Catholic Couple From Goa Builds New Church For Displaced Faithful in Manipur

Manipur, October 30, 2025: Amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, a powerful symbol of faith and healing has emerged with the inauguration of a new church for internally displaced Catholics. The Church of St Joseph Unit, under St Thomas Parish, was officially blessed and opened on 18 October in Munpi village, Singngat town, Churachandpur district. The church was built through the generosity of Pu Jeronimo Pereira and his wife, Mary, a Catholic couple from Goa, who financed most of the construction costs.

The blessing ceremony was led by Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Lumon of Imphal, who celebrated the Holy Mass with 13 priests, several religious sisters, catechists, and more than 1,000 faithful. The church now serves as a spiritual refuge for Catholic families displaced from Singtom village in Chandel district, whose homes, church, and belongings were destroyed during recent ethnic unrest.

Pereira, inspired by Street Providence Goa, an NGO serving the homeless, said his family was moved by the community’s need for a place of worship. “We wanted to provide them with a home for their faith,” he said.

The displaced families have shown remarkable resilience in rebuilding their lives. Senior catechist Peter Kammang and his brothers donated farmland for the new settlement, where the Church has constructed 80 houses for internally displaced persons (IDPs), mostly from St Joseph Parish, Singtom.

Other donor-funded projects inaugurated that day included a grotto dedicated to Our Lady donated by Pu Jerry and Family, a large cross, and a 50,000-litre drinking water tank for the displaced families. Villagers volunteered labour to clear land, mould concrete bricks, and build homes, demonstrating unity and faith amid hardship. The community has since declared 18 October as “Munpi Pilgrimage Day” to commemorate the church’s dedication.

Archbishop Lumon described the day as “a moment of grace and great joy”, noting that many had been driven from ancestral homes. “Now, they have a house and a church. This brings healing, relief, and stability,” he said.

Fr. Athanasius Mung, parish priest of St Thomas Parish, explained that about 100 displaced Catholic families now live in Munpi. “This church was named after St Joseph because their original church, also dedicated to him, was burned down,” he said. “The diocese has built 50 houses so far, 26 are under construction, and we still need support for 24 more.”

Since May 2023, ethnic and religious violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has claimed nearly 300 lives, displaced over 60,000 families, destroyed 7,000 houses, and burned down around 360 churches across Manipur.

Despite the suffering, the new St Joseph Church in Munpi now stands as a beacon of faith, compassion, and hope — a living witness that love and solidarity can rebuild what violence has tried to destroy.

By Tungthang