A small Catholic community in Koraliang, at St. Peter Church–Tezu, under the Diocese of Miao in northeastern India, commemorated the Memorial Day of two Servants of God, Fr. Nicolas Michael Krick and Fr. Augustin-Étienne Bourry, with Eucharistic adoration and a solemn Holy Mass on August 2.
The celebration was led by Fr. Felix Anthony, the parish priest, and attended by around 100 Catholics.
Frs. Krick and Bourry, French missionaries belonging to the Society of the Paris Foreign Missions (MEP), were martyred in 1854 while attempting to enter Tibet through what is now Arunachal Pradesh, India. They are regarded as the first martyrs of Arunachal Pradesh, remembered for their missionary zeal and for the local community's reverent preservation of their remains.
At the time of their mission, Tibet was a closed kingdom. The missionaries were killed on August 2, 1854, in Somme village, near the Tibetan border, by a Mishmi chief named Kaisha. Although the local people did not convert to Christianity, they honored the memory of the missionaries by preserving their relics.
Bishop George Pallipparambil of the Diocese of Miao is currently working to advance the cause for the canonization of Frs. Krick and Bourry.
Each year, the anniversary of their martyrdom is marked by cultural events, such as book releases and musical performances, which celebrate the lives and legacy of the two missionaries.
The town of Koraliang–Tezu is home to a vibrant Catholic community of the Mishmi tribe, among whom the memory of the martyrs continues to be cherished.
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