Substations

Tingling

It is situated at a distance of about 9 km from Mirik. It was here almost 19 years ago that Mr. Tilak Thapa and his family converted to Catholics through the evangelism of late David Thapa and K. P. Subba of Phuguri. After meeting with the parish priest at that time Fr. Martin Lakra, few Cathechists namely Sebastin Rai along with Mr. David Thapa, Mr. K.P. Subba and Canute Thapa went to Tingling to give Cathechism class to this family. After an interval of 1 year Shri Tilak Thapa received the sacraments. After his entry into the Catholic Church, some families also started to believe in Christ .But only one family came to receive sacraments in the church after about 4 years. This family belonged to Mr. M. Bahadur Thapa (now he has joined another denomination). 

Even though Tilak Thapa’s family is the only Catholic family from this place , they are still strong in faith. 

Let us pray that the Catholic faith will grow here one day through the graces and blessings of Jesus Christ .

Thurbo Tea Garden

It is located about 3 kms away from Mirik. The first faithful here was Shri Santa Prasad Subba. According to his own words - "He was a labourer in the tea garden. At that time, when the road to the tea garden was being built, a white man used to walk to Mirik through that road. Hello brothers! He used to greet the workers and ask them about what they were constructing. Then they would answer - "Sir we are making the way". He would then ask “Are you making the way to heaven?" This question did not have any effect on the other workers, but it touched the heart of Mr. Santa Prasad. He began to meditate. Later he started attending Mass in Don Bosco church. He came in contact with Father George Alakulam and he came to know that the White man whom he met while making the way was Father Jellici. Thus he was baptized and became a member of the Catholic Church. All his family members also joined the Catholic Church. His small faith like a mustard seed has now grown into many Catholic families.

Soureni

About 18 years ago , Urmila Rai and her son Sunil Rai got baptized in Don Bosco Church Mirik. Before this, the condition of their family was very miserable because of the son’s ill health. He was taken to many Shamans , monks and exorcists but his health did not improve .They finally started coming to Don Bosco Church. Needless to say, the son's condition was healed by prayer. Thus, with their faith in Christ and their prayers , the son was completely healed. Today Urmila Rai and her son are still strong in faith. They come to the Church every Sunday .Due to the impact of their simple and faithful life, a young family there of Mr. Suman Baraili and his wife Parina have become Catholics. 

We pray that the good news of the Lord may spread in this place and many would come to know about Jesus Christ .

Sisnay

This village is located few km away from Mirik. In the year 2000, the family of Mr Chatrey Paul Tamang started visiting Don Bosco Church. Due to the ill health of his wife, Mr. Bikram Jerome Tamang (Chatrey's relative ) suggested him to come to the Church . Later, Mr. Bikram Tamang talked to Father Martin, the parish priest of that time. The patient was taken to Gaya Ganga Nava Jeevan Health Center and admitted with the help of Sr. Annie SMI. After few months, she recovered and started attending church regularly along with the whole family. In the year 2001 Chatrey Paul Tamang and his wife were baptised. Unfortunately today both of them are deceased. His eldest son and family are still in the Catholic faith. Likewise, there is another Chhetri family who converted to Catholicism in 2008. This family belongs to Mr. M.B. Chhetri. Although their village is quite far, they come to the Church on two Sundays every month. The Priest and the Cathechist visit there once in a month and offer Holy Mass in their house.

We pray that this place may be blessed by God and many more disciples of Christ may be chosen.

Singbuli

Singbuli Tea Estate is located in the undulating hills of Mirik Valley. Around 21 years ago, two families entered Don Bosco Catholic Church from this village. One family belonged to Mr. Dawa Joseph Tamang and the other belonged to Mr RB Lohar. The wife and children of RB Lohar were already baptized in Calcutta. Later they became members of Mirik Parish but RB Lohar did not become a Catholic. His wife died early but their children were still Catholics therefore Father Jellici kept visiting them and offered Mass in their house. Mr. Dawa Joseph Tamang’s family came much later to the Catholic faith. Joseph Tamang died in the year 2000 a few days after his baptism. Late Father Jellici always worried about this same family. At least once in a month he made sure to visit them. At present Joseph’s wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren are still living in Catholic Faith. All the sons and daughters of RB Lohar are now in Calcutta.

Let’s pray that God may touch the hearts of many more from this place.

Siligaon, Duptin

The first Catholics from this place was an elderly couple, who were known as Kancha Baje and Kanchi Boju. They worked as shepherds in someone's house. In such a situation, the people there said to them, "You have no one, your son does not come home at all. If you die, who will do your funeral services .So you go to Don Bosco Church and follow the religion of the fathers." Following their instructions the couple started visiting Don Bosco Church Mirik .On Saturday, they used to cut grass for Sunday. They would walk from home at 6 am in the morning and arrive at 8:30 am in the church for Sunday Mass. After attending Mass and Cathechism class on Sunday, usually at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, they would go from Mirik market to take feed and flour for cows and bullocks as told by the owner. They had such great faith that even during harsh weather conditions they would arrive at exactly 8:30 in the morning. Later they were baptised. Their names are Mathias and Margaret. Today both of them are deceased but their faith in Christ has enhanced and strengthened the faith of other Parishnors.

Another such person Mr. Indre Chhetri was baptized in the church 6 years before them. He is also a person with similar condition and hearing loss. But his heart heard God’s call and he came to the church to meet Jesus. 

As a result of their lives there, a Lepcha family was baptized into the Catholic Church in 2006.This family belongs toMr. Sameer Jerome Lepcha.

