News & Events
Miao Diocese to join the Consecration of Ukraine and Russia
The Diocese of Miao will join the Holy Father’s Consecration of Ukraine and Russia with special prayers, Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration on 25 March 2022. Bishop George has appealed to each centre in the Diocese to join the Consecration according to the convenient time corresponding to the Consecration by the Holy Father in the Vatican City. Accordingly each centre is gearing up with preparation to join the...
read moreBishop George appeals children to pray for the Ukraine Children
Miao, 11 March: In the wake of airstrikes hitting a kindergarten in Dnipro city of Ukraine on 10 March, Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao diocese in Arunachal Pradesh has appealed to the children to pray for their counterpart in war-torn Ukraine. In a note addressed to all in the north eastern most corner of India, the Bishop has expressed deep sadness by the loss of lives of civilians, children and women in the ‘midst of the painful happenings in Ukraine’. “What we are seeing and reading leaves us with a lump in our throat. Words fail us to express our pain and anguish. I suggest that we continue our prayer. I also appeal to all our children in the diocese to pray the ‘Our Father, as many times as possible for the suffering children and families. Let us target a minimum of one million. The Our Father has the greatest need of today, “give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us as we forgive’, the note read. He further invited all in the diocese to express their solidarity by ‘sparing something for these people who have lost everything and will be homeless for a long time”. The women in the diocese also prayed for their Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday on the occasion of International Women’s Day. In the meantime, no breakthrough came from the highest-level Ukraine-Russia meeting on Thursday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov reached no significant agreement in Antalya, Turkey, in the countries’ first cabinet-level meeting since the start of the invasion on Feb....
read moreMiao Women pray for Ukrainian Women on International Women’s Day
Miao, 7 March 2022: In the midst of painful stories of women and children emerging from Ukraine caused by full scale invasion by Russia, a group of women from Miao in Arunachal Pradesh marked the International Women’s Day with special solidarity prayer for them at Sacred Heart Church, Neotan in Changlang district, on 7 March 2022. “Heart breaking images of children and women are everywhere. Ukraine is reeling under pain and there is blood path with no hope to the end of this mindless war”, said Likro Mossang, the President of Women Commission of Miao Diocese in east Arunachal Pradesh. “We stand in solidarity with them and pray for them this Women’s Day that there will soon be an end to their agony”. A group of 70 women from Christ the Light Church, Miao and Sacred Heart Church, Neotan attended the prayer meet for the Ukrainian women and children. Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao diocese led the prayer and reminded the women of their special duty to pray especially for the women in Ukraine. “Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have. The history teaches us whenever we have prayed with one heart and mind, our prayer always has been answered. This Women’s Day let us stand in solidarity with all the women in Ukraine who are separated from their families and children and have taken shelter in underground passages”, the Salesian prelate said. Echoing the words of Pope Francis last Sunday, Bishop George said “There is blood and tears flowing in Ukraine and the number of victims is increasing, especially mother and children. From this corner of this world, we pray for them and for the end of this war. May peace and normalcy return to Ukraine and Russia and in the whole world”. Sister Mary Sarkar, the Secretary of Women Commission in Miao diocese said theme of the celebration this year ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ would be relevant to women only if the women in Ukraine are out of their tragedy caused by this gruesome war. “We hope that tomorrow will be better for the women in Ukraine”, Sarkar said. The war, now in its 12th day, has caused 1.5 million people to flee Ukraine and there is pain and suffering everywhere. We pray that there will soon be an end to all this, said Sister Sunita Parmar, a Carmelite Nun, at the end of the prayer...
