MISSION AT MONIGONG

1. Monigong: Demography and Geography in Short

Monigong is located closer to the Indo-China border. It is a part of the Shi-Yomi District, The population is totally composed of Adi-Bokar tribe. People depend upon farming and animal husbandry as means of their livelihood.

The whole land of Monigong is thickly surrounded by mountains and valleys. Roads are cut along the edges of these mountains. With Rocky Mountains on one side and vast abyss on the other side of these narrow mountain roads, travelling becomes a risky and dangerous business always. Climate goes down to challenging depths at winter and rainy seasons. During winter, the mercury goes even below 00 C and landslides become a common phenomenon during the rainy season, making the travel even more dangerous. Apart from these, there ain’t any electricity, internet and communication facilities in the locality. The literacy rate is at pathetic low level. The nearest town that offers education facilities is located at Aalo, nearly 250 kms away and the nearest town that offers better medical facilities is located at Dibrugarh, Assam almost 500 kms away.

2. Mission at Monigong

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is the main mission station at Monigong. It belongs to the Diocese of Itanagar. Monigong parish has 19 village churches (sub-stations) attached to it. The village churches are located at Namasibo, Papikrung, Simugong, Sugudom, Pullom, Didu, Manigon, Ramrung, Damsong, Karle, Talaming, Takalingtak, Komte, Pangru, Simbu, Sheeth, Jorong, Karo, Besang and Pidi. Among the above, 5 villages viz Didu, Ramrung, Komte, Pangru, and Sheeth do not even have a church at present.

Namasibo, located 15 kms away Northwards and Pidi located 30 kms away Southwards form the boundary of the Manigong parish territory. Therefore, a total stretch of 45 kms exists between the Northern and Southern tips of the parish territory. The parish community consists of 85 families and the other villages communities together consist of 130 families, altogether 225 families.

It is just 25 years since Good News reached the land of Monigong and therefore people are fresh to the faith. Remarkably, village church at Karo recently celebrated the silver jubilee and Manigong parish awaits the silver jubilee celebration in the coming year.

3. Capuchin Mission at Monigong

Capuchin brothers are entrusted with the Monigong mission from 2018 onwards by the Diocese of Itanagar. Amidst the challenging situations, with no electricity, transportation and communication facilities and the challenging climate, capuchins friars are actively involved in the pastoral ministries in the parish and the village churches.

‘Gospel touring’ is the important mean of faith proclamation in the villages. Friars go for ‘gospel touring’ often by walk, which requires three to six hours of walking to reach the villages. A single ‘gospel touring’ that covers all the village churches normally consists of one month.

Friars reach out to the people in their needs, especially to pray for the sick, which has turned out to become an important way of evangelization in the area! By the grace of God, many are joining the Catholic Church from various denominations and other belief groups. Remarkably, at Sheeth, a whole Baptist village joined the Catholic Church recently and became one of the latest village churches to adjoin the mission!