India: St. Xavier Church unveils its first grotto, strengthening faith and community

The Catholic community of St. Xavier Unit Church, Immanuel Khopi, under Good Shepherd Parish in Lamka in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, joyfully inaugurated its magnificent St. Xavier’s Grotto on February 23, 2025.

Fr. Stephen Touthang, parish priest of Good Shepherd Church, blessed and dedicated the grotto, encouraging Catholic families to honor and pray there before entering the church, emphasizing the true essence of heartfelt prayer.

St. Xavier Church, which serves members from Thingkangphai, Songsiboh, Joujang, Immanuel, and Khupgouveng, was founded in 2017 after families sought a more accessible place of worship.

Without a physical church for over seven years, members gathered in homes, led by chairman John Kamkhanthang, who graciously offered his space for prayers and Sunday gatherings.

In 2023, the church showed compassion by sheltering five displaced families from Sugnu during the Manipur conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo.

Despite challenges, the community grew, leading to the construction of their church, completed on December 3, 2023.

Driven by unity and faith, church leaders formed a committee—including Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Phillip Zou, and Mr. Benjamin—to oversee the grotto’s construction.

After a year of dedication, the grotto was finally inaugurated, a testament to the community’s resilience.

The celebration continued with the inaugural Zou Holy Mass, reverently led by Fr. Mark Aimeng, marking a significant spiritual moment for the community.

Father Mark said, "Everyone should take the time to pray for those they find challenging and to embrace forgiveness, offering a message of hope and understanding that resonates deeply with the teachings of Jesus."

It is an opportunity to extend forgiveness to those who may have wronged them, as a reflection of following Jesus' teachings, he added.

As one of the first of its kind in Lamka, the grotto is a beacon of hope, inspiring other churches to create spaces for prayer and reflection, symbolizing unity, compassion, and unwavering faith.