God has plan and priority. It was in
1951, Late Fr. Leonard Molomu a diocesan priest from Pedong , made the first
attempt to spread the Gospel of Christ in Sikkim. At that time the entire
Kalimpong sub-division was under Canon Regular fathers from St. Maurice Abbey,
Switzerland. The mission was being run
by erecting Apostolic Prefecture of
Sikkim and much to our knowledge there were no catholic church and other
establishments in Sikkim. Sikkim was forbidden land for foreigners . Fr. Molomu
ventured to penetrate this forbidden
land via Rhenock. He started a formal school at Rhenock Bazar ( Present Police
station site). But God has a plan for Rhenock but not the PRIORITY. Fr. Molomu
had to shift this mission to Pakyong.
In 1955, Mr. Puspa Kumar Pradhan a
descendant of Tintaley House got married with
Rose Mary Pradhan daughter of Late George Pradhan ( father of Henry Sir)
of Pedong. They were the first catholic couple in the entire Rhenock-Aritar
area. In 1982, I was in Gangtok Teachers’ Training Institute from where I was
promoted as head of Institution of Rhenock Sr. Secondary School. Now at least
we were two catholic households . Later on the families of Mr. Dawa(justin)
Sherpa & Mr. John Khawas joined us. We used to attend mass services either
at Sacred Heart Church Pedong OR Christ the King Church Pakyong. It was for the
first time we had Mass service at Mr. P.K Pradhan’s House in 1983. Fr. Alphonse
Lingdamo who happened to be the Parish Priest of Pakyong visited
us from time to time. By the time
two more households as catechumen joined us and it has become necessary to
establish a mission centre. Late Philomena Pradhan mother of Mr. P.K Pradhan
donated a small plot of land . Fr. Edu Sanges , the PP of Pakyong helped us to
erect a chapel in this donated land in 1986. ( The present church structure
is the same chapel with slight modifications). Rt.Rev. Eric Benjamin, late Bishop of
Darjeeling Diocese blessed this chapel dedicating the same to St. Joseph, the
patron saint of workers on the 1st May 1986. Since then this house
of worship meets the spiritual need of more than 30 families.
Late Bishop Eric had rightly remarked
that it is through education apostolate Christ could be made known to the
people of Sikkim. An effort has been made to established an English Medium
school. While Mr. P.K Pradhan & myself in process for acquiring a suitable
plot of land, the diocese installed Rev. Fr. Rene Singh as Parish Priest of Rhenock-Rongli quasi
parish in 1993. A three-roomed house belonging to Mr. P.K Pradhan was rented as
priest residence near to the chapel. Under the guidance of Fr. Rene, the PP, we
detected a plot of land at Chandra Nursery. We approached Late M.P Pradhan (
Ex-Chief Secretary) who in spite of his reluctance agreed to sale more than 7
acres of land holding for school purpose. Some non-catholic brethren from Rhenock
bazar extended their valuable cooperation in acquiring this land, the prominent
personality is Mr. R.K Pradhan . Rev. Fr. Rene was successful in getting
fund from Germany and constructed a
Multi purpose church-cum –priest’s residence in this newly acquired land which
was registered in the name of St. Joseph School. The school started functioning
with 41 students in 1994.
In 1997 the Cluny Provincialate of
Kalimpong belonging to St. Joseph Cluny
congregation erected a convent with three sisters ( Srs. Mary Matilda, Maria
Goreti, Yevone).These nuns were a new experience for the people of Rhenock
Area. They served not only the school but parish also . Presently they are
preparing children and catechumen for sacraments, lead mata samaj, and helping
parishioners for spiritual build up by weekly house visit & participating
in SCC meetings.
Compiled
by
Mr.
Isaac Mukhia
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