The team under the leadership of the Custos, Br. Mathew Kallidical, saw the need to open a centre in Tezpur Diocese. After getting the permission from his Grace Bishop Michael Akasius, Bishop of Tezpur a plot of land was located at Lambari village under Mazbat Parish and bought for the construction of a Parish Church. The Parish was opened by Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo of Tezpur Diocese in the presence of Arch. Bishop John Moolachira, the Archbishop of Guwahati and Br. Mathew Kallidical, the Custos. Br. Biju Adackapara was appointed as the first Parish Priest. Lamabari is a Village in Mazbat Tehsil in Udalguri District of Assam State. This Place is in the border of Udalguri District and Darrang District. Assamese, Bodo, Adivasi and Santhali are the Local Languages.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish

Lamabari, Mazbat, Udalguri Dt

Assam 784507

His Grace Most Rev. Thomas Menamparambil, the Apostolic Administrator of Jowai Diocese, entrusted this village church to the care of Capuchins since Holy Week in March, 2016. Br. Vinesh Vallonathil was appointed here by Fr. Mathew Kallidical, the custos, as per the request by the Bishop. On July 17, 2016 His Excellency Thomas Menamparambil erected Sahsniang into a Parish with 11 villages under its care. He appointed Br. Vinesh Vallonathil as the first Parish Priest and Br. Jinu Arrancherry as the Assistant. This is the first Capuchin Parish in the Jaintia Hills District (Pnar Tribe) of Meghalaya and in the Jowai Diocese. The seven villages under our parish has strong catholic presence with other villages purely Presbyterian. Parish has almost 820 families and 4500 parishners as per the census of 2017. A plot of land was bought for the development of the Capuchin Mission and parish with the financial assistance of Pittsburgh Province, USA.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Sahsniang

Sahsniang, West Jaintia Hills Dt

Meghalaya – 793150

Our missionary presence and service in North-East India began with the request of His Grace Thomas Menamparambil, Archbishop of Guwahati, who wrote to Br. Provincial in 1992 asking for the services of the Capuchins in his Archdiocese. This request was discussed in the meeting of the CCMSI and it was decided that this mission be part of Krist Jyoti Region, that was under St. Joseph Province. On 30 June 1994 Brs. Gerson Karackal and Bastin Karackkatt were sent to Guwahati as the first missionaries. When Br. Gerson was forced to return to Kerala due to ill health, Br. Joseph Zacharias was sent to Guwahati to replace Br. Gerson. However Br. Anil Sequiera, the definitor general, made an intervention in the CCMSI meeting of 1994 that only a province can take up a mission outside its own territory. Hence the Provincial Definitory, in consultation with Krist Jyoti Mission, decided to take up the North Eastern mission directly under the jurisdiction of the Province. On February 5, 1995 the parish Mariampur was officially entrusted to us and along with it the first Friary of North-Eastern Mission was established here. In the year 1996 we began sending young friars for their theological formation in Sacred Heart Seminary, Shillong, so that they could get accustomed to the local culture and pastoral and missionary situation of the area, as well as learn the local language.

On 4 April, 1997 Br. Peter Celestine was appointed the Provincial Delegate of Assam – Meghalaya Mission. Under his able leadership we could procure a plot of land with a small building on the Juripar Path Road, in the city of Guwahati, which eventually became the head quarters of the mission. Having made some minor alterations to the existing house, the friary was blessed by his Grace Thomas Menamparambil, Archbishop of Guwahati, on 22 Dec 1997. As Br. Peter Celestine was appointed bishop of Jammu-Srinagar on May 8,

