HISTORY OF DIBRUGARH PROVINCE

North East India is the region situated in the eastern-most part of India comprising of the eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. These people consist of more than 200 tribes. The land is mostly mountainous and hilly though there are plateaus and valleys in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Manipur. Majority of the inhabitants of the population are of Mongoloid race. It is difficult to ascertain how many languages are being spoken in this region and this has created diversity of culture.Christianity is the dominant religion in North East states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur.

To this land of beauty, variety and unique history, the MSFS were invited to further the works of evangelisation.  On September 15, 1975, a band of six newly ordained priests hailing from Kerala were sent from the Province of Visakhapatnam,responding to the invitation of Bishop Joseph Mittathany of Tezpur: Frs Joseph Kizhakkeveed and Abraham Kuttiankal for Tezpur, Frs George Parampukattil and Joseph Kuttiany for Tura, Frs Kurian Pattimackel and Jose Mundoly for Kohima-Imphal. Within a year, three more confreres from Vizakhapatnam arrived in North East: Frs Jose Thenganakunnel, George Kunnel and Sebastian Paredom. The next batch of missionaries arrived in the North East in 1977. In 1977, Fr Paul Sankoorickal (S.L.Paul) came from USA to lead the North East Mission of the MSFS. He was parish priest of Silapathar in Tezpur diocese. Steadily and slowly, the Congregation began to take roots and grow in the North East, thanks to the regular arrival of confreres from Visakhapatnam Province.

On September 15, 1979, North East was made a Region with 16 priests and a few scholastics as regents, within the Province of Visakhapatanam. Fr DevasiaKuzhupil was appointed the first Regional Superior. Later, Fr Alexander Kottam was appointed Regional Superior to succeed Fr DevasiaKuzhupil in 1982. But, he could not take charge of his office due to sudden illness. Then, Fr Abraham Mullenkuzhy was appointed Regional Superior.  The Regionwas raised to the status of a Vice Province on January 24, 1984 and Rev. Fr Abraham Mullenkuzhy was appointed the first Vice Provincial. He was also re-appointed Vice Provincial(1987-90) for a second term.On January 24, 1990 the Vice Province became a full-fledged Province with Fr Jose Thenganakunnelas the first Provincial. There were 33 priests and 41 professed scholastics in the Vice-Province at the time of raising it into a Province. 

Fr George Parampukattil was installed second Provincial of North East India Province during a concelebrated Eucharistic celebration presided over by Most Rev. Thomas Menamparampil, Archbishop of Guwahati, on January 24, 1996. Between 1996 and 2002, the Province made remarkable progress in extending its works to new countries and areas. The period saw opening up of the Province to countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Nepal, and to Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim.

Fr Abraham Mullenkuzhy was installed the third Provincial of North East India Province on January 24, 2002 for a term of three years. Fr Abraham was reappointed for a second term of three years as Provincial beginning from January 24, 2005. The period also witnessed the entry of the Province in the field of Higher Education for the first time with the opening of SFS College in Arunachal Pradesh in 2007, in the field of professional social work with the establishing of FAsCE India (Fransalain Agency for Social Care and Education in India) and Fransalian Communication in 2005, and Prison ministry in Namibia in the same year.

Fr Francis Thadathil was appointed the fourth Provincial Superior of North East India Province from February 27, 2008.  He was re-appointed for another term of three years starting from January 24, 2011. The growth of the Province continued during the period between 2008 and 2014 with the opening of several new missions. The MSFS also made its first entry into the state of Mizoram with the opening of the mission at Sateek. He brought in greater order and discipline in streamlining the administration and making it more effective, following the directives of the New Governance in the Congregation.

Fr George Panthanmackel was the fifth Provincial from January 23, 2014. Fr George was appointed for another term of three years from January 23, 2017. Under the leadership of Fr George Panthanmackel, the Province witnessed a number of initiatives and expansions. In the category were the entry of the Province into the management of the Constant Lievens Academy of Health Sciences, Ranchi (2014), staffing and management of St Clement College (Philosophate) of Guwahati Archdiocesein 2016, establishment of Dibrugarh Region in 2016, facilitating the event of the XXth General Chapter of the Congregation at MSFS Provincial House, Guwahati, in 2019, and guiding smoothly and effectively the division of North East India Province into Guwahati and Dibrugarh Provinces in 2019. Fr Emmanuel Mappilaparambil took charge as the first Provincial of Dibrugarh Province on 24^th January 2020.

