Catholics in a remote corner of India’s Manipur state have celebrated the opening of the region’s first church built specifically for internally displaced persons (IDPs), marking a powerful moment of hope amid ongoing ethnic and religious violence that has devastated the Christian minority.
The newly constructed St. Joseph Church in the village of Munpi, located in Singngat town of Churachandpur district, was officially blessed on October 18 by Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Lumon of Imphal. The ceremony drew a large crowd of worshippers, including 13 priests, numerous nuns, catechists, and more than a thousand local villagers, who gathered to dedicate the building to God after months of hardship and loss.
The church’s construction was made possible through the generosity of a Catholic couple from Goa, Jeronimo and Mary Pereira, who donated a substantial sum to make the project a reality. Jeronimo Pereira said he was inspired by the example of Street Providence Goa, a local NGO serving the homeless and impoverished. “We were deeply moved by the community’s need for a place of worship,” he said. “Our family wanted to help provide them with a suitable church where they can pray and rebuild their lives.”
The new church will primarily serve Catholic families from the nearby village of Singtom, who were displaced by recent violence in Chandel district. This community, known for its strong Catholic heritage, has taken the lead in rebuilding life in Munpi, where local catechist Peter Kammang and his brothers donated agricultural land to help create new settlements for displaced families.
The blessing ceremony also included the dedication of several other community projects and facilities donated by the archdiocese and benefactors: a grotto honoring the Virgin Mary, a large cross overlooking the settlement, and a 50,000-litre drinking water tank for displaced families.
Archbishop Lumon described the day as “a moment of grace and great joy.” Speaking to AsiaNews, he said, “These people were forced to leave their villages and their church. They were expelled from their homes, but now they have a home built by the diocese and a new place of worship. This will help bring healing, relief, and a sense of stability.” He added that the Pereiras’ contribution covered about 80 percent of the construction costs, with the rest funded by the archdiocese and local supporters.
In recognition of the occasion, the archdiocese declared that October 18 will be observed annually as Munpi Pilgrimage Day, a symbol of unity and renewal for Catholics in the region.
Fr. Athanasius Mung, parish priest of the newly consecrated St. Joseph Church, said the parish now comprises about 100 displaced families, all of whom lost their homes during the conflict. “Our previous church, also dedicated to St. Joseph, was burned down,” he said. “So far, the diocese has built 50 houses for displaced families, 26 are under construction, and we still need funds to build another 24.” Fr. Mung, himself a member of the Kuki Zo tribe, shared that his own family had also been forced to flee their home.
Ethnic and religious violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted in May 2023 and has continued to flare up intermittently, leaving nearly 300 people dead and tens of thousands displaced. Despite the devastation, the opening of St. Joseph Church stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the enduring hope of Manipur’s Christian communities.
Adapted from Asia News.
