The Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) inaugurated its first Mission Centre in the remote Behiang village of the Archdiocese of Imphal, Manipur, near the Indo-Myanmar Border on February 18, 2025.
Father Varghese Velickakam, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Imphal, cited Canon Law on the establishment of a Mission Centre as he read the appointment letter and handed over the official documents to Father Mathew Dyjo MBCS, appointing him as the first Mission Centre In-charge.
Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal presided over the solemn Holy Mass, concelebrated by Father Mathew Olickal, Provincial of MCBS Zion Province, Father Varghese Velickakam, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Imphal, and 14 other priests.
In his homily, the archbishop emphasized the responsibility of Catholics worldwide to deepen their faith in all aspects of life.
He reflected on insights from the Eucharistic Congress of the USA, highlighting both explainable and unexplained miracles, and expressed hope for similar blessings in Behiang.
“The sacrament holds profound significance as an act of worship to God, and Father Mathew Dyjo has been entrusted with the mission of making the sacraments accessible to the people of Behiang while ensuring the school serves the community,” the prelate remarked.
"Pray for Father Mathew Dyjo, your bishop, your community, the supporters of the Behiang Centre, and especially for Sir Jacob, who has dedicated over 25 years of service to this school," the archbishop added.
During the inaugural program, Fr. Olickal, Provincial of MCBS Zion Province, opened the school in the presence of local Member of Legislative Assembly Chinlunthang, Archbishop Linus Neli, Jubilee Mawi (Chief of Behiang), and the Commander-in-Chief of the 37th Battalion in Behiang.
Other guests included Fr. Mung (parish priest of St. Thomas Parish), Fr. Mathew Dyjo, officials from UZO, ZSP, and ZCU, 14 priests, 8 nuns from various parishes, parishioners of St. Thomas Parish, students, and the people of Behiang.
The land for the Mission Center was acquired in 1983 by Fr. Prakash IMS from Mr. Tongjapao, the then chief of Behiang when there was no operational Mission Center, and in 2001, Fr. Loudhusamy, the parish priest of St. Thomas, established St. Mary School, appointing Mr. John Munluo as principal; after four years, Mr. Munluo stepped down, and Mr. Jacob took over, managing the school with dedication for over 25 years.
When Fr. Athansius Mung became the parish priest of St. Thomas, he worked tirelessly to ensure the effective functioning of the school, and with the blessing of MCBS, the Mission Center was prepared for the transition, leading to Fr. Dyjo residing at St. Thomas in early 2024 for six months as the resident priest overseeing the center.
During his speech, Pu Chinlunthang, MLA of 60 A/C Singngat, reflected on his 15-year association with the school and expressed his deep connection to the community.
"It is my ancestral land. We need to strengthen the Catholic community in Behiang so that development can occur more effectively," he said.
He also urged Catholic leaders to consider introducing Class XII in line with the New Education Policy, which eliminates Class 10 examinations, assuring his full support for any initiatives taken by the Catholic community.
The UZO, the largest organizational body of the Zou community, highlighted its decade-long collaboration with St. Mary’s School, noting that over 100 students have successfully passed Class 10 during this partnership.
Jubilee Moi, the current chief of Behiang, expressed her joy during a heartfelt speech about the archbishop's visit.
With tears in her eyes, she shared that it was her first time meeting a prelate and the first-ever visit by a Catholic archbishop to Behiang.
She earnestly requested the prelate and Catholic priests to collaborate in enhancing the school and bringing benefits to the local community.
Commander Thakur of the 37th Battalion of Assam Rifles, stationed in Behiang, assured full security support for the school authorities at all levels.
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