The mission of Silapathar is situated in the far flag, the northern area of the diocese of Tezpur. The mission was started by Rev. Fr. John SDB in the year 1968 at Likabali. The centre was shifted to the present site in the year 1970, at the request of the people of Silapathar and under the inspiration of the Bishop of Tezpur, Rt. Rev. Joseph Mittathany, Fr John Palathungal, a priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco started the school in a thatched shed with 28 students and two members on the staff. Fr. John Palathungal SDB continued to serve the institution till 1973. In 1973, Fr. Varghese Kalarizkal, a diocesan priest was appointed as the principal. It was during his time the first Assam type building and the presbytery were constructed. The school began to take shape during this period, with the increase of the number of the students. He guided and enlightened the people of the various needs and problems of the mission.

Fr From 1970 to 1976 Fr. Varghese Kalarizkal was in charge of the centre. In the beginning years of the mission sisters belonging to two different congregations rendered their service to the mission. The first group was Missionary sisters of Mary Immaculate (MSMI) and in 1975, Bethany Sisters of Thiruvalla joined the mission.

The arrival of MSFS in Silapathar

Catholic mission at Silapathar was the first mission in Dhemaji district. In the year 1976 Rt. Rev. Joseph Mittathany, the Bishop of Tezpur entrusted this mission to the patoral care of the MSFS. Since 1976 MSFS fathers serve the people of the place especially in the field of education. This is one of the permanent Centers of the MSFS.

In July 1976 Fr. Abraham Kuttiankal a priest belonging to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS), was appointed as the principal. In the initial days of the mission the response of the people of Silapathar, which comprises Assamese, Missings, Bodos, Adivasis, Bengalis, Nepalese, and many other groups from other parts of India, was not very encouraging. Often the people looked at the missionaries with suspicion. It was a happy and decisive moment for Fr Abraham Kuttiankal to take charge of the mission, which had its own unresolved problems. In the same year (1976) Fr Mathew Kavithazha was appointed on the staff.

In 1977 Fr. S.L Paul came after his work and studies from the USA and was appointed as the Parish Priest of Silapathar and Fr Abraham Kuttiankal went as the assistant parish priest of Kumrikattapairsh. Fr S.L Paul, during his tenure, tried to stabilize the institution and extended the school building.  From June to November 1977 Fr Stephen Marayikulam (Sr.) served the mission. In the same year, Brother Kuriakose Mundackal came to assist Fr  S.L. Paul in the administration of the school. In 1977 due to some unavoidable reasons, the Bethany Sisters left Silapathar for good. Fr. VarkeyValiedath too was in the Silapathar mission from 1978. Silapathar remained hostile to the missionaries for a long time. Eviction notices had been served by the civil authorities at the instigation of the people and the missionaries bore these situations with courage and faith. Gradually they managed to secure Patta for the mission land. In 1980 Fr. S.L Paul left for the USA and in July 1980 Fr Augustine Vellaramkuzhy was appointed the principal of the school and he continued till October 1981. It was during his period that the first batch of students appeared for Matriculation. In the same year, Fr Stephen Marayikulam (Sr.) was appointed the parish priest of the SFS Church, Silapathar and in December 1981 he was given the additional responsibility of the Manager of Don Bosco School, Silapathar. Then for a brief period of time, Fr VarkeyValiadeth managed the affairs of the school as its principal from Dhemaji till 1982. From 1982 to 1984 Bro. Joseph Kavungal (who became priest later in Visakhapatnam Province) was appointed Principal of the school. He was a lover of nature. It was his interest to bring up plants in the campus. In 1984, Fr John EdacherryPauvath took charge of the school and from 1985, he was also the parish priest assisted by Bro. George Ettackakunnel until 1986. During this period under the able guidance of Fr Stephen, the boys' hostel was completed. Fr John started the parents’ day celebration on a grand scale. Facility for pure drinking water made available for the students during this period.

In 1985 Holy Cross Sisters of Chavanod began to serve the people of this area by joining the staff of the school as well as helping in the parish. The dedicated collaboration of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod under the leadership of Sr Gracy Sunder marked the growth of the mission.

Missionaries also took a keen interest in the work of evangelization by venturing into the far-flung areas of Arunachal Pradesh. In 1989 March, Fr. Jose Thenganakunnel, Bro. Prem Bhai, along with three sisters from Missionaries of Charity (MC) visited the village of Kaying in Arunachal Pradesh. This was the first visit that the MSFS made to meet a small community of Catholics. Having received the information in advance the people of the area (Catholics and Non-Catholics) arranged a warm welcome to the team. The team stayed there for a full day instructing many in the catholic faith. They celebrated the Holy Eucharist with enthusiasm and fervor.

Since the inception, the priests in the centre had been attending to the Bodo Catholic communities at Bijoypur and Milonpur (Boros). There are 85 Catholic families and 500 Catholics. Besides these, there is number of catholic families who have migrated to the place for employment. They do not settle down permanently but could be treated as quasi-residents. The evangelization work and faith formation of the centre has to be viewed from the context of its work in Siang Districts, where over the years, seven parishes have come up. Besides, many young hostellers who became torchbearers of faith in Arunachal Pradesh were introduced to the catholic faith here. On May 6, 2014, a church was blessed by Akasius Toppo, the Bishop of Tezpur at Milonpur. The faithful are Boros, Mishings, Adivasis, and Rajmunshis.In view of the Golden Jubilee of the parish, the parish Church was renovated and it was rededicated on 4th October 2020 by Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Mappilaparambil, the Provincial of Dibrugarh Province.

Holy Cross Sisters

In 1985, the Holy Cross Sisters joined the mission and engaged themselves in teaching and pastoral activities. The first community consisted of Srs Shanti Pulikal, Elsy Joseph, and Rosina. Since then, two sisters have been serving the school as teachers and one manages a playschool. They have a hostel for school girls.

SL. NO	PARISH PRIEST	YEAR
1	John Palathungal SDB	1969-1973
2	Varkhese Kalarikal	1973-1976
3	Abraham Kuttiankal	1976-1977
4	S.L. Paul	1977-1980
5	Augustine Vellaramkuzhy	1980-1981
6	Stephen Marayikulam (sr)	1981-1985
7	John Edacherrypauvath	1984-1987
8	Jose Thenganakunnel	1987-1990
9	George Kunnel	1990-1994
10	Job Karikkampally	1994-1998
11	Kurian Ovelil	1998-2000
13	Jose Mamalassery	2000-2004
14	Varghese Chettupuzhakaran	2004-2007
15	George Vadakkeperincherimannil	2007-2009
16	Thomas kollathuvayalil	2009-2016
17	Roy Muthedathu	2016-2021
18	Joseph Chackalakal	2021-

 

 

SL. NO	ASST. PARISH PRIEST	YEAR
1	Mathew K	1976-1977
2	Stephen Marayikulam (sr)	1977
3	Kurian Ovelil	1983
4	Joseph Chackalackel	1987-1988
5	Sebastian Neendukunnel	1988-1989
6	Joy Velickakathu	1989-1992
7	LukoseKavungal	1992-1996
8	Emmanuel Mappilaparambil	1994-1996
9	Bernad Sangma	1995-1997
10	Jiji Konthananickal	1996-1999
11	TomichanMoonnanapallil	1999-2001
12	ShaibuEzhanikat	2001-2005
13	George Vadakkeperincherimannil	2007-2009
14	JojoPazheveettil	2007-2009
15	SajiTharayil	2009-2013
16	Varghese Prakuzhy	2013-2014
17	Thomas Arackal	2015-2021
18	Augustine Thundathil	2021-