Tening which is an administrative Circle, was looked after from Peren before the new parish was opened. At the request of the local leaders and the government officials, a school was opened at Tening in 1981. The school made of thatch and wood was burnt down in June 1983, by some miscreants and the rest of the year the classes were held in the government school hostel placed at our disposal by the local authorities. In 1984, a new building was constructed and was named as SFS School and fathers from Peren began to stay at Tening in a rented house. Towards the end of 1984, Fr. Francis Thadathil was appointed as the priest in-charge of the mission. He continued to stay in the rented house. The land of the centre was purchased and construction of the boarding house, convent and a dispensary were completed by 1988.

The Tening Mission was entrusted to the care of the MSFS Congregation. So, the Parish and the school were named after the heavenly Patron of the Congregation, St Francis de Sales, the ‘gentle man saint’. In the beginning there was no church. So, the Sunday services were held in the school building. Later, a thatched shed was built for church services. After the purchase of the new site in Tening village, the plan of constructing a well built church came alive. The foundation stone for the church was laid on May 4, 1996, by Fr LukoseKavunkal msfs, the Parish Priest, together with Fr Philip Mangatt msfs. Abeautiful church was built within a short time under the guidance and supervision of Fr Lukose. Thus, the long-awaited dream became a reality on December 8, 1997, with the blessing and inauguration of the new Parish church. The church was blessed by Fr Jose Mukala, the Vicar General of the diocese, and inaugurated by Fr George Parampukattil, the Provincial of MSFS North East India Province. Over the years, many infrastructures like dispensary, school and hostel were built for the service of the people. The old dispensary was demolished and a new one was built in 2002.

Tening mission has risen to be a vibrant mission today with education, family apostolate, health care and social services. The Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) render their whole hearted collaboration.

Congregation of the Mother of Carmel Sisters

The Sisters of the Congregation of the Mother Carmel (CMC) render their whole-hearted collaboration in making Christ’s message become a tangible reality in this remote area of the land of the Nagas. They joined the mission at Tening on January 10, 1987. The pioneers were Srs Claret (Superior), Reena and Graceline.