BRIEF HISTORY
Christ the King Parish, Sonapahar was established in 1972. Fr. Manuel Albizuri was appointed the first Parish Priest. The tragic death of Fr. Albi on 30 September 1982 in a jeep accident, while he was on his way back to the mission, shocked the parishioners and all those who knew him. The Parish and the Church in the region owe much to his hard work. Rightly, Fr. Albi is known as the ‘Apostle of the Lingams.’
The Parish of Sonapahar is large and spread out; the community is an ethnic mosaic, composed of Lyngams, Mahrams, Nongtrais, Garos and Nepalis. As early as 1950, missionaries from the parishes of Marbisu and Nongpoh began to reach out to the villages of Sonapahar. The early missionary tours to the region done by Fr. Matta, Fr. Mauri, Fr. Attard, Fr. John Mariae (Diocesan priest), Fr.Chittoor (Diocesan priest), Fr. Balawan, Fr. Premoli and others paved way for the planting of the Church.
Fr. Albizuri tried to establish the mission at Dorangrey, however, it was shifted to Riangdo, the present mission centre. In recent years Fr. Nicholas Tuligi, Fr. Parackal Roy Anthony, Fr. Parackette Mathew (PM) and Fr. Kunnamkudath Thomas (KA) served as the Parish Priests. Fr. Felix Bolini and Fr. Kochupurackal Curiac (KA) were acting Parish Priests for a short time. Fr.C. Spitale, Fr. Cornelius Khyriem (Diocesan Priest), Fr. Kizhakechennadu Joseph(KJ) and Fr. EP Augustine worked in the Parish. Fr. Thekkekunnel Jose (TA) joined the Parish as Assistant Priest in 2008. In July 2009, Fr. Augustine Koottala took up responsibility as Parish Priest. Fr. Augustine had served the Parish earlier as Assistant Priest.
In 1999, Shallang was made a new Parish, much of its territory being carved out of Sonapahar. The Parish of Sonapahar became a canonically constituted Salesian community in 2005, the community of Shallang being attached to it.
Christ King Secondary School at the Parish offers education, especially in the villages is its top priority. There are various Lower Primary Schools and Upper Primary Schools in the villages. The hostels serve boys and girls from far flung villages. The SCJ group of sisters started their convent at Sonapahar on 13th December 1975. They collaborate in the life and ministry of the Parish in many ways. The sisters help in the school, render much-appreciated medical service, visit villages and assist them in many ways. The Parish Council and the various Lay Associations like the Seng Rangbah, the Seng Kynthei and the Seng Samla assist in the good running of the Parish.

SONAPAHAR in the Photo Gallery