1998, Br. Jose Vettickat was assigned to be the Provincial Delegate and he assumed charge in August 1998. He started the construction of the new house that would serve as the head quarters of the mission and as a centre for ongoing formation. The new building was blessed by His Grace Thomas Menamparambil, Archbishop of Guwahati, in the presence of Br. Mathew Paikada, the Provincial Minister, on 11 Feb. 2002. Already in 1997 we started admitting aspirants for Capuchin formation. As there was no Seminary, the candidates were staying in a rented house. After the basic formation the students were taken to Kerala for pre-novitiate and novitiate etc. Gradually after six months when Br. Jose Vettickatt was forced to go back to Kerala due to his ill health and Br. Kuriakose was appointed in his place as provincial delegate. On November 11,2003 Assam Meghalaya Mission was raised to the status of a Custody under the patronage of Blessed Virgin Mary (Nirmala Matha) by the decree Prot. No. 000704/03 and Br. Kuriakose Kattuppara was appointed the first Superior Regular of the Nirmala Custody. The geographical area of the Nirmala Custody comprises of all the dioceses of the States of Assam and Meghalaya. In the chapter held from 12-16 November 2006 Br. Bastin Karackatt was elected the Superior Regular and he was re-elected on 05.11. 2009 for a second term of office. Responding to the request of the provincial definitory dated June 4,2011, the Minister General (Prot. No. 00687/11, dated June 24,2011) decided to raise the Nirmala Custody to the status of a Vice Province of St. Joseph Province.

There are almost 200 tribes and sub tribes and there are also similar number of dialects and languages spoken in the area. Among these tribes we extend our service only to a few, namely, Garos, khasis, Bodos, Rabhas, Rajabunshis, Adivasis and Sandals. We have 107 villages to be looked after and Seven tribal groups in the various parishes. Ten religious groups of sisters collaborate with us in caring for school children, looking after the sick in dispensaries, looking after the girl children in the boarding, teaching catechism and doing direct evangelization work in the villages. The structure of each parish is with a parish church, a priest house, a convent, separate boarding houses for boys and girls, a school, and a dispensary. At present our friars extend service in 12 centers.

We opened houses on request from the respective bishops in various dioceses: in Mariampur (Guwahati Archdiocese) in 1995 in Byrnihat (Shillong Archdiocese) in 1999, in Mronggre (Tura diocese) and in Kothakuthi (Guwahati Archdiocese) in 2002, inTunkubari (Bongaigaon diocese) in 2006, in Mawlangdep (Nongstoin Diocese) in 2007 and in Mejerburi (Guwahati Archdiocese) in 2008, Sahsniang (Jowai Diocese) in 2016. The new Minor Seminary was opened in Umktieh (Shillong Archdiocese) in 2004, a theological study house was opened in Shillong in 2016 and Lamabari (Tezpur Diocese) in 2018.

Capuchin House, Juripar Path

Khanapara P.O.

Six Mile, Guwahati

Assam – 781 022

Tel. 0361 – 2331569, Fax. 0361 – 2334012

E-mail: [email protected]

The General Curia approved and provided the financial support for the project for a common study house for the Capuchin Brothers of the North’ East India, who study theology in Shillong. The land (less than one acre) was purchased by Br. Bastin Karackatt, the then Custos and his Counselors on 23 July 2012. The foundation stone was blessed and laid by Br. Mathew Paikada, the Minister Provincial. It took almost three years to complete the construction work of the building due to severe geographical difficulties such as hard rock, heavy rain, earthquake etc. Brs. Mathew Kallidical and Biju Adackapara supervised the construction of the Study House and made great sacrifices to complete the work. The house was inaugurated by Br. Xavier Kochurumpil, the then Vicar Provincial of St. Joseph Province and blessed by John Moolachira, the archbishop of Guwahati on 30 July 2016.

Capuchin Theological Study House
Umthum-thum, Block C

Mawlai Kynton Massar

Nehu P.O.East Khasi Hills (Dist)

Shilling, Meghalaya – 793 022

Archdiocese of Guwhati entrusted Capuchins in 2001 St. Thomas parish at Goalpara. Majerburi is a sub-station of Goalpara parish. In 2003 Br. Augustine Nattunilam started to stay in a plot of land belonging to the Guwahati Archdiocese. In 2006 Capuchins bought three bighas (almost one acre) of land and later the Archbishop also offered a few bighas of land for an Ashram. After ten years of pastoral service we handed over the Goalpara parish back to the Archdiocese. The same parish was later bifurcated and a Majerburi was given to us by the Archdiocese. On 8 December 2011 the parish was officially handed over to the Capuchins. The parish consists of one Rabha village and three Garo villages. On 31 January 2015 the new Ashram and hostel was blessed by His Grace John Moolachira.

