Diocese: Bongaigaon
Pioneers: Sisters Reshma KA and Prisca Tirkey
The Sisters of North-East Province did not decline an offer of Bishop Thomas Pullopillil of Bongaigaon Diocese when he requested them to open a house at Gauripur, which is in lower Assam under Dhubri district. Gauripur lies under the jurisdiction of Bongaigaon Diocese; it lies 290 kilometres south of the city of Guwahati. Sisters Reshma KA and Prisca Tirkey landed on January 11, 2006 at Gauripur, a newly erected parish; as they did not have a house of their own, they resided in the parish house for a year.
The Sisters started rendering their services in the diocesan school. However, their focus was evangelization and faith formation. It was impossible for the two Sisters to visit the fourteen villages the parish consisted of. Sisters Felcita D’Souza and Leoni Jojo who joined the community in June the same year commenced their pastoral apostolate in the same month. They visited villages inhabited chiefly by the Garos, most of who are illiterate. In view of responding to their need of literacy, the diocese established a hostel for girls on July 15, 2007. The poorest of the poor girl children are beneficiaries of the project. The Sisters manage the boarding house. They also occupy the ground floor of the hostel for their residence.
The Sisters have undertaken pastoral and social apostolate in a big way. Two Sisters are engaged in ‘Touring Ministry’ which involves organizing BCC and SCC prayers, conducting retreats, seminars, catechizing, and preparing children and youth for reception of the sacraments. They also visit the sick regularly. The Sisters put in their best in the service of God and neighbour. However, they consider that more ought to be done in the service of more people specifically in the spiritual area.
