By Ankita Thomas, SCN

Nazareth Convent, Nongdiwah — Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began ministry initiatives among the people of North East India in 2018 by responding to an invitation from the Nongstoin Diocese, Meghalaya, to collaborate with them through the Diocesan Social Service Society. On March 18, 2018, Lilly Luka, SCN, the pioneer to North East India, Meghalaya, accompanied by SCNs Philo Kottoor and Reena Theruvankunnel, reached Nongstoin. They were welcomed and accommodated at the Bishop’s house. In Meghalaya, 90% of the people there are Christians, but the language and culture were entirely different from what the Sisters were familiar with. The next day, they participated in the liturgy, which was in the Khasi language. The active participation of people in the Mass and their welcoming attitude made the Sisters happy, and they felt at home among the people.  

Father George Jarain, the Director of Nongstoin Social Service Society (NSSS), took the Sisters to the NSSS Office, where Sister Lilly was going to work. On the 20th, they met the Archbishop of Shillong, Dominic Jhala, the Apostolic Administrator of the Nongstoin Diocese. After the meeting, the contract for collaborative ministry was signed with the diocese.  

Sister Lilly worked as the Program Coordinator for NSSS and rendered her services for three years. She was given accommodation in the office building. In the beginning, she faced many challenges, but her missionary spirit and trust in the Providence of God sustained her through all the hardships. Sister Lilly Luka is known for her pioneering work. During this time, Sister Lilly got many opportunities to visit nearby parishes and convents as well as villages. She learned the Khasi language within no time, which helped her to make conversation with people around her and to understand them in a better way.  

By the end of the year, the parish priest of Nongstoin requested the Province Leadership to extend the collaboration in the education ministry, too. Thus, on March 18, 2019, Grace Binita Tuti, SCN, was appointed to teach at St. Dominic School, Nongdiwah Village, an upper primary school under the Nonbah Parish Society. This school was quite far from the NSSS center. So one of the parishioners, John Syiem, offered accommodation, and Sister Binita stayed with the family. 

On May 30, of that year, Selma Lepcha, SCN, also joined St. Dominic as a staff. The accommodation in Jhon’s house was not sufficient for two additional persons. So, the SCNs decided to rent a house. Mr. Alexander, one of the teachers from St. Dominic, offered his old house, which was vacant, to the Sisters. On Aug. 10, 2019, the parish priest celebrated Holy Mass at Nongdiwah Church and blessed the house of the Sisters in the presence of a few neighbors and religious Sisters who came from nearby places.  

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Source: https://nazareth.org/