From Prayer to Potholes: How a Catholic Community Transformed a Village in Assam

September 26, 2026: What happens when a community’s faith moves beyond prayer and becomes a response to an everyday struggle? In Panitanki village under Kumarikata Parish in the Archdiocese of Guwahati, Assam, a newly formed community came together to address a road problem that had affected the village for a long time.

Panitanki is a village under Kumarikata Parish in the Tamulpur subdivision of Baksa district, Assam. The area is in the Archdiocese of Guwahati, near the Indo-Bhutan border in the Bodoland Territorial Region. Kumarikata Parish is home to families from different backgrounds who live together, sharing faith and life. The region faces typical rural challenges, including dependence on agriculture and infrastructure problems.

A New Community Takes Shape

Following the growing success of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the Archdiocese of Guwahati, a diocesan team conducted an awareness programme in the Rangia Zone. The team included Fr. Joby Jose (OSJ), Sr. Balaine D’Silva (FS), and Mr. Ignatius Subedi, a Diocesan Resource member.

On 7 April 2023, the team visited Kumarikata Parish and conducted a BEC awareness session. Nine BEC units were formed that same day. One of these units was the St. Alphonsa BEC unit formed in Panitanki village.

A Road That Had Become a Daily Struggle

The village road in Panitanki had been in terrible condition for a long time. Despite having several communities and a Village Development Committee in the area, no concrete action had been taken to fix it.

During the rainy season, children and villagers faced serious difficulties travelling to school, work and transporting essential materials. The poor road condition had become a daily struggle, affecting everyone’s lives.

Responding to a Need

A few days after the BEC formation, during a routine follow-up visit by the Diocesan Resource Team (DRT), they identified that the newly formed St. Alphonsa BEC unit in Panitanki had taken action.

Under the guidance of Fr. Amit Chamuah, Parish Priest of Kumarikata, Mr. Alexus Bakla, Head Catechist, and Mr. Michael Hemrom, Catechist of Panitanki, the St. Alphonsa BEC unit decided to address the road problem themselves. Motivated by their new sense of mission through the BECs, the group members came together and started a road construction project for their village.

A Road Built Through Unity

With unity, commitment and community spirit, the St. Alphonsa BEC unit successfully constructed the road. This brought great relief to the entire village. Children could now go to school easily, and villagers could transport essential materials without difficulty, even during the rainy season.

A Story of Faith in Action

Today, the St. Alphonsa BEC unit of Panitanki village stands as a model for other communities, both within the village and across the entire Archdiocese of Guwahati. Their story reflects how faith, when lived in action, truly becomes a source of transformation and hope.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

Read more Stories of Hope :

When Learning to Read Became a Journey of Faith in Khonoma

When One Widow's Story Stirred a Parish in Assam

Aizawl Diocese's Remarkable Journey from Vision to Renewal