HISTORY OF NONGSTOIN DIOCESE
The real success and growth of the Catholic Church in West Khasi Hills is solely attributed to the zealous missionaries who dedicated and sacrificed their lives for the Gospel. Some of whom need special mention. The seed of Christianity fell in fertile soil sometimes in 1907, where under the capable supervision and direction of the saintly Father Otto Hopfenmuller SDS, Myntri Langduh Shangdiar and his son Raimondus Rai Khardewsaw found grace in the personal animation of Father Valentinus Karffe SDS and were baptized on 24 January 1907 at Rangthong by the Officiating pastor Father Dominicu Dounderer SDS. The seed blossomed and bear fruit. Raimondus Rai later became the first teacher and Catechist of Rangblang. Rangblang became the first stronghold of Catholicism in the Western zone of Khasi Hills.
The colossal contribution of spreading the Gospel of Christ in West Khasi Hills, which dominated the Catholic Arena, was none other than the beloved Father Constantine Vendrame SDB from 1922 onwards. His foot-steps were followed by his followers Father Tome, Foglia, C. Attard, Carmelo Spitale and later Fathers Felix Matta, Costa, Albizuri, Toniguzzo and Vanni Desideri and many others.
In the mid-20th century, the nearest Mission station was Marbisu Parish, 76 kilometers away from Nongstoin. The faithful, Catechists and devotees traveled on foot to fulfill their obligations to the Mission station bare-footed for four days forth and back. Father Carmel Attard SDB, the stern and fatherly Maltese missionary was there to receive them. Those were the days of trials but bear fruits that lasted till today.
From 1970 onwards, the sacrifice and untiring endeavour of the missionaries boosted the Mission filed in West Khasi Hills (at that time under Assam). The Shillong Diocese felt it necessary to extend the pastoral institutions to the western zone of the diocese. Thus, the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle was established on 12 May 1966 at Pyndengrei, Nongstoiñ with Father Emmanuel Albizuri SDB as the first Parish Priest (RIP-Spaniard) and Father John Mary Premoli SDB (an Italian) now in Africa as assistant Parish Priest. These two “bulldozer missionaries” travelled far and wide on foot covering the present 10 parishes and make it possible for the present Diocese to come into existence.
The Diocese of Nongstoin was created by Pope Benedict XVI on 28 January 2006. The Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, ordained Bishop Victor Lyngdoh on 2 April 2006 and installed him as the first Bishop of Nongstoiñ Diocese on 4 April 2006 amidst turbulent torrential cyclonic rain The diocese was bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Shillong and it includes the whole area of the West and South West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya.
After about ten years as a shepherd of Nongstoin, Bishop Victor was transferred to Jowai on 15 October, 2016 and the Nongstoin was left without a Bishop since then. Late Most. Rev. Dominic Jala, the then Archbishop of Shillong was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Nongstoin till the sad day of his demise on October 10, 2019. On 25 October, 2019, Rev. Fr. Anselm Nonglang was elected Diocesan Administrator of Nongstoin. On February 4, 2023 the faithful of the Diocese rejoiced on getting the news that the Holy Father appointed Rev. Fr. Wilbert Marwein to be a Bishop of Nongstoin. The Episcopal ordination and installation of Most Rev. Wilbert Marwein took place on April 16, 2023.
At present there are about 1,70,000 Catholics, 22 parishes, 23 diocesan priests and 102 religious. At the starting of the Diocese, there was only one political district, i.e. West Khasi Hills District whereas now we have three districts namely West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Eastern West Khasi Hills districts. The total area of the Nongstoin Diocese is approx. 5,247 sq.kms and the total population may have crossed six lakhs.
There are about 1106 villages in the Diocese and the literacy rate records 50.52%.. Nongstoin, which is the civil headquarters of West Khasi Hills District, is the centre for Church’s administration.
The faithful of the Diocese belongs to the Khasi and Garo communities which again consist of Lyngngam and Maram the sub-tribes of Khasi, while Atong the sub-tribe of Garo. These tribes follow the matrilineal system. Majority of the people are farmers and labourers though some have taken up government jobs, teaching and other salaried employments.
The Catholic Church plays an important role in holistic development through the parishes, especially in the areas of education and health care besides pastoral ministry which is its core focus.