Diphu Community

The long-cherished dream of the Province of India to start one more new community in Assam came true on October 21, 2021, when three of us Sr. Jessy Peedikayil, Sr. Asrita Tete, and Sr. Jini Joseph Mazhuvanchery reached Diphu. We were invited to the Diphu diocese by the bishop, Paul Mattekkat to begin a hostel for girls who are studying in the Don Bosco College run by the Salesian Fathers. At present they have a junior college and they are upgrading it to a degree college. As the education facilities, especially for higher education, are lacking in this part of Assam, there is a rush to get admission here and it is a fast-growing institution. We are also permitted to erect a formation house as well as an apostolic school. The beginning of the new community was delayed due to Covid 19 lockdown and further by the accident of Sr. Deepa Moonjely, our Provincial, in August.

Before embarking on to Diphu we spent a few months in Bangalore, equipping ourselves to take up the new mission at Diphu, Assam, by attending some courses together, individually and stitching habits as it is mandatory to wear. We had a common prayer and Holy Mass together with all the sisters of Bangalore communities, novices and aspirants on August 17 to wish us the very best and the blessings of the Lord. 

We embarked on our journey by train on the 19^th of October 2021 at about 03.20 am. After 55 hours on the train, we reached our destination on October 21, 2021. Fr. Manu Augustine, the secretary of Diphu Bishop, and two others were at the station to receive us. We straight proceeded to the bishop’s house. Bishop received us warmly and was given refreshments after which Fr. Manu Augustine reached us the convent cum hostel of Mission Sisters of Ajmer where we are put up as of now. We plan to buy some land nearby and make a permanent house for ourselves. Till then this two-room arrangement in the hostel will be our community building. We are busy scouting the area and learning Karbi, the language of the place, which is a complex language with English script. The sisters and priests who are here are very good to us. We are grateful to Sr. Maria Escayola Coris and her council, Sr. Deepa Moonjely, and her council for their trust, love, and support. We request your prayers so that the plan of the Lord for this place through Presentation’s presence may be revealed and accomplished.