KOHIMA — Rev. Fr. Sivi George, parish priest and principal of St. John Higher Secondary School in Tuensang, was honoured with an award for his contribution in the field of education on the occasion of 77th Independence Day celebration on August 15. He was the first Catholic priest to be given such public recognition in Tuensang town.
The deputy commissioner of Tuensang, Lithrongla Thongpi Rutsa, who is also an alumnus of Loyola Higher Secondary School in Kiphire town, and the minister of Housing and Mechanical, P Bashang Mongba, who is also an alumnus of St. John Higher Secondary School in Tuensang town, formally handed over the award to Rev. Fr. George.
"We are so glad and grateful to the district administration and the people of Tuensang for recognising the contribution of the Catholic Church in public domain," an elated Rev. Fr. Benjamin Chang told Eastern Mirror.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]St. John School was opened in 1965 by Rev. Fr. Felix under the guidance of Rt. Rev. Hubert D’Rosario, the then Bishop of Dibrugarh, Manipur and Nagaland, while LJ Graves and his wife from Jamshedpur were stationed at Tuensang to teach in the school.
Rev. Fr. Chang narrated that initially they have faced lots of criticism and opposition from every corner.
"All the oppositions and criticisms were bravely faced with courage and determination with the cooperation and dedicated service of Akum Imlong Chang, the then minister of Tuensang Affairs, and LJ Graves, the first headmaster," said the priest.
Rev. Fr. Chang recounted that there was much hostility from the people while selling land for the establishment of the Catholic mission centre in Tuensang particularly by the Baptist leaders.
"Catholic schools are an important part of the mission of the Catholic Church in the diocese," Rev. Fr. Chang said adding, "All Catholic schools within the diocese have close connections to the local parish communities to which they belong."
He went on to stated that it was because of the establishment of the standard Catholic schools in Tuensang, Kiphire, Tobu and other remote areas that the younger generations were able to open their eyes to the outside world and find better life opportunities.
St. John School, as a pioneering Catholic institute, was sought after by many parents even though it is located in a remote place like Tuensang. He apprised how students especially from Mokokchung district came to Tuensang in order to study at the school.
Rev. Fr. Chang said the establishment of St. John School in Tuensang paved the way for the emergence of St. Thomas Parish, Tuensang, which became the first Diocesan Catholic Mission Centre to be opened in Nagaland and also the third Catholic Mission Centre of Nagaland after Kohima and Lakhuti Catholic Mission Centres.
He acknowledged the pioneering fathers and sisters who took up great challenges and risks in imparting Catholic education and in promoting the Catholic faith.
"The inclement weather, the opposition and spreading false notions about the Catholic faith by the early Baptist brethrens, lack of communication facilities, the spirit of Naga nationalism and hatred for the Indians etc. were some of them to be mentioned," he said.
The first Indo-Naga war took place in Tuensang areas where almost every household had NNC members fighting with the Indian armies, Chang recounted.
"Anything that was associated with India was resisted by the local people; yet in all this circumstances the Catholic missionaries stood firm and steady on the rock of Christ," he said.
He informed that every village in remote eastern areas those years had majority non-Christian families, but many converted to the Baptist denomination during the Great Revival of 1970s. He added that only some non-Christians of some villages in Kiphire and Tobu areas embraced the Catholic faith.
Catholic presence, however negligible in quantity, has qualitative presence in Eastern areas with 15 parishes running many Catholic mission schools, he said.
He further informed that there are 43 Catholic Churches in Eastern areas, which is next to the dominant Baptist denomination.
He expressed hope that the recognition showered on Rev. Fr. Sivi George would enable the Catholic missionaries to reenergise with renewed zeal and that the sacrifices made by the religious priests and nuns for the welfare of the people bear much fruits.