Dibrugarh Region in North East India Province

In answer to the reasonable yearning, relentless prayers and repeated requests, the directives of the joint-meeting of General Curia and Provincial Curia at MSFS Provincialate, Guwahati, on Oct. 13-14, 2014, guided the Provincial Administration to initiate the process of creating an administrative unit (Delegation/Region) in Northeast India Province. After having consulted all the members of the Province through both ‘Consultation Paper’ and ‘Apostolic Community Meetings’, with the consent of the Provincial Council, and in accordance with the Constitutions of the Congregation, Fr George Panthanmackel, the Provincial, requested Rev Fr Abraham Vettuvelil, the Superior General, to erect a Region in Northeast India Province comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Upper Assam, Nagaland and Manipur on June 28, 2015. In his letter to the Superior General, Fr Provincial stated that the establishment of a distinct Region was for the purpose of strengthening religious commitment as MSFS, facilitating effective administration, encouraging closer community living, properly nurturing and utilizing talents and gifts, and consolidating and expanding missionary activities. The formal establishement of a new Region in North East India Province took place on January 20, 2016, with Fr Emmanuel Mappilaparambil taking charge as its Regional Superior.

BIRTH OF TWO PROVINCES IN NORTH EAST

The General Chapter 2019 approved the request of the Northeast India Province for the division of Northeast India Province into two Provinces. “The General Chapter authorizes the General Administration to initiate the process as prescribed by the Constitutions and the General Directory. The General Chapter also authorizes the General Administration to implement the decision as early as possible” (Call of the General Chapter 2019). The Superior General with the consent of his Council appointed a Study Commission for the division of the Northeast India Province.  The Commission members were the following: Fr Philip Thomas (Convener), Fr George Panthanmackel (Member), Fr Emmanuel Mappilaparambil (Member), Fr Santhosh Chavaranal (Member), Fr George Parampukattil (Member), Fr Joseph Pulloppillil (Member, as a former Provincial of Nagpur Province), Fr Simon Thaikho (Member), Fr Baiju Kurian Mundackal (Member) and Fr Saji George Puthiyakulangara as Secretary to the Commission (without right to vote).

The first meeting of the Study Commission was held on April 2-4, 2019 at MSFS Provincialate, Narengi. These were three-days of active participation, meaningful and fruitful discussions, deliberations and sharing of insights on all different points and parameters provided by the General Curia for the division of the Province.  At the end of the 3-day meeting, the Commission brought out a Draft which was sent to Superior General and to all confreres of Northeast India Province on May 19, 2019. The Superior General sent a few recommendations to the Study Commission regarding the first Draft on June 17, 2019. A few observations and suggestions from some of the confreres in India, Europe and South Africa were also received. There were also some personal requests from the confreres for change of Province. The study commission carefully studied the recommendations, observations, suggestions and requests, and effected the needed changes in the text.  The Second meeting of the Study Commission was held on June 28-29, 2019 at MSFS Provincialate, Guwahati. The commission considered the observations on the draft recommendations of the Study Commission made by the Provincial Curia and Regional Curia. During the two days of meeting, the commission carefully studied the newly incorporated changes and amendments in the Draft and brought out the ‘Draft Recommendations of the Study Commission, ‘Guidelines for the Governing Body’ and ‘Draft list of Confreres.’ Once again the commission went through the draft and after required corrections, additions and deletions, a Draft of Recommendations on Division of Northeast India Province was unanimously finalized. The Third meeting of the Study Commission was held on August 24, 2019 at MSFS Provincialate, Guwahati. The modifications proposed by the General Council to the articles of the Guidelines of Governing Body of Formation Houses of Guwahati-Dibrugarh Provinces were incorporated, unclear statements were explained and the division of the seminarians under various stages of Formation was done. The fourth meeting of the Study Commission was held on September 29, 2019 at MSFS Provincialate, Narengi. All the members of the Study Commission were present, including the Regional Superior of Southern African Region. The meeting took up the responses of the confreres, and updated and finalized the documents. The final draft, which was unanimously approved by all the members of the Study Commission, was sent to Superior General for his final decision and promulgation

Rev. Fr Abraham Vettuvelil, our beloved Superior General, announced the establishment of two new provinces from Northeast India Province of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales on October 24, 2019, the Foundation Day of the Congregation. The decree from the Superior General states:“The Province of Guwahati and the Province of Dibrugarh of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales from the present Province of North-East India of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, will come into effect on January 24, 2020, when the two duly appointed new Provincials will assume charge.” Accordingly, Fr Emmanuel Mappilaparambil, who was appointed new Provincial of Dibrugarh Province on December 15, 2019  and Fr Sabu Francis Manasrayil, who was appointed new Provincial of Guwahati Province on December 15, 2019, were installed Provincials by Rev. Fr Jacob Karamakuzhy, General Secretary of Education and Delegate of Superior General, of respective Provinces on January 24, 2020, during a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Most Rev. John Moolachira, Archbishop of Guwahati.