On the joyous occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 11 February 2026, Holy Cross Parish, Rongkhon organized its first-ever one-day training programme for Sunday School teachers. The initiative brought together ninety-five catechists and young volunteers from 42 villages of the parish. Notably, the majority of the participants were youngsters committed to strengthening faith formation in their communities.

The programme began at 9:45 a.m. with a short inaugural ceremony. The gathering invoked the presence of the Holy Spirit through a hymn, followed by a Bible reading and prayer. Fr. Justin Chinapparaj SDB, Asst. Parish Priest of Rongkhon welcomed the participants and expressed his happiness at seeing such a large and youthful presence. Fr. Martin Marak SDB, Principal delivered a message, encouraging the catechists to recognize their vital role in nurturing the faith of children.

The training consisted of three enriching sessions. The first session was led by Rev. Fr. Saji Mathew, MSFS, Director of Holy Redeemer Retreat Centre. He spoke on Christian vocation and emphasized the importance of Sunday School in building a strong foundation of faith among children. He reminded the teachers that their service is not merely voluntary work but a sacred calling within the Church.

The second session was animated by Fr. Justin, SDB, and Sr. Empolin, MSMHC, who offered practical and creative tips on preparing Sunday School classes. They highlighted the importance of lesson planning, engaging teaching methods, and adapting creative approaches to make faith formation lively and meaningful for children.

The third session was conducted by the newly ordained priest, Rev. Fr. Sylvester M. Sangma. He demonstrated how Bible stories can be effectively communicated through songs, skits, and interactive activities. His session was both lively and practical, giving teachers concrete ideas to make their classes joyful and participative.

At the conclusion of the programme, catechism books were distributed as gifts to all the Sunday School teachers as a token of appreciation and encouragement. The day culminated with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by Fr. Sylvester M. Sangma and concelebrated by Fr. Justin, SDB.