SEEYOK

This is another tea garden near Gopaldhara. Around 31 years ago, three families from this place came in contact with Mr Augustin Rauth.Due their illness and the influence of evil spirits, they expressed the idea that they would want to join Catholic faith. After they shared this idea with Mr. Augustine Rauth, the Catholics of Gopaldhara started going to this place and prayed together .After 3-4 months of praying in this way, the influence of evil spirits along with illness and suffering in these families was greatly reduced. Late Father Jellici used to go there from time to time. Also, the then parish priest Father George Alakulam along with Sister Mary John and the Cathechist used to go there and give Cathechism classes .After a year of Cathechism, prayer services , and due to their presence in all the activities of the church , Mr. Martin Ghatani and his family, along with two other families of Mr. Samuel Rai and of Mr Gurung, were baptized in Gopaldhara by Father Jellici. To this day these families are steadfast in their faith. Despite his old age, Mr. Martin Ghatani comes to Don Bosco Mirik church on Sundays to participate in the Holy Mass and to receive the Holy Communion. He is now 44 years old. Similarly, Mr. Isaac Gurung and Veronica Rai, wife of the late Samuel Rai come to participate in the Mass.Let us pray that through their faith many more would come to know about Jesus Christ.

Poffankyong

The Christians here were formerly followers of Buddhism. There was a Lepcha priestess called Mun in Lepcha language residing in this village. Her youngest sister got married to a Catholic man named Mr Angelus Lepcha from Tanyang. The Lepcha priestess believed that Christians are good-natured, so she gave her youngest sister to a Catholic man. Thus the first Catholic from this place was the sister of Lepcha priestess. A similar initiative of faith took place in this family, and her younger sister, her brother, niece and nephew started visiting Don Bosco Church. After about 3 to 4 years of attending Cathechism classes they were baptised in the year 2006.

In the year 2005 a Buddhist boy named Nima Tshering Lepcha from this village married a Catholic girl, Clara Lepcha from St Mary’s Parish Suruk, Kalimpong. Their marriage was blessed as Mixed Marriage and her husband is still a Buddhist. Today among 8 Catholic families of this place , 22 members are Catholics. It is to be remembered that the Lepcha priestess gave freedom to her sisters and relatives to believe in Christ. May God grant her soul eternal rest in heaven .

Phuguri

It is situated about 7 kms away from Mirik. About 30 years ago, Mr. K. P. Subba (Cyril), a resident here, was serving in the Indian Army, and God sowed a seed of Christian faith in his heart. Later, after retiring from military service, he came to Don Bosco Church from Phuguri. He expressed his faith to Father George Alakulam the then Parish Priest. He continued visiting the Church on Sundays and attended Cathechism classes. Thus he and his family became members of the Catholic Church. After about 3 years two more families of Late David Thapa and Mr. Kishore Sinchury also became the members of the Catholic Church. In the year 1991 a small prayer chapel was opened in the house of Shri K. P. Subba and was blessed by Father Jellici. Mass was offered here twice in a month on Sundays. At present, these families are staying in Siliguri due to their own arrangements. But they come during holidays and visit the Church.

Murmah

Mirik Busty

Malidhura

It is a small village under Gopaldhara tea plantation. During the British rule many camps were built here for the tea garden officers. Due to its peaceful environment and the picturesque location of the Rangbhang river it also became a holiday spot for the English Tea Plantation directors. There was also a church building here as the directors of the garden were Christian believers. And during the visit of a priest ,Holy Mass was offered in this Church. After almost 150 years of their rule, when the British left India this church building was converted into a public building. Even its ruins cannot be found now. However, the attraction of this church building and the influence of the English Saheb ,Christ’s faith was imprinted in the heart of Samuel Thami. As a result of this, he came in contact with Mr. Augustine Rawat of Gopaldhara. Later he converted into a Catholic. This was the time of 1990 when Father Vincent was the Parish Priest of Mirik Parish. In this way, the second believer Mr. Mathew Mitradev Pradhan (now in another congregation) and his family were baptized in 1992 and became Catholic believers. Today his sonDominic Kushal and his family are still Catholics. Also, Anup Antony Thami, the son of Samuel Thami and his son James are still in the Catholic faith. They usually come to Don Bosco Church Mirik to participate in the Mass on Sundays .Also once in a month priests and Cathechist from the Center go there to offer Holy Mass.

It is our duty to pray for this place that the Lord may touch the hearts of many more.

Kharbani

This village is located about 20-22 km from Mirik .Almost 22 years ago in the year 1998, the wife of Mr Padam Kumar Pradhan (Philip), a resident of this village, was admitted in Navjeevan Hospital ,Gaya Ganga. Overwhelmed by the good service and care given by the sisters of the hospital, his heart was inclined towards Christianity. 

Later he came in contact with the late David Thapa of Phuguri who took late Father Jellici to meet Mr. Philip's family and pray for his sick wife. His family was baptised later. Although his wife's health did not improve much , but her spiritual health was lifted by the sacrament of baptism. For about 3 years this family was the only Catholic family from this place . They had to face several difficulties such as being ostracized by their relatives and by the villagers .Later his brothers John and Raymond Subba also started to believe in Christ. The Catholic church in Patapur, Nepal is also a gift of his faith.

Today there are ten Catholic families in Kharbani . The fathers from Don Bosco Centre visit there and offer Holy Mass. They participate in all the religious functions of the parish. In the future we pray that many others would also come to faith in Christ the Lord.

GOPALDHARA