ST. RAPHAEL CHURCH, KAMARANGA
Established : 24/2/1996
Patron : St. Raphael
Parish Priest : Fr. Ivan D' Silva, S.V.D.
Asst.Priest : Fr. Amit Soreng, S.V.D.
Asst. Priest : Fr. Benjamin, S.V.D.
Administrator : Bro. Jacob, S.V.D.
Brief History: On request from a Youth group,
Fathers from Kathalcherra Parish used to visit Kanailalpara from 1992 on their
way to Janthum, where a Catholic community was established in 1990. These Youth
met Bishop Denzil in 1994, and requested him to start a Parish in
Kamaranga. So from 1994, the Fathers from Ambassa visited the people in
Kamaranga and offered Mass in the thatched village church. Meanwhile, Fr.
Valentine, S.V.D. identified and bought about 25 acres of lands. On 24 February
1996, St. Raphaels Parish was established as a Quasi-Parish by Bishop Lumen
Monteiro and Fr. Cyprian, S.V.D. was appointed as the first Parochial
Administrator. The people of the parish belong to the Halam, Debbarma, and
Reang tribes, and some migrant tribes like Munda, Uraon, and Kharia tribes who
work in the tea gardens. In May 1999, the presbytery was blessed.
In one of the meetings, the villagers realized the poor
condition of local Government school and decided to open a Bengali medium
Coaching Hostel for the children. The villagers themselves put up the bamboo
structure. The Hostel was opened in April 2000. Today the Catholic population
is spread out in 20 villages in 9 substations. In 2008, Sisters of St.
Joseph of Annecy came to Kamaranga. They are presently looking after the Girls
Hostel and involved in the health ministry.
Substations of the Parish:
1. Janthum: St. Francis Xavier, 1995
2. Katalutma: St. Joseph Fernadmetz, 1998
3. Adarsh: St. Arnold, 2001
4. Ramdulakpur: St. Arnold, 2005
5. Mechuria- A: St. Paul, 2007
6. Satya Reang Para: St. Arnold, 2008
7. Mechuria- B: St. John Paul II, 2014
8. Srirampur: St. Mother Teresa, 2015
9. Panbua: St. Augustine, 2020
ORDER OF THE PARISH PRIESTS
1. Fr. Cyprian Pinto, S.V.D. (1996-1998)
2. Fr. Maxim Rodrigues, S.V.D. (1998-2000)
3. Fr. Valentine Dung Dung, S.V.D.
(2000-2008)
4. Fr. Anand Parmar (PA)
(2008-2009)
5. Fr. Joachim Kullu, S.V.D.
(2009-2015)
6. Fr. Jomon Thattamattathil, S.V.D.
(2015-2020)
7. Fr. Arun Minj, S.V.D.
(2020-
Boys Hostel “ 2000
St. Raphaels Girls Hostel - 2000
Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy
Established
: 2008
Superior
: Sr. Maria, S.J.A.
Address
: Kanailalpara, Chankap P.O., Halahalli,
Kamalpur, Dhalai Dist.,
Tripura-799286.
St. Arnold School (English Medium)
Established
: February 2013
Principal
: Fr. Amit Soreng, S.V.D.
Address
: Kanailalpara, Chankap P.O., Halahalli,
Kamalpur, Dhalai Dist.,
Tripura- 799286.
Brief History: St. Arnolds School, Kamranga
was started on 9thJanuary 2013 during the time of Fr. Joachim Kullu,
S.V.D. It is established and administered by S.V.D. India Guwahati Region. The
institution is co-educational and the medium of instruction is English while
Bengali is taught as a second language. St. Arnold School began with 9 students
at the nursery level and was upgraded every year. Today we have 500 students
from KG to Class IX. Fr. Amit Soreng, S.V.D. is the Principal of the
School.
