By Purushottam Nayak
Raikia, May 28, 2020: Bimola Montry wears many hats as she balances the roles of a family breadwinner and a committed catechist.
The 45-year mother of two has served the Our Lady of Charity Church of Raikia, a parish under the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese, for the past 22 years.
“Being catechist is a call from God despite my unworthiness. This work strengthens my commitment to be an instrument of God,” Montry said while talking to Matters India over phone on May 27.
The archdiocese has 400 part-time and 42 fulltime catechists. But only two fulltimers are women, including Montry.
“It is true it is a male-dominated world. But my male colleagues collaborate with me well. They never discriminate me just because I am a woman,” she said.
Female catechists are a rare species in the Odisha Church.
For example, all 300 prayer conductors and 32 full-time catechists in neighboring Rayagada diocese are men.
Berhampur, another diocese in the state, has one woman among 370 catechists and 30 touring catechists. The same is the case with Rourkela diocese that has more than 300 part-time and 43 head catechists.
The only diocese that has more women catechists than the archdiocese is Sambalpur diocese. It has seven women among 203 village catechists and 42 head catechists.
“I pray that more women would volunteer to become catechists. It is a noble mission,” Montry says.
She also says she loves her work as a catechist as she takes care of household work.
She was appointed a catechist in 1988 by Father Ajit Toppo, who was then the parish priest of Raikia. She is grateful to Stephen Nayak, a full-time catechist, who mentored her to be committed in the ministry.
The parish now has 32 catechists.
“As a catechist, I teach the faith of the Catholic Church to children, teenagers and adults. This mission demands patience, prayer, preparation, witness and a serious commitment of time and talent,” Montry explains.
She teaches hymns, action songs and dances to children.
According to her, the catechist has “a sacred ministry” essential for the life and the future of the Church.
Montry claims some religious vocations as the fruits of her catechism ministry.
Montry says she is proud of Father Munib Pradhan, a member of the Congregation of Mission. Two young women — Hassina Digal and Bharoti Digal – have joined the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph congregation.
The catechism job brings a small remuneration. Her main income comes from working in a neighbor’s house in the morning.
In the afternoon, she teaches catechism to children in various villages and collaborates with priests and nuns of the parish for missionary work.
“I feel happy and proud to give my time and energy for God’s work,” Montry said.
Montry draws strength and inspiration from the ministries of Catholic religious orders who have set up schools, hospitals, nursing and old age homes, orphanages, and vocational training centers in various parts of the country.
“The sisters and many women reach out to the poor, needy, and migrant workers, especially in this lockdown period. They inspire me to contribute my share as a wife, mother, and catechist,” she says.
Her ideal is Mary Magdalene, the first to witness resurrected Christ. “Every woman, regardless of social and economic status, has a role to play in proclamation of God’s Kingdom,” Montry asserts.
Father Chittaranjan Senapati, regional secretary to the Commission for Catechetics in Odisha, has commended Montry’s work. “Everyone is equal in Christ. There must be no discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or gender to serve the Church,” asserted the priest of Rayagada diocese.
Father Maria Singarian, a human rights activist in the archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, sees “a greater need for women’s participation” in missionary work in Odisha. “They can play a major role in the evangelization and propagation of the faith at the grassroots level,” he added.
The Church needs to value and encourage women such as Montry to play a key position in the Church and contribute to the common good, added Father Singarian, who works for gender equality.
Innocent Pradhan, an 80-year-old parishioner, says Montry is an inspiration for all, young and old. Her readiness to cooperate and collaborate with other parishioners and men catechists is really praiseworthy,” Pradhan told Matters India.
Even Montry’s mother Maria is proud of her daughter’s ministry.
“She has been a humble person from childhood. She is doing wonderful work for God,” Maria told Matters India.
Montry is the youngest of the fourth children of Maria and her husband Abela Nayak, who were residents of Kotamaha, a Catholic village, now a parish, under Berhampur diocese.
Montry’s father died four after her birth in 1975. Her two elder brothers too had died earlier.
So, her widowed mother came to St. Catherine’s Convent in Raikia, run by the Daughters of Charity (DC) nuns with Manju, five-year-old elder daughter and Montry.
Sister Celine Abaran, then superior of the convent, sheltered them.
Maria managed to rear the family doing different odd jobs.
Montry studied up to seventh grade at St. Catherine’s School, Raikia, and then went to Rayagada district in 1992 for higher studies. But she had to return after eighth grade because of ill health.
She continued her high school at a government school, Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha, from 1992 to 1993 but could not complete tenth grade.
Later, she married Debadato Montry of Sangodomaha village under Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bammunigam of Kandhamal.
The couple now lives in Raikia town with two sons — Trupti Kumar and Susthi Kumar.
Her husband, a daily wager, encourages and supports Montry in her ministry.