Mirik Busty

During those days majority of the residents of Mirik Busty belonged to the Lepcha community. They followed Buddhism and worshipped their own community priest known as Bungthing. Shri Ernest Lepcha was the son in law of a Buddhist Monk and lived with his in laws. Therefore he had to face many challenges in order to protect his Catholic faith. His youngest daughter Ms. Christina Lepcha used to visit Don Bosco Church on Sundays. Few girls of her village expressed the idea of coming to church with her. Christina also started bringing them to the Church. But there was a bridge to cross here, that was if by any chance the Buddhist monks and families found out about this, these girls would be ostracized from the society and the caste. So when asked about their journey they used to say, “Ration shop will be crowded and so we must reach quickly.” .Under this pretense, four or five sisters continued on the path of faith. But this matter could not remain a secret. Their parents found out and asked them. “We know that you go to Don Bosco Church. But why didn’t you tell us directly? They also answered “We believe in Jesus and we go to the Church with Cristina.” These girls are Terkit Teresa, Rita, Sonamit, Binamit. In the year 1998 James Gyan Tshering Lepcha was baptized by Father Varghese with the permission of his family. Later, his parents also converted to Catholicism and were baptized. This was in the year   2000.