Northeast India

Ordinariness of Life on Mission

June - July 2024

Meghalaya

On our way to Malaang Parish, with the JY missionary family; Vinish uncle, Rijo aunty and kids! They coordinated my mission exposure in Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland!

Riyan, a.k.a. partner in crime for the month!

College roommates attempting to force feed pineapple

Eating pineapple for the first time EVER

Funny how circumstances forces you to change #firstmango

Gotta close windows at dusk to avoid the "locals"

Strictly "business" and a balancing act 💩

Welcome gifts 🦟

Celebrating the feast of St. Thomas with the priests, sisters, and seminarian of the mission. The chicken we caught the day before became dinner.

150+ confessions, 7 baptisms and a 9:30pm Holy Mass

Riyan and I were welcomed to the community with a ceremonial shawl

With Youth Director and local youth

Met Archbishop John Moolachira, of the Archdiocese of Guwhati. For those of you who know Bishop Emeritus Jacob Angadiath of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Chicago, Archbishop Moolachira and Bishop Angadiath are from the same family.

Evening walk with Fr. Simon and an informal house visit, a cultural norm in this community.

Nature, gorgeous views as we hiked up this mountain on the right for an hour to reach the village on top.

House Visits with a DST Sister

Rice fields

The local leaders who helped with house visits, meals and accommodation. Pictured also are trained catechists. Due to limited priests, each village has a trained catechist who works with the priests for local parish needs.

Nagaland

Lucky to get a 45min helicopter ride with Fr. Shaijesh which saved a 13 hour road trip on rough mountainous terrain.

Views from the helicopter

As recently as 75 years ago, boys were trained into warriors here to help defend the village from neighboring attacks. The little lump on the left is a massive hollowed tree trunk used as a war drum to signal attacks. Today it serves for cultural festivals.