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The Claretian Missionaries in Northeast India
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St. Claret Parish in Northeast India. The Claretians |
Although the exact origins of Christianity in India remain unclear, it is generally agreed that Christianity in India is almost as old as Christianity itself, taking hold there even before it spread in many predominantly Christian nations of Europe.
“The contribution of Christianity to the development of the people in the region is unparalleled,” says Fr. Jose Anchupankil, C.M.F., Delegate Superior of the Claretians in Northeast India. “Today there are 15 Catholic dioceses with nearly 1.5 million Catholics in Northeast India alone.”
Northeast India is an expansive region, consisting of eight states and covering over 163,000 square miles. With 31.4 million people, it accounts for nearly four percent of India’s population. Known for its beauty, this area also has poor road, transport, communication, education and health care facilities.
The Claretian Missionaries arrived in Northeast India in 1984, but it was not until 1995 that they were established as The Delegation of Northeast India. By 2007 the Claretians in the region were raised to an Independent Delegation in the Congregation, signifying the need for and growth of the Claretians in the region.
Nowhere has that growth been more apparent than Northeast India, where the Claretians serve in all 15 dioceses in the region. “Today there are 40 Claretian missionary priests working here,” says Fr. Anchupankil. “We have 70 seminarians in formation, with most being from the region itself.” Their main ministries are evangelization, pastoral care, education, health care, and social and rural development.
The Claretians minister among some 43,000 Catholics, who live in 344 rural villages in nine parishes throughout the region. They view education as one of the most important factors that impact the growth and development of India. “We are educating over 10,000 students by running 56 schools mainly to impart primary education for the rural children,” says Fr. Anchupankil.
The schools have well equipped labs, and students are given all possibilities to access the lab under the guidance of experienced teachers. The Claretians also run six boarding schools to educate the children of remote villages.
“The students are not only formed intellectually, but also to be responsible citizens of the future,” says Fr. Anchupankil. “The daily school assembly is a time when moral values through anecdotes and thoughts are infused into the students. We have been evolving to adapt our schools to the rapid changes in society.”
The need for health care in the region is high, and the Claretians work tirelessly to help meet that need. They run five clinics that serve over 15,000 people each year.
“After 15 years, the Claretians have emerged as the connecting link for all Christian missionaries working in Northeast India,” says Fr. Anchupankil. “The mission remains grateful to all those who have contributed in one way or another to its development.”