JUNE 30TH 2024, 13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

July 27-28, 2024

The mission diocese of Imphal in the State of Manipur in Northeast India is home to 34 indigenous tribes of Mongolian origin. Ever since first Catholic baptism in 1952, Catholic population has grown up to 101,283 as of now. The diocese has 45 parishes, and 8 Mission Centers, 174 priests including 114 indigenous tribal priests. The growth of the Church has always been accompanied by various challenges and persecutions during the past decades. Between1990 – 2001, six of our young and dynamic missionaries were killed for witnessing to the gospel. Yet the Church in Manipur is growing and blessed with lots of vocations to priesthood and religious life.

As we were making phenomenal progress in the field of evangelization, the State of Manipur witnessed the worst ethnic and religious persecution against the Christian minorities on May 3, 2023 which was unprecedented in the history of the Church in Manipur. The violence erupted in the form of burning of tribal villages and unprovoked shooting resulting in the killing of over 500 innocent Christians, including women and children. Nearly 70,000 fled their villages as most of their homes were completely burnt down and they have taken refuge in military camps and school buildings run by the churches. 248 Churches including five Catholic churches, rectories, schools, hostels and convents were vandalized and torched, causing widespread damages to properties worth millions of dollars.

Presently church service is conducted in temporary sheds and school buildings. It will take several years to rebuild the churches and all our institutions. Our immediate concern, however, is to alleviate people’s sufferings through massive relief program and also to provide at least 500 low cost houses to the most affected families. Each house will cost $6500.

We have confidence in the resilience of our communities and the strength of their faith. We need your prayers and generous help to provide the much needed relief and build permanent homes to the suffering people in the archdiocese of Imphal. Rev. Francis Joseph on behalf of the mission will speak at all masses.