read moreTwo missionary Nuns from Mizoram decide to stay in war-torn Ukraine to serve the people
Aizawl, 4 March 2022: Two Missionaries of Charity (MC) Nuns from Mizoram have decided to stay in war-torn Ukraine to serve the people in the midst of full-scale invasion by Russia. The two MC sisters from Mizoram in Northeast India, Sisters Rosela Nuthangi and Ann Frida have expressed their decision to stay on in Ukraine, risking their lives to serve people fleeing the war and the injured. Mother General of the MC, Sister Prema established contact with the two nuns on 2 March, asking them to move to safer place by road. But the two preferred to remain where they are to help the people in whichever way possible. The sisters have informed their relatives of their safety in spite of the challenging times. Sister Rosela Nuthangi MC, daughter of (Late) David Laiawrha and (Late) Monica Lalbuangi, hails from Sihphir village. She is the second MC sister among the Mizo community. She made her first religious profession in 1984 and was sent to the then USSR as a missionary. She worked in Moscow’s St. Petersburg for 10 years. Having mastered Russian language, she also worked in Latvia, Astonovia and in 2017 she moved to Ukraine and is still serving there as a missionary sister. Sister Ann Frida MC is daughter of (Late) Joseph Rothangpuia and Elizabeth Lalremi. She is from Mizoram’s capital city Aizawl. She made her first religious profession in 1998. After working in India for a few years, she was sent to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine and is serving there for the last 10 years. Appreciating the sisters for their heroic courage, Archbishop John Moolachira, the President of the North East Regional Bishops’ Council, said, “I am not surprised that two religious women Sisters of the missionaries of Charity who are working in the war-ravaged Ukraine are not leaving the country in spite of the great danger to their lives and the interest of the Govt of India to evacuate all its citizens. I am proud of them”. Adding what the two nuns have done is a small example of what the Church really stands for, Moolachira said, “Every consecrated person cares more for the lives and comfort of their fellow men and women than that of their own. They would consider it cowardice and unbecoming of their noble call to flee when the people under their care need their help, prayers and support the most”. Father Robert Faustin, a Salesian priest from Mizoram, said that the anxious relatives of these two Mizo Nuns are in constant touch with them for the past few days. “We hope for the safety of these two heroic nuns and let us also pray that peace and normalcy return in Ukraine, Russia and rest of the world”, Father Faustin...
read moreMiao Synodal Discussion Concludes
Miao, 11 January: The Diocesan phase of Synod 2021-2023 came to a solemn conclusion at Sacred Heart Parish, Neotan on 7 January 2022. Nearly 200 delegates from all the Parishes and mission centres of Miao Diocese came for a three-day diocesan level synodal discussion at Newman School Neotan in Changlang district from 5 to 7 January. Addressing the delegates at the inaugural function, Bishop George reminded the delegates that the church in Arunachal Pradesh has come a long way. “We have a history written in blood”, Bishop George said. “From not being allowed to enter the State to nearly a lakh of Catholics in the Diocese is a strong example for the outstanding growth of the diocese”. “But we should never forget that this growth was possible only because the church in this part our country has always had a synodal nature, one that was participatory and in strong communion for the mission of the Church and it was always ready for any challenges and faced persecutions silently but courageously”, Bishop George highlighted. Inaugurating the event, Somlung Mossang, Hon’ble MLA of Borduma-Diyun Constituency, requested the parents to be aware of the children’s mobile addiction and substance abuse. “The society and the Church grow where the youth are strong. We need to encourage our children to take active part in society building activities to strengthen the church, family and the society”, the Catholic leader said. The delegates from across the Diocese were accommodated with the families of Neotan village and the Fathers and Sisters adjusted in Christ the Light Minor Seminary, Bishop’s House, Miao and convents of MSMHC Sisters, Miao, FMA Sisters in Namphai II, CM Sisters, Neotan and SH Sisters in Injan and Kharsang. The delegates were formed into seven groups to discuss on the questionnaire prepared the diocesan core team of Synod led by Auxiliary Bishop Dennis. The secretaries of each group presented the report of the discussion and core team members Frs. Joy, Manoj and Joseph recorded the report of the group discussions. Various committee led by youth, women, men, Catechists, Fathers and Sisters of Sacred Heart Parish Neotan played active roles to ensure a smooth conclusion of the diocesan phase of Synod...
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