India: St. Xavier’s Parish, Thanlon, Celebrates Golden Jubilee; Remembers the Pioneering Missionaries

St. Xavier’s Parish, Thanlon, under the Archdiocese of Imphal in the northeast Indian state of Manipur, celebrated its Golden Jubilee on December 10, marking 50 years of faith, service, and missionary legacy in the region.

The solemn Holy Mass was presided over by Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal, together with 18 priests from various parishes.

The parish is served by the Oblates of St. Joseph (OSJ) of the Northeast India Province.

In his homily, Archbishop Linus Neli emphasized the unique unity of the Catholic Church, saying, “The Catholic Church is known for its unity in spite of our differences. We come from different places, tribes, languages, and cultures, yet we remain strongly united in Christ.”

He further added, “Many fathers and sisters came, worked, and left, but Christ remains with you through the celebration of the sacraments. The greatest witness is this unity we share as Catholics.”

The Archbishop expressed deep gratitude and congratulated all priests, religious, catechists, and lay leaders who have served the community tirelessly over the decades.

Fr. Shushil, OSJ, the former Provincial, shared that a Jubilee is a moment to reflect with gratitude on the past, embrace the present with vigour, and look to the future with hope.

“This is a celebration of God’s fidelity,” he said. “Thanlon is the last mission in Northeast India for the OSJ. The community will continue to grow from strength to strength. The hostel here will embrace and transform the youth.”

He also thanked God and the Archbishop for opening another mission centre in Manipur, expressing hope that the coming years would be filled with blessings.

Thanlon’s Chief, Thangkhopau, shared a brief history of the Church’s establishment, recalling the generosity of the then Chief, Ch. Dongchinpau, who freely donated land for the mission.

“Fr. Prakash worked tirelessly, and I actively supported him,” he added. “Today, from St. Xavier’s School, we have several doctors, army officers, bank managers, gazetted officers, and many VIPs.”

He concluded by requesting that the parish and authorities consider opening Classes 11 and 12 in the region to meet the growing educational needs of the community.

Former Parish Priest Fr. Lourdhasamy, now serving at St. Mary’s Tuibuang, shared an emotional message: “I feel like a mother who has gone through the pains of childbirth. All kinds of difficulties and challenges came, yet God has led us through.”

He urged the community, saying, “After 50 years, we should not become lazy. Even though we are a small community, we can still save and serve others. Jubilee is a time of forgiveness, let us forgive one another and work hard to spread the mission of Christ.”

In his message, Fr. Paul Lelen, Priest-in-Charge of Don Bosco College, Lamka, noted, “Through this institution, many have succeeded irrespective of religion or tribe. This is not a time to quarrel or fight, but to work collaboratively for the Church and for society.”

Thanlon, comprising 37 main villages and 24 hamlets, had a recorded population of 13,816 according to the 1974 register. The region first encountered Christianity in 1910, when Mr. Watkin Roberts, a Welsh Protestant missionary, introduced the Christian faith. For many decades, however, the people of Thanlon remained unaware of Catholicism.

It was only in 1956 that the Catholic Church first set foot in Thanlon through the visit of Mgr. Marengo, SDB, Bishop of Dibrugarh, accompanied by Rev. A. Ravalico, SDB. Although no Catholic institution was established at that time, their visit marked the first step in sowing the seeds of Catholic faith in the area.

After years of patient groundwork and evangelization, the Catholic mission began to take root. In 1975, a significant milestone was achieved with the establishment of St. Xavier’s Catholic School and the official inauguration of Thanlon Parish. The real pioneers who tirelessly served and nurtured the early Catholic community in Thanlon were Fr. Immanuel, Fr. Thomas, and Bro. James of the Indian Missionary Society.

Their dedication laid a strong foundation for the Catholic presence in the region, planting seeds of faith, education, and community, seeds that continue to flourish today as the parish celebrates its Golden Jubilee.