesuit Saints (Berchman, De Britto, Xavier, Kostka and Loyola), the colony also formed an ideal unit for the Small Christian Community.

4 blocks of 16 apartments each and one block of 8 apartments makes 72 flats. The number of homes however is less as in some cases a couple of flats has been divided among two home owners, giving each one half a flat more.

Forty two years later, the early settlers, many themselves in their mid forties with growing children are now that many years older with growing grandchildren. A generation has come full circle with the Christmas tree at one end and a Gul mohur at the other, taking note of the passage of time and bearing joyous and abundant witness to the changing seasons. The birds that visit this tree filled haven keep their own records of the fleeting days… Migratory patterns are imitated by the human population many of whom have left this nest to make their homes in other parts of the globe. Christmas is generally the time when old friends return to visit their families and nostalgia is the dominant spirit.

Small Christian Community projects:

Participation in colony events has declined over the years, but there have been various projects like: (Click on the links to read more...)

1. November 2007 -- Tam-Asha 2007
   A Mela to raise funds for our Parish Twinned Mission Station in Ashagad followed by a visit to Ashagad.
2. December 2007 — Parish Crib Competition
3. January 2008 — Republic Day
   Flag hoisting on the colony lawns followed by fellowship.
4. February 2008 — De Britto House Feast
   The De Britto House feast was joyfully celebrated by building members.
5. March 2008 — Passover Meal
   We were the first zone to have the Passover Meal celebrated outside the Church on our terrace. Fr. Gerard Rodricks gave us a deeper insight into the origin and meaning of this Meal.
6. April 2008 — Zone Mass
   Post-Easter Eucharistic celebration on the lawns.
7. May 2008 — Community Rosary and the Parish Treasure Hunt
   Every year in the month of May, we have community Rosary on the lawns.
   An enthusiastic Zone group participated in the Parish treasure hunt and won first place.
8. June 2008 — Zone Picnic to Karjat
   After many years, we had a fun filled Zone picnic at Pinewood Resort, Karjat.
9. Nov 2008 -- Visit to Emily Care
   St. Peters zone visited the Emily care (Infirmary of the St. Josephs sisters across the road)

In the past, the Small Christian Community projects have included:

• Outreach to a group of Adivasi women whose visit to Mumbai was hosted by members who organized a street play, a tour around the city and an evening's entertainment.
• Fund-raising melas, proceeds of which went first to a "Poor Patients Fund" at Holy Family Hospital, the Jesuit mission at Manor and the Jesuit mission at Ashagad.
• For our house-bound, the colony kids sing carols in the homes of the aged / house-bound members of the colony. The kids also make cards and craft items in their summer vacations and give it to the house-bound members on their birthdays.
• Eucharist celebrations in the Easter season and for the colony's fortieth year as well as for the "House Feasts".
  Participation in the organization and enjoyment of Parish feast events.

The core group members are:

1. Fr. Aloysius Murzello (Zone Priest)
2. Vanessa Menezes  (Zone Co-ordinator)
3. Alphonso D'Sa
4. Antoinette Rebello
5. Audrey Pais
6. Benny Fernandes
7. Charmaine Sequeira
8. Del D'Souza
9. Doreen Carvalho
10. Genevieve Cabral
11. Harry D'Souza
12. Lou Concessio
13. Xavier D'Mello