India: Women Society Marks Diamond Jubilee, Highlights Role of Women in Sustaining Faith and Community

The Women Society of Mary Help of Christians, Keihao, under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Imphal, in northeast India, celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of its founding on January 28–29, 2026, marking sixty years of organized faith life in the village.

The jubilee, held under the theme “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5), brought together parishioners, former residents, and women members from within and outside the village. It was the first major anniversary celebration of the society, as earlier milestones could not be observed due to prolonged displacement and unrest in the region.

Keihao village received the Catholic faith in 1956, and in 1966, a group of 12 women formally established what later became the Women Society of Mary Help of Christians, Keihao. In its early years, the members gathered informally for prayer and church services, without structured records or organization.

The society became more formally organized following the establishment of the Risen Christ Parish, Keihao, in 1972, with Rev. Fr. T.J. Chacko (late) as its first parish priest. However, the community’s progress was severely disrupted in 1993 when ethnic violence forced villagers to flee, leaving Keihao largely destroyed. Families were displaced for years, living in refugee camps, rented homes, or neighboring villages.

Despite the dislocation, members of the women’s society maintained their faith and identity. After gradually returning to the village, they regrouped and resumed parish and community life, rebuilding both structures and relationships.

The jubilee celebrations began on the evening of January 28 with the hoisting of the jubilee flag by Mrs. Paishila Milungnao, one of the founding members. The programme included a formal welcome, a lighting of lamps, and a reflection on the jubilee theme by Fr. Frank Kashung, the village’s sole priest. Archival photographs documenting the society’s history, including members who had married outside the village (yorla), were also presented.

On January 29, the jubilee day commenced with the unveiling of a Diamond Jubilee memorial stone, followed by a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Archbishop Neli Linus of Imphal.

In his homily, Archbishop Linus reflected on biblical images of women marked by strength, wisdom, and prayer, drawing from the Book of Proverbs and the story of Hannah. He emphasized that the enduring role of women in the Church and society flows from spiritual depth, prayer, and perseverance rather than outward authority.

During the concluding session, special recognition was given to the “yorla” (women from the Keihao village who married outside the village and now live elsewhere) who returned to Keihao for the celebration. The jubilee flag was then lowered by Ngalaprang Alma Ankang, another founding member, accompanied by prayers for renewal and continued commitment to faith and service.

Organizers noted that the Diamond Jubilee was particularly significant as earlier jubilees—silver and golden—could not be celebrated due to displacement and instability, with many members still living outside the village during those periods.

The celebration served as a collective remembrance of the society’s journey through faith, disruption, rebuilding, and continuity, highlighting the contribution of women in sustaining parish life and community identity in Keihao over six decades.