St. Francis of Assisi Church,
Matia – Majerburi,Bordamai P.O.

Goalpara Dt., Assam – 783 120

This is the first capuchin Presence in the newly erected diocese of Nongstoin. Paying heed to the invitation of His excellency Victor Lyngdoh the Bishop of Nongstoin and seeing to the significance of the place for evangelization and vocations, the council of the Nirmala Coustdy in consultation with the Provincial definitory decided to set foot in the diocese. On April 29, 2007 the parish of Mawlangdep was officially handed over to the Capuchins and installed Br. Mathew Kalkduckil as the first Parish Priest. The new friary was blessed on 15 August 2011 and the parish church on 14 December 2013, by Bishop Victor Lyngdoh.

St. Francis of Assisi Church

Mawlangdep, Nongstoin P.O.

W. K. Hills, Meghalaya – 793 119

On January 14, 2006 with the permission of the Bishop of Bongaigaon, Br. Kuriakose Kattoopara and Br. Jose Pandianparampil purchased a plot of land in Thunkubari to have a center of our own. After repairing the existing bamboo house the brothers started to live there on March 22,2006. Besides, seeing to the immediate need of the people around. The council of the custody in consultation with the Provincial defnitory has decided to start a school. The school was opened on February 01, 2007, with the blessings of two class rooms by His excellency Thomas Pullopillil. On July 27, 2014 the new Ashram Chapel was blessed by His excellency Thomas Pullopillil. St. Francis of Assisi Ashram was raised to a parish on June 26, 2016 by by His excellency Thomas Pullopillil.

Francis Assisi School,

Thunkubari, Kashikotra P. O.

Chirag Dt. Assam – 783 373

Ever since the Capuchins of St. Joseph Province.Kerala set foot in Assam-Meghalaya mission, there was a profound desire to promote local vocations in order to implant the order in this region of North East India. We began the formation at Dispur parish; later we shifted the students to the Capuchin house, Juripur-Path. Finally God has blessed us to have a plot of land at Umktieh, Ri-Bhoi Dt, Meghalaya. The seminary began its function at Umktieh on June 30, 2004, with the blessings of His Grace Dominic Jala the Archbishop of Shillong. A more convenient building was constructed and blessed on May 11, 2007.

Padre Pio Seminary

Umroi BPO, Umktieh, 

Ri-Bhot Dt, Meghlaya – 793 103

His Lordship George Mamalassery encouraged us to continue our service in Tura Diocese after handing over ChimaTmpel Mission back to the Diocese where we rendered five years of service from 1999 – 2004. As a result Br. Kuriakose Kattoopara and a team of brothers visited Mronggre, an underdeveloped and remote village and the Tikrikilla parish, for a few times to see the possibility of opening a new parish. Later Fr. Renny Vehyappallil stayed with Fr. John Bosco in Thikkrikilla Parish and from 17 September 2002 at Mronggre to make the immediate preparation to start the parish. As a result on 22nd January 2003 St. Francis of Assisi Parish at Mronggre was erected and Br. Renny Velayappallil was appointed the first Parish priest and Br. Saji Olickathottiyil the assistant Parish Priest. The School and Friary was blessed in the year 2007 and the new parish church in the year 2011.

