A Shepherd Among the Hills: Fr. Kuriakose’s Mission of Hope in Assam

Yesterday, I had the privilege of accompanying Fr. Kuriakose Kattoopara OFM Cap, the Vicar of Lamabari Parish in Assam’s Udalguri district, as he visited several remote Catholic villages in his parish.

One of the places we visited left a lasting impression on me. Standing proudly was a beautiful, colorful church, blessed only this year. Beside it stood a simple shed-like structure. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary shelter, but it carried a remarkable history. That humble shed had been the church of the village for nearly fifty years. It had been consecrated in 1976, and for generations the faithful had gathered there to worship God.

The people of this village are poor, and for decades there were very few resources to build a proper church. As the parish approached the Golden Jubilee of that old church, Fr. Kuriakose felt that the occasion could not pass without giving the community a worthy place of worship.

The villagers contributed everything they could, collecting around ₹3 lakh. A friend of Fr. Renny, their Regional Superior generously donated some amount. Through various other benefactors and well-wishers the rest of the amount was raised. With these combined efforts, the dream became a reality. The Bishop came to bless the new church, and today the Catholic community stands with renewed dignity and joy. Even people from other denominations look upon the church with admiration and respect.

Ironically, this success has created a new challenge. Other villages, inspired by what they have seen, now long to renovate their own churches and prayer centres. Fr. Kuriakose is doing everything possible, despite very limited resources, to support these communities one by one.

It was only recently that Fr. Kuriakose came into contact with Jesus Youth Assam during the statewide Eucharistic Procession, when they were looking for a priest to accompany and support the mission. Since then, Jesus Youth Assam has found a second home in Lamabari. Fr. Kuriakose told me that what touches him most is the simplicity and freedom with which the young people relate to him. They feel completely at home in the parish, and I personally witnessed them sharing meals and conversations with him in an atmosphere of genuine warmth and openness.

Fr. Kuriakose is truly a pioneering missionary. Before coming to Assam, he wss preparing to be a missionary in Andhra Pradesh, where he learnt Telugu so fluently that people considered him one among them. When the Capuchins began their mission in Assam, he was asked to move to the Northeast. He was intenting to serve in Assam for just one year. That “one year” has now become a lifetime. At 64 years of age, he expects to spend the rest of his life serving the people of Assam.

His ministry is rooted in deep personal relationships. He knows his people, speaks their languages, shares their struggles, and walks with them. Speaking about the parish school, he remarked with characteristic simplicity that many children are unable to pay even the school fees, yet they continue to be educated because their future matters more than financial considerations.

Fr. Kuriakose also showed me several other churches that urgently need repairs and renovation. The needs are many, but so is the faith of the people. Since this year is declared by Pope Leo IV as the Franciscan Year, we have also a duty repair the broken churches.

If anyone feels inspired to visit this beautiful mission or would like to support the renovation of these village churches, I would be happy to share the contact details of Fr. Kuriakose. It can help preserve places of worship where generations have kept the faith alive against all odds. Sometimes, building a church is not merely about bricks and mortar—it is about restoring hope, dignity, and a living witness to Christ in places that the world often forgets.

Dr Chackochan Njavallil