MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, RANGBLANG
(Estd. 1980) INS 25
Rangblang; W.K. Hills Dist.
Meghalaya – 793119
Brief History
The Parish of Mary Mother of the Church, Rangblang was established in 1980. It was born of Nongstoin Parish. Fr. Philip Giraudo was appointed its first Parish Priest. The hard work of Fr. Philip placed the Parish on a good start.
Fr.Leonard Kharkongor succeeded as the Parish Priest in 1989, after the demise of Fr. Philip. In the following years, Fr. Telesphorus Nonglang, Fr. Kenny Pakma and Fr. Justin Lyngkhoi served as Parish Priests. Other confreres who worked in the Parish include Fr. Spitale Carmelo, Fr. Aricat Davis, Fr.Kittikadan Paul, Fr. Thekkekunnel Jose, Fr. Dkhar Alexius, Fr. Tharakunnel Pius, Fr. Kharbani Stephen and Fr. Synrem Sylvester. In March 2008, Fr. Sebastian Tirkey took charge as the Parish Priest, Fr. Alphonsius Rongrin, ordained priest on 13 January 2008, reached Rangblang as Assistant priest in February 2008.
The Parish statistics of 2008 counts nearly 9000 Catholics spread over 54 villages. Some of the villages are still not reachable by motorcar. There are 44 village schools, most of them at primary level. Besides St. Mary’s Secondary School at the mission centre which has nearly 1000 students. There are two other High Schools in the villages. The boarding house at the parish served boys from far flung villages.
In 1982, the FMA group of sisters reached Rangblang. In the same year, they established St. Mary’s convent. The sisters collaborate in the parish ministry in various ways. They help in the school at the centre, do health care services especially through the dispensary, administer the girls’ hostel and visit the villages doing catechesis and ministering to the needs of the people. There is an enthusiastic group of Salesian Cooperators in the Parish. The Parish Council and other Lay Associations like the Seng Rangbah, the Seng Kynthei and the Seng Samla are active in the Parish. The Parish of Rangblang is noted for a number of vocations-priests, brothers and sisters.
The FMA established a convent at Mawpat in the year. The new Parish of Mawpat, under the care of the Holy Cross Fathers will be inaugurated on 21st May 2017.
Apostolate / Ministries
Parish | Full-fledged Parish Ministry |
School | Managed by the SDB, service rendered by FMA |
Hostel | Managed by SDB |
Chaplaincies | FMA |
STATISTICS
· Salesian community – with 2 priests and one cleric
· Convent – 1 with 7 FMA sisters
· Head Catechists – 4; domestic staff 3
· Parish Sub-Centre 1 (Mawpat) and Villages 58; Village chapels 15
· Hostels – 2, one for boys (32) by Salesians and one for girls (29) by Salesian Sisters
· There are 1584 Catholic Families and 10093 parishioners.
· There are some 30 priests and religious, who are natives of this parish, now working in various parts of the country.
· The school at the Centre, MBOSE board, St. Mary’s, was started in 1972. At present it has 3 Salesians 2 FMAs and 24 staff working in it. There are 1192 students, both boys and girls. The school has just started Plus Two in 2013 in only Arts Stream.
· There are 33 Village schools catering to some 3000 students.
Statistics as in 2017