St. Francis of Assisi Chrurch

Assisi Mount, Moronggre,

Chibinang P.O., W. Garo Hills,

Meghalaya – 794 104

Byrnihat, a cosmopolitan area, where various tribal and non-tribal people live together, is the industiral area of Meghalaya State. His Grace Tarcisius Resto Phanrang invited the Capuchins to serve in the Arch Diocese of Shillong in 1998. On 2 May 1999, the Parish was erected. Br. Sebastian Manyanickal was appointed as the first Parish Priest and Br. Renny Velayapillil as the assistant. The Friary was blessed on 7^th October 2007, and the new parish church on 2^nd Decemeber 2012, by His Grace Dominic Jala, Arch Bishop of Shillong.

St. Francis of Assisi Church,

Byrnihat P.O.,

Ri-Bhoi Dt.,

Meghalaya – 793 101

Ever since Mariampur mission was opened, we had a serious problem of communication with other centres due to lack of communication faculties. We shared our difficulty with his Grace Thomas Menamparampil and expressed our need of having a center at the national Highway and the possibility of getting a plot of Patta land at Kothakuthi. His Grace Thomas Menamparampil was kind whough to understand our need and granted permission to acquire the proposed land. Thus, a plot of land was bought in the year 2001, July 07*^ at Kothakuthi with the help of Swiss Province and Br. Jacob Mattathil was asked to make necessary arrangements to open an English Medium School to serve the illiterate children of the locality. In fact there was tremendous pressure from the public to open an English Medium School at Kothakuthi and as a response to their request we opened the School on  5^th January 2002. Slowly the centre started to grow and in the year 2006, October 16^th the Friary called Gyan Nivas was blessed by His Grace Thomas Menamparampil. Now it has become a High School and renders a commendable service in the field of education.

St. Francis School,

Dhupdhara, Kothakuthi P.O.,

Goalpara Dt.

Assam – 783 123

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Mariampur is one of the most vibrant Garo Catholic communities under the Archdiocese of Guwahati. On 2^nd December 1994, Br. Joseph Zacharias and Br. Bastin Joseph Karackkat started to stay in an existing hostel in the village of MAriampur, a sub-centre under Damra Parish. On 5^th February 1995, the parish of Mariampur was officially handed over to us. Br. Joseph Zacharias was the parish priest and Br. Bastin Karakkat was the assistant parish priest. On 9 April 1995 the Parish house was blessed. His Grace Thomas Menamparmbil, Archbishop of Guwahati, blessed the newly constructed Parish Church on 30^th January 1997, and the Parish had a steady and holistic growth. Consequently, on 25^th January 2007, Christ the King Parish was erected at Mallangkona, bifurcating the Mariampur parish. The newly constructed friary was blessed in 2018.

Catholic Church,
Athiabari P.O., Goalpara Dt.

Assam – 783 130

It was an indispensable need of the Capuchin friars to have a Regional House in Guwahati to gather on special occasions as well as for proper communication with the Provincial and General Curia.  The Provincial team requested Br. Peter Celestine, the Superior Delegate and the then Parish Priest of Dispur, to search for a suitable plot of land. As a result of his prayer and persevering search a plot of land was bought, at Juripar Path, in the vicinity of Guwahati town. With minor alterations, the existing house was blessed by his Grace Thomas Menamparambil, Archbishop of Guwahati, on 22 Dec 1997. With the appointment of Br. Peter Celestine as the Bishop of Jammu-Srinagar, Br. Jose Vettickat was sent as the Provincial Delegate inAugust 1998, and the construction of our Regional House was begun. When Br. Jose Vettickat was relieved of his office, the construction work was supervised by Brs. Kuriakose Kattuppara, the Provincial Delegate, and Francis Vakakunnel.

The newly built House serves as our Regional House of Assam Meghalaya Missions. We had started promoting local candidates since 1998. As there was no Seminary, the candidates were staying in a rented house. The new building was blessed by His Grace Thomas Menamparambil, Archbishop of Guwahati, in the presence of Br. Mathew Paikada, the Provincial Minister, on 11 Feb. 2002.

Capuchin House,

Juripar Path, Khanapara P.O.

Six Mile, Guwahati, Assam – 781 022