GopalDhara

The Full Story

In the year 1976-1977, a family in Gopaldhara became member of the Catholic Church .This  family belonged  to Mr. Augustine Rawat and he was guided in faith by his younger brother Mr. David Rawat. Due to the influence of his brother’s testimony and Cathechism, on 16th September 1977, Mr. Augustine Rawat and his daughter Pauline Rawat went to Turzum Tea Garden and received baptism in his brother's house. They were baptised by father Charles Mukhia . From that time Holy Mass, prayer meetings and hymns were held regularly in the family of Augustine Rawat in Gopaldhara. Fathers and Cathechist CleophusGiri used to come from Sonada to give them Cathechism classes and to teach hymns and prayers. Gradually, with the tireless work of the Fathers, Sisters of the Holy Cross, the Cathechist and through God's blessing, another family started praying to Lord Jesus  in the beginning of 1978.

 At that time Mr P. C. Punun was the manager of Gopaldhara Tea Garden. As he was also a Catholic, when the Fathers and Sisters came to Gopaldhara his bungalow was arranged for their stay. Those visiting priests were Father Luigi Jellici, Father Marcus, Father K. V. James, Father Vincent, Father Versotto and Father Pinto. Among the sisters the visitors include the Sisters of the Holy Cross and the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity.
 

On October 24, 1978, with the help of P.C. Punun, the manager of Gopaldhara, holy mass was offered  in the courtyard of the bungalow. Many people from Turzum, Sangma, Dhajea and Gopaldhara were present in this mass. The leaders from those areas at that time were Mr. David Rawat, Mr. Robert Rai, Anthony Rai and Miss Munna.

With the blessed influence of this Mass and with the holy touch of God’s word , the number of Catholic families in Gopaldhara increased to Six at the end of 1979. They were  looked after by the Salesian Congregation of Sonada. During the occassions of Easter and Christmas JTI brothers were send by the Bishop to teach new hymns and prayers .Those brothers were Fr. Sebastian Singh, Fr. JoakhimLepcha, Fr. Patrick, Fr. David, Br. Solomon, Br. Francis , Fr. Leonard Tamsang.

In 1980,a team of 15 brothers from Salesian College led by Father Vincent came to Gopaldhara for ministry. The service and good deeds of those brothers had a great impact on the people here. Brother Lazarus enchanted the people here by showing some magical skills . Slide films of Lord Jesus were also shown by the brothers.With the brothers, people cleaned their village and repaired the roads.

Due to their effective service, the number of Catholics increased. In the 1990s, the number of Catholic families increased to 25.
 

On 9th December 1979 Late Bishop Eric Benjamin came on an official visit to Gopaldhara and on that same day the families of AugustineRauth, Sebastian Rai and Benjamin Rai were given the Sacrament of Baptism, the First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Today there are about 33 families here growing together in the life of Faith. In the year 2007on 14th Octobera beautiful Church building was inaugurated here and blessed by His Lordshhip Rt Rev Stephen Lepcha DD . It is named as Divine Mercy Church. Thanks to the great Missionary zeal, vision and hard work of Father Mathew Pulingathil, the Parish priest. We continue to pray that the faith of the Catholics here may be witness to other people of Gopaldhara.