The Queen of Peace (Ka Syiem Jingsuk) Parish: Amalarem
The first parish opened by the MSFS in the Archdiocese for Shillong was at Amlarem, the sub divisional headquarters of the War-jaintias in Meghalaya. The parish of Amlarem is in fact as big as the political administrative unit Amlarem. War tribe, a sub tribe of Khasis, constitutes the majority in Amlarem block. Even though they have their own dialct, the official language is Khasi.
In the year 1992, with the inauguration of MSFS Study House, the first establishment of the MSFS in the Archdiocese of Shillong, it became a felt need to have a mission in the diocese. Amlarem was officially entrusted to MSFS, bifurcating from Jowai parish. The veteran missionary Fr Johny Kuttikottayil was sent to pioneer the missionary works of the MSFS in Amlarem. He stayed in Jowai and visited the villages of Amlarem. Deacon Sabu Francis was sent to join the new mission in Amlarem. On December 18, 1993 Fr Johny and Deacon Sabu Francis came to stay in Amlarem. The first Fransalian community in Jaintia hills was formed. The feast of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, is celebrated in Amlarem on Sunday close to July 28. Exactly a month later on August 28, 1994, the new parish Amlarem, Ka Syiem Jingsuk (The Queen of Peace) by name was formally erected. As the MSFS took over the parish there was an air of expectation for things to improve, especially in terms of faith formation, infrastructure and education in general and a War-Jaintia identity with its hope, aspirations and expectations in particular. An overall growth in terms of ecumenical, economical and ecological development was asked for.
When the MSFS came to Amlarem in 1993, the War-Jainta population was just over 35 thousand, of which only around 2500 were Catholics. In the Jubilee year 2000 the parish had a Catholic population of 5000 and in 2015 it had crossed over 6000 Catholics with 900 families spread out in 45 of villages. Some of the main Catholic villages are Nontalang, Dawki, Lamin, Sokha, Darrang, Shongbareh, Padu, Konglah Nongbareh, Jarain, Umladkhur, Shkentalang, Satpator, Syndai Amjalong Muktapur, Jong-U-Shen etc. A number of big and small village churches were built, according to the size of the population of catholic community. By now, practically all the communities have their churches built. The enthusiasm for faith and for the numerical growth of the faithful, the parish is greatly indebted to all Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco (vsdb) sisters who worked in Amlarem and in particular the head- catechists of initial times; A school and a hostel for both boys and girls were built in the year 1989.
The parish is very vibrant as the people are earnest in their faith and life. The regular activities of the parish include daily Eucharist, Sunday catechism classes, association meetings, annual Sabhas and visit to families. Daily Eucharistic celebration is attended by around 150 people and Sunday liturgy is attended by an average 400 people. All catholic children attend Sunday Catechism classes. Associations such as Seng Longpa (Father’s Association), Seng Longkime (Mother’s Association), Seng Samla (Youth Association), Seng Khynnah (Children’s Association) are active. The annual feast of the parish is well organized by the people themselves and well attended by all the parishioners numbering around 4000. Other ministries of the parish include house visiting, helping the sick, organizing and coordinating the parish activities, educating of orphans, care of the sick at home, settling disputes, helping in construction of houses, assisting and providing the sacramental life of the faithful, helping the poor village boys/girls for learning typing, sewing, handicrafts etc. The Parish Council is very active and responsible. The parish has been advancing in every aspect since its inception in 1994. All the priests who worked in the parish agree that they experienced great joy and satisfaction in working in this parish. All have contributed immensely to the growth of the parish.
Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco (VSDB)
Amlarem was one of the first houses entrusted to the VSDB Congregation. The sisters were there from 1989 and took over the already running “Ka Syiem Jingsuk School”. The lynchpin of Mission as frontier Mission and direct evangelization in MSFS as well as in VSDB paved the way for the deep foundation of the Amlarem parish culminating in solidarity, cordiality and cooperativeness in mission work with its women collaborators.
|
SL. NO |
PARISH PRIEST |
YEAR |
|
|
John Kuttikottayil |
1993- 1997 |
|
|
Sabu Francis Manasrayil |
1997-1999 |
|
|
Nicholas Bara |
2000-2006 |
|
|
George Poovathunkal |
2006- 2011 |
|
|
Roy Parayaniyil |
2011-2015 |
|
|
Andrew Ashihe Saprünamai |
2015 - 2019 |
|
|
Genes Shangpliang |
2019 |
|
SL. NO |
ASST. PARISH PRIEST |
YEAR |
|
1 |
Sabu Francis Manasrayil |
1994-1995 |
|
2 |
Emmanuel Uppamthadathil |
1995 |
|
3 |
Nicholas Bara |
1995-1998 |
|
4 |
Roy Parayaniyil |
1998-2001 |
|
5 |
Jude Poovakulath |
2004-2008 |
|
6 |
Genes Shangpliang |
2008-2009 |
|
7 |
Johnson Kunnumpurath |
2008-2010 |
|
8 |
Silanand Soreng |
2010 |
|
9 |
Antony Kattathara |
2010 |
|
10 |
Donsuk Lyngdoh |
2015- 2018 |
|
11 |
Melvin Parambukattil |
2018 - 2019 |
|
12 |
Jacob Puthiyadathuchalil |
2019 - |
