St. Thomas Church, Singngat, Manipur, Celebrates Parish Day

Singngat, Manipur, July 7, 2025: The faithful of St. Thomas Church, Singngat, in Manipur, joyfully celebrated Parish Day on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the church premises. The celebration was part of a three-day conference held from July 4 to July 7, 2025, focusing on the renewal of Catholic faith in Singngat.

The Parish Day celebration began with the Holy Mass, presided over by His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Linus Neli, Archbishop of Imphal, and concelebrated by eight priests from various parishes.

During the Mass, Archbishop Neli administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 60 parishioners and gave First Holy Communion to 50 children from the parish.

The celebration uplifted the spirits of the parishioners and held deep significance for them, especially for those who migrated to Singngat after experiencing ethnic violence in other parts of Manipur.

In his homily, Archbishop Neli emphasised that faith in God enables people to endure and sometimes even overcome the sufferings they face in life. He stated that when we endure hardship with meaning, it shapes our character, and a stronger character deepens our appreciation of life and renews our hope in God.

“Hope, faith, and love represent the highest calling in the Christian life,” the archbishop stated. He praised the congregation’s strong faith, noting that even after suffering for more than two years due to the ethnic conflict in Manipur, they continued to come together to worship and receive the sacraments.

Archbishop Neli reminded the faithful present that several saints endured immense suffering and persecution. However, despite all of this, they never gave up on their faith. “Instead, they contributed to the spread of Christianity, which today represents the largest religious population,” he said. "Suffering brings us closer to God and heaven," the archbishop added.

The celebration was attended by a large number of parishioners, along with Fr. Mung, Parish Priest of St. Thomas Parish, and Fr. Joseph Muon, Assistant Parish Priest. Senior church officials from the Archdiocese of Imphal, along with religious and lay members, also attended the event.

After the Mass, Archbishop Neli announced the results of the various competitions organised by the Parish Pastoral Council on July 4 and 5. Among the many winners was MHCC, Belpuan—a newly established Catholic village in the parish—which clinched first place in the group song competition.

The Parish Day observance concluded with a renewed commitment among the faithful to live out their Catholic faith with courage, unity, and joy.

By Tungthang Zou