From South Bend to South Bombay: A journey in Catholic kinship
“I wasn’t expecting anything big, just Mass. But that morning ended up changing everything."
For Andrew Volpe, a global affairs and Chinese major from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, day two of the India Summer Program in Mumbai was supposed to be ordinary. Jet-lagged and wide-eyed from the cultural shift, he quietly decided to attend the 6 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Name alone, with no expectations. That spontaneous act, grounded in personal faith, became the doorway to one of the most meaningful friendships and spiritual experiences of his life.
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An unexpected invitation
After Mass ended, Volpe stayed behind and struck up a conversation with its celebrant Fr. Clifton, who immediately invited him to join him and the other priests for breakfast. It was there that he first met Fr. Anthony Charanghat (Fr. Tony), as well as Fr. Neil, Fr. KT, Fr. Constancio, Fr. Chris, and Archbishop John Rodrigues.
He was struck by their warmth, genuine hospitality, and openness. “I was surprised by how casual and friendly it all was,” Volpe noted. “These were people I had just met, but they welcomed me like an old friend.” Over the weeks, these encounters became part of his daily rhythm: Masses, chats, spiritual guidance, and cups of tea in the rectory courtyard. It wasn’t part of the curriculum. But it became, for Volpe, the heart of his study abroad experience.
Among the clergy, it was his bond with Fr. Tony that deepened the most. The two began meeting regularly, sharing long conversations about faith, purpose, and personal experiences. “Fr. Tony reminded me of what it means to be truly present for someone, not just as a priest, but as a friend,” Volpe explained.
He remembers being invited into Fr. Tony’s room at the cathedral. “He showed me his books, photos from when he was younger, and even talked about his spiritual life,” Volpe recalled. “It was one of the most intimate, humble moments I’ve ever experienced.”
and Mass on their last evening in Mumbai
As the program progressed, Volpe started texting and calling him daily. It became a friendship that extended beyond the physical bounds of Mumbai and into something enduring.
Wanting to share the connection he’d found, Volpe organized a casual dinner with Fr. Tony and a group of his fellow Notre Dame classmates on their last night in Mumbai. They could have gone out to celebrate their last night in Mumbai, the city of dreams, but instead, they decided to spend time with Fr. Tony and the cathedral.
“Faith became something we could share, not just in private prayer, but in laughter, conversation, and connection,” Volpe said. It gave his peers a chance to experience what he had: the warmth of being welcomed, listened to, and embraced by people who lived their faith in a deeply personal way. Fr. Tony even offered a private Mass just for Volpe and his fellow India Summer classmates. For some, this evening offered an experience of the Church that was more personal, close, and intimate than ever before.
Experiencing Catholicism in India
From Italian-style frescoes in church interiors to the rhythm of Indian hymns and the small, sacred customs after Mass, Volpe found an embodiment of Catholicism that felt both universal and uniquely Indian.
“Even in a place where Catholics are few, the Church felt like home,” Volpe observed. “The universality of it hit me more in India than anywhere else.” These moments didn’t just enrich his spiritual life. They connected deeply with what he was studying, particularly in the areas of Jesuit education and Indian development, adding new layers of meaning to what he’d learned in the classroom.
When asked to summarize his experience at the cathedral in a single sentence, Volpe responded: “There’s a line in the Eucharistic Prayer where we refer to Jesus as our ‘surest peace.’ When I was at Holy Name (Cathedral) in Mumbai, I realized how spot-on that phrase is, and how beautiful it is. I’m on the other side of the world, and yet I know I can find His presence in the Church. That’s how I’d describe how it felt to be in the cathedral—our surest peace.”
One moment of clarity came weeks later, as he sat in a pew during Sunday morning Mass in the United States. “I thought, Father Tony’s probably saying the 6:30 p.m. Mass right now too, at the same time,” Volpe mused. “We might even be saying the same words at the same time. It made the world feel smaller, in the best way.”
Cartwright (‘26) at the Basilica of Our Lady
of the Mount in Bandra, Mumbai
A journey of faith and friendship
For Volpe, the study abroad program hosted by Notre Dame Mumbai was more than just a cultural immersion. It became a journey of spiritual clarity. “You’re never going to have your life changed if you’re not open to it,” he said. “When you know you’re in a place where there’s a chance, you have to seek it out and be willing with an open heart to let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit.”
He encourages future students to say yes to unexpected Masses, spontaneous conversations, and moments that feel outside their comfort zone. “Live with an open heart and an open mind… and trust that God has something in store for you,” Volpe advised.
As for his friendship with Fr. Tony, it’s still going strong. “We still message each other on WhatsApp,” Volpe added with a smile. “I don’t know when I’ll be back in Mumbai, but when I do, I’ll be at the Cathedral.”
Originally published by at mumbai.nd.edu on July 21, 2025.