St Francis de Sales Parish: Umwhalang
St Francis de Sales Parish, Umwahlang, was the first MSFS mission in the diocese of Nongstoin, Meghalaya. The people of this place predominantly belong to the Maram tribe, which is a sub-tribe of the Khasi tribe. The area remains underdeveloped and people remain poor due to inadequate transport and communication facilities. As several of the villages are situated on the border between Assam and Meghalaya, often disputes become common causing tension and affecting normal life.
The Parish, bifurcated from St Peter’s Parish, Nongstoiñ, was opened on May 4, 2008, by Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh, Bishop of Nongstoiñ. Fr Nicholas Bara and Fr Santhosh Chavarnal took charge of the Parish as the Parish Priest and assistant respectively. Fr Nicholas reached Nongstoiñ on February 30, 2008, and Fr Santosh Chavarnal on May 31, 2008.
The erection of the new parish at Umwahlang raised high hope among the people of the region. At the time of the establishment of the Parish, an Upper Primary school and a village church were in existence. For some months, the priests stayed in a rented village house until the construction of temporary presbytery was completed in November 2008. The parish, as of 2016, has 31village substations with a catholic population of 3500 from 450 families. The priests engage themselves in pastoral works and education. The vision of the parish is stated to be ‘to transmit Fransalian optimism and cheerfulness and to cater to the spiritual needs of the people’.
The villages with catholic population are Dewsaw, Domtiewsaw, Kriangrin, Ktiehthawiar, Kyngongngei, Kyrdum, Langpih, Mawdiangsnam, Mawkapiah, Mawkhap, Mawlan, Mawribah, Mawrinah, Mawsikar, Mawsngi, Miambyirkong, Mynnikr, Nongkhlain, Nonglang, Nongma, Nongmawlein, Nongsohram, Nongthymmai, Pyndensohstap, Siangra, Thynri, Tynghor, Umiap, Umthlong, Umwahlang and Umwahsiang.
Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco (VSDB)
The VSDB sisters opened a convent in Nonglang village under the parish. Later in 2006, it was shifted to Ktiehthawiar village and was blessed by Bishop Victor Lyngdoh. They run a dispensary and engage in education and village touring.
Society of the Sisters of St Ann, Luzern (SAL)
On september 10, 2013, the first community of sisters of St Ann of Luzern (St Ann Sisters) of Central Province, was formally established at Umwahlang Parish to help in the ministry. They manage a dispensary and assist in the school.
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SL. NO |
PARISH PRIEST |
YEAR |
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Nicholas Bara |
2008- -2011 |
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Antony Kattathara |
2011 - 2019 |
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Roy Parayaniyil |
2019 - |
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SL. NO |
ASST. PARISH PRIEST |
YEAR |
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1 |
Santhosh Chavaranal |
2008-2010 |
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2 |
Andrew Ashihe Saprünamai |
2009-2013 |
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3 |
Praveen Kumbattu |
2011-2014 |
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4 |
Johnson Kunnumpurath |
2014 |
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5 |
Firstar Shylla |
2014-2018 |
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6 |
Silanand Soreng |
2018-2019 |
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7 |
Melvin Parambukattil |
2019 - |
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8 |
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9 |
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10 |
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11 |
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