Golden Jubilee of Holy Spirit Nuns Celebrated in Gomardih, Odisha

Gomardih, Odisha , December 2025 — Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their second mission station in Odisha, marking 50 years of service in Gomardih, where the congregation has contributed significantly to medical care, girls’ education, skill development and social-pastoral outreach since 1975. 

Located along the Biju Express Highway in Sundargarh district, Gomardih falls under the diocese of Rourkela and is home to a strong tribal Catholic community whose progress has been shaped by early missionary presence. The mission’s growth stands in contrast to its beginnings, when the area lacked basic infrastructure, safe transport, communication links and access to essential services. Despite the region’s mineral wealth, development lagged behind, leaving villagers to walk miles for healthcare, schooling and daily necessities. 

Before the arrival of the SSpS sisters, SVD missionaries had established a church and primary school, laying the foundation for pastoral and educational outreach. The sisters’ earliest mission was healthcare—particularly for women, children and the elderly—at a time when malnutrition, infant mortality and reliance on country healers posed grave risks. Two pioneering German sisters became well-known for their determination, travelling by bicycle through difficult terrain and learning the local dialect to build trust with villagers. Their dispensary, founded in those years, remains a central pillar of community health to this day. 

Over the decades, the sisters expanded their services through boarding facilities for girls, support for female college students after the opening of a Dalmia Ltd degree college nearby, and continued village health camps. As parts of Kutra block remain underdeveloped and geographically isolated, the sisters persist in offering education, pastoral assistance and social development initiatives, even as recent express highway expansions have gradually improved connectivity. 

The Golden Jubilee commemorates a mission that has accompanied Gomardih from its challenging beginnings toward gradual progress, reflecting the enduring commitment of the SSpS to the dignity and upliftment of the people they serve.

By Sr.Tessy Jacob SSpS