 during the Maratha and the British rule, but the priests that came from Goa kept up the faith when the European Fathers were driven away.The local priests coming from the East Indian Community were among the first ones to help the Goan priests in preserving the faith of the people of this area which they had received from the Portuguese in the 16th Century.The new Diocese of Vasai was created on May 22, 1998 by Late Pope John Paul II.