Mother of Compassion Parish: Mawkhlam
Mawkhlam falls under West Kahasi Hills and in Nongstoin diocese. The West Khasi Hills district is the largest district in the state with a geographical area of 5,247 km2 (2,026 sq mi). Initially, the Bishop had asked the fathers to look after the spiritual needs of the people and he suggested the idea to look after Mawkhlam village with two neighbouring catholic villages, namely Lad Nongsba, Mawkynthaitniangbri- Mawkynjoin with a total catholic population of 140 families. The pastoral care was entrusted to the MSFS for almost seven months without erecting it as a parish. During this period the conventions and prayer over the sick were continued along with the daily running of the pastoral care of the faithful. Finally, on November 20, 2011, the Parish was created officially under the patronage of Mary Mother of Compassion and Fr Joby Kurikilamkattu was installed as its first Parish Priest. The parish consists of 8 catholic villages and a secondary school.
When the parish was created in 2011 there were only three village churches with 140 families with a total population of 1040 faithful, bifurcated from St Peter’s Cathedral church, Nongstoin. After six months, five more villages were added to the parish from St Francis Assissi Parish, Mawlangdep run by the Capuchin fathers. There were almost 185 families in those five villages with total catholic population of 1650. The names of the catholic villages in this parish are Mawkhlam, Lad Nongsba, Mawkynthaitniangbri-Mawkynjoin, Risiang, Mawpon, Nongmynraw, Nongthymmai and Riangpoit with a total population of 2789 catholics at present. Members from other denominations come into catholic faith through marriage. The catholic population of the parish consists of the Khasi tribe with their sub tribes like Marams, Lingams and Nongtraw. Many of them have a catholic tradition of 55 years. Some of the catholics were converted from the gentile faith, whereas some others have come away from protestant churches like Fellowship church, Church of Jesus Christ and Presbyterians churches.
Since November 20, 2011, the centre has witnessed the establishment of the parish and installation of the first Parish Priest, the coming of the Jubilee cross and relics of SFS in which few thousands gathered to venerate St Francis de Sales, the monthly Bible convention on every second Saturday that attracts faithful from all over Nongstoin Diocese, the blessing of the new parish church, ordination of Fr Kevin Ward and the Diocesan Eucharistic procession with a participation of above 60 priests, 120 sisters, 23000 faithful on December 13, 2015.
Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SABS)
The Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (sabs) are collaborating with the parish, school and the Renewal centre. They joined the parish on July 24, 2013. They assist the parish in visiting the families, touring the villages, teaching in the school, and helping at the retreat centre by singing, preaching and conducting perpetual adoration.
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SL. NO |
PARISH PRIEST |
YEAR |
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Joby Kurikilamkattu |
2011-2016 |
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Shangpliang Genes |
2016 - 2019 |
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Firstar Shylla |
2019 - |
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SL. NO |
ASST. PARISH PRIEST |
YEAR |
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1 |
Mathew Edattu |
2011-2012 |
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2 |
James Adani Bashena |
2012-2013 |
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3 |
Francis Peethuruthel |
2013-16 |
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4 |
Lijo Thakidiyil |
2018- |
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