Matters India Reporter

Pedong, Kalimpong, October 31, 2019 — The diocese of Darjeeling-Sikkim-Bhutan concluded the Extraordinary Missionary Month under the leadership of Bishop Stephen Lepcha at a day-long event held at St George Higher Secondary School, Pedong near Kalimpong, 31 October 2019.

Pedong is a small sleepy town located some 22 kms north east of Kalimpong at an altitude of about 4,000 ft and on the cross roads of the ancient silk route.

Inhabited predominantly by Lepcha community of Nepalese, Pedong in Bhutia language means ‘place full of fir trees’.

The missionary significance of Pedong consists in the fact that the town was on the cross roads to Tibet, the destination of several expeditions both military and missionary. In 1882, a French missionary Father Augustine Desgodins erected a cross there which faces Tibet as many missionaries who went to Tibet around that time did not return. In their memories, Desgodins placed the cross there with the hope that one day they would return from Tibet. The Cross is considered to have miraculous powers and is a pilgrimage site for people of all faith. It is said that on a clear day, one can also see Tibet from the spot.

Father Desgodins also established the first Catholic mission in Pedong and a chapel which still stands as a landmark and the famous boarding school – St. George’s Higher Secondary School, the venue of the celebrations where some 70 plus priests, scores of nuns from13 religious orders and lay leaders and young people from Kurseong, Mirik, Sonada, Kalimpong and Gangtok gathered.

One of the high points of the day was a panel discussion hosted by Dr Terence Mukhia, Dean (Arts) at Salesian College Sonada hailing from historic Maria Busty parish of Kalimpong established by MEP (Missions Estrangers de Paris – Paris Foreign Missions Society) Fathers.

During the course of the panel discussion, 14 panelists, both lay and clergy, representing the major mission partners in the diocese namely, Loreto Sisters, Jesuit Fathers, Salesian Fathers and Brothers, St Joseph of Cluny Sisters and Canon Regulars participated with short documentary films and historic in puts describing the impact of their mission.

Principal of Salesian College Sonada Dr George Thadathil grabbed the occasion to present to Bishop Stephen Lepcha a copy of the History of Salesian College from 1933 to 2015 authored by Trophy D’Souza. The book was just out of the press and runs into some 450 pages.

The day concluded with a solemn Holy Eucharist celebration where some 1,500 participants knelt down and prayed for the past and present missionaries and pledged their commitment to be messengers of the good news of Jesus while holding lighted candles. A combined choir from 3 parishes (Kashyong, Sekyong and Pedong) rendered lively liturgical music.

After the lunch, groups left for their distant parishes traveling by jeep, some of them even for five hours each way.

As per 2014 diocesan data, the diocese pastorally served 37,109 Catholics (2.6% of 1,433,000 total) on 9,521 km² in 54 parishes and 3 missions with 132 priests (82 diocesan, 50 religious), 455 lay religious (121 brothers, 334 sisters) and 40 seminarians.