ASIA/INDIA - Diocese of Miao, northeastern India, continues missionary work among tribes

Miao (Agenzia Fides) – The young Diocese of Miao, begun in 2006, in a remote corner of northeastern India, continues its work of evangelization of tribal peoples with great success, as there are many who joyfully embrace the Good News. This is what Agenzia Fides learned from local Bishop George Pallipparambil, SDB, who has been promoting a missions campaign in the remote villages of the Himalayan Region, where the Diocesan Territory is located.
In the Diocese, vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are flourishing and the evangelization process is going full steam ahead.
The Bishop tells Agenzia Fides that there is a visible increase in clergy, religious, and faithful: in 2006, there were 20 priests and 27 sisters, while today there are 59 priests working in 20 parishes and 5 new missionary stations, with a growing number of catechists and faithful laity. One of the regular activities of the diocese is, in fact, training of the laity for the missions, especially in the remote areas.
“The progress that we have made in these years is surprising. We give thanks to the Lord for this river of grace,” the Bishop tells Fides. “There is a growing number of villages who are converting and the Church is always receiving offers for collaboration in the poorest villages. This is the everyday proof of how the Spirit works and conquers hearts for Christ.”
The Diocese of Miao is located in the mountainous area of northeastern India and is inhabited by tribal groups in missionary activity and social assistance. The Church, the Bishop tells Fides, “is working intensely in the area of education and social progress, building seminaries, schools, dispensaries, hospitals...to meet the demands of the population.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/10/2009)