19. ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS PARISH NONGJRI

Address : Nongjri, West Khasi Hills District - 793119

Date of Establishment : 2nd February, 2014

Congregation in-charge : Order of Friar Minor

Parish Priest : Fr. Stephan Lamin, OFM

Contact: 9863080853

Asst. Parish Priest(s) : Fr. Shanborlang Wartde, OFM

Contact: 9535651620

Religious Community(ies) : SJC

A Brief History of St. Mary of the Angels Parish

St. Mary of the Angels Mission is a young Mission of the Franciscan Fathers (OFM) in the North Eastern part of India. It is situated in a small village called Nongjri, West Khashi Hills, in the hilly state of Meghalaya. The people living in these areas are mostly tribals. St. Mary of the Angels Mission is a newly established Mission in the Diocese of Nongstoin. It was bifurcated from Sonapahar Parish. It was canonically erected as a Parish on the 2nd, Feb, 2014 by His Lordship Victor Lyngdoh, Bishop of Nongstoigdn. It was one of the remotest Parishes of the Nongstoin Diocese. The parish is on the border of Assam and Garo Hills. It is a very vast parish. It covers to 62 villages, and out of which 42 are Catholic villages. From these 42 catholic villages there are more than six thousands catholic population. The people who are living here are mostly Nongtrai, Maram, Lyngngam and Garo. The people are very poor and uneducated. It is a very backward area. The communication facilities like, road, electricity and telecom is very poor. It is an insurgency area and unemployment. The ministries of St. Mary of the Angels Parish involves is mainly to cater the spiritual needs of the people through pastoral activities, to encourage, promote and impart knowledge to the young generation through schools, and to attend the physical health of the people through a dispensary. Ever since, St. Mary of the Angels mission had come to this area, there has been lots of development and transformation with regards to roads and communication, thinking patterns and perspectives of the inhabitants, their faith has been tremendously improved from how they were, people have realized the need and importance of education.