Parish Ministry

St. Joseph Parish: Manikbond

St Joseph’s Parish, Manikbond, in Assam, is located in the southern part of the Karimganj District in North East India, bordering other Indian states of Mizoram and Tripura. This village parish which is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Aizawl was erected as a Parish center on December 14, 1995, to serve the people of this locality for all-round development. The Parish covers 18 villages for pastoral apostolate and around 80 villages for socio - economic, educational and medical purposes

The pioneer of this parish, Fr Lancy Monterio, put his heart and soul in implanting the church with enviable foresight. Originally the parish was a sub-center of Khanmun Parish. Fr Lancelot Monteiro with his charming personality and hard work, almost single-handedly built up Kanmhun and broke through many barriers and hence enhanced the growth of the Catholic communities with supersonic speed. And under the stewardship of Fr Lancy Montero, it became a full-fledged parish on December 14, 1995. He set the parish on strong footing with innumerable developmental and pastoral activities. While Khanmun was being developed, Frs Lancelot Joseph Monteiro and Thomas Arthasseril were planning to establish a new centre in Pipla, now a sub centre under Manikbond parish. At that time some differences of opinion arose in the EFCI of Manikbond. Mr Kameswor Tripura left EFCI and embraced Catholic faith with his entire household in 1992. Thus, the first catholic faithful of Manikbond was born! This development paved the way for the opening of the new mission at Manikbond, rather than Pipla.

Mr Kameswor Tripura, donated a plot of land adjacent to his house and raised a small structure to use as a church. And after a couple of years, his brother, along with his household, joined the Catholic faith. It was through these two families, with support from all corners, that a suitable land was searched and found in Manikbond in 1993. Later on, Fr Lancelot, through the generous contribution of benefactors and well wishers, built a better and solid building as church. Gradually due to the hard work and dedication of the missionaries and the working of the Holy Spirit more people welcomed Christ in their life and were baptized.

Fr Lancelot Joseph Monteiro initiated the works to establish a new Catholic centre at Manikbond and on December 14, 1995, the combined dream of the faithful of Manikbond, Pipla, Balia, Tangia and Longkanpong came true, when it was declared a full-fledged parish. The area extends from Lowairpowa, along the Karimganj-Agartala road, till Medli, a border village that divides Assam and Mizoram. After establishing the church, school, convent and separate hostels for both boys and girls at Manikband, Fr Lancelot Joseph Monteiro bid goodbye to the diocese in 1997. From 1997, Frs Pushparaj, Joachim Walder and Rayer have looked after the centre well. During these years Seva Kendra was set up. And in 2008-2009 Manikbond was handed over to the MSFS Congregation.

In 2008 the Provincial Administration of the MSFS NE Province received an offer fromthe Bishop of Aizwal to lookafter the parish as a stop-gap arrangement since the diocese was short of priests. And on December 24, 2008, the parish was entrusted to MSFS Congregation to cater to the pastoral needs of the people. And Fr Stephen Marayikulam (jr) was appointed as the first MSFS priest for a year.

The catholic community consists of tribal converts and protestant denominations. Majority of the Catholics are daily wage earners. There are 257 catholic families; their faith is yet to grow to be strong enough to withstand the storms of life, and attractions from other Christian denominations. The major tribes who are Catholics are Halam, Khasi or Pnars and Chorei. Today the parish community consists of 18 villages, 257 families and 2235 Catholics. The name of Catholic villages are Pipla. Balia, Balia Tangia, Jayantinagar, Lankanpong, Kulicherra, Magura, Sobri, Choraibari, Basaitilla, Soidewa, Desdewa, Khasinathpur, Jugicherrs, Torzacherra, Butucherra, Sagalma and Manikbond.

St Joseph’s Hostel, Manikbond, was opened in 1997 with a capacity to admit 150 students at any given situation.

Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa (SCCG)

The Sisters belonging to the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity joined the mission in 1994 . They engnage in the ministry of healing, social work and help the mission in the school and parish and runs a hostel for girls.

International Missionary Association (IMA)

IMA sisters joined the mission in 2007. They involve themselves in all the pastoral actitivies.