St. Peter’s Co-operative Housing Society aka “The Colony”, has been in existence for 60 years. Consisting of five blocks of flats named after Jesuit Saints (Berchmans, D’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.
Sixty years later, the early settlers, many who were then 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.
Recently the St. Peter’s Community has twinned with the Christian Adivasi families of Station Road and much interaction has taken place between both groups, including a Christmas dinner together in the Church premises, a tour of the city for those adivasis who had not yet been around and other activities to build Christian fellowship and outreach.
Coordinator: Neil Pais
Priest: Fr. Luke Rodrigues
Sister: Sr. Sangeeta Almeida