The Feast of Mary Help of Christians was celebrated with great solemnity at Mary Help of Christians Church, Satgaon Parish, on 24 May 2026. The occasion was also observed as Parish Day, drawing the participation of more than 2,000 faithful. The day was a bit sober since the parishioners bid farewell to Fr. Daniel Sangma on the same day.

Fr. Daniel Sangma was the main celebrant of the solemn Eucharistic celebration held at the packed parish hall, while Fr. Albert Thyrniang, Parish Priest, concelebrated. Preaching on the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Fr. Daniel emphasized the importance of attuning oneself daily to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He also reflected on the loving assistance of Mary in the life of the Church and in the mission of Don Bosco. “If the Blessed Mother assisted the Church at crucial moments and worked wonders in the life of Don Bosco, she will surely not fail us,” the homilist said.

Following the Eucharistic celebration, vibrant cultural performances were staged as part of the Parish Day celebrations and the farewell programme for Fr. Daniel Sangma. During the gathering, two retired village catechists, Mr. Nojin John Marak and Mr. Semion Sangma, who each rendered 36 years of dedicated service, were presented with the Parish Day Award 2026 in recognition of their long and dedicated commitment to the Church.

Fr. Albert Thyrniang expressed his appreciation to the Salesian community, the sisters, and all collaborators for their active role in making the parish dynamic. He encouraged the faithful to continue building on the strengths of the parish while addressing its shortcomings patience. He also expressed special gratitude to Fr. Daniel Sangma for his valuable services to the parish during his one-year stay in Satgaon.

Fr. Daniel, whose next apostolate will be in Tangla parish, thanked the confreres, the sisters, various Church leaders, and especially the youth for giving him the opportunity to serve in the most populous parish of the Diocese of Diphu. Though his stay in Satgaon was brief, he remarked that it would remain a memorable chapter in his priestly ministry, drawing warm applause from the gathering.

The entire celebration was largely organized and managed by the lay faithful. Leaders of various parish organizations worked in tandem to ensure the success of the event, while the Salesians provided guidance and support, serving primarily as facilitators throughout the programme.

News Courtesy: Fr Albert Thyrniang SDB