BICHNA
12December2011


St. JOHN BOSCO CHURCH, Bichna

Diocese of Khunti
2007 – St. John Bosco

Historical Perspective

The Bishop Khunti, Rt Rev Stephen Tiru, wished the Salesians to start a work in his Diocese and sent an official invitation in May 1998. He invited them to start a Parish at Bichna, which comes under Dorma Parish. He also offered that the Salesian run the R.C. Middle School Angrabari which had its humble start in 1926 in the house of Mr. John Bhengra and rose to be a Middle School by 1958. The main aim was to sustain the pastoral service along with schooling and non-formal education, youth activities and socio-economic empowerment.

The Province responded to the call and pastoral support from Hesag was offered since 1999. The Province saw to the repair of the School, its furnishing and providing of sanitation. From 2004 there were two Salesians residing in the compound and following up the pastoral needs of the area. The Holy Cross Sisters offered their presence and help in the villages and school. It was recognized as a Salesian presence in 2007 and in 2009 it was raised as a Parish and entrusted to the Salesian Province of Delhi.

Services

Middle School, Parish, Youth work

The SDB’s and Sisters offer pastoral service to the existing 3000 Catholics, care for the children attending the school and see to the extension of the evangelizing and educational work of the area. The area is rural, tribal and in need of developmental services too.

Salesian Staff

Fr. Kujur Mukul                                    -   Parish Priest, IC
Fr. Kandulna Godentius School          -   IC

Contact

St. John Bosco Church
Bosconagar Bichna Khunti,
JHARKHAND 835 210


Provincial Speaks

The Province of Good Shepherd, New Delhi, has completed just 11 years. Our strength is 14 regular houses and 10 presences with 160 confreres. The geographical area under our care is very vast : 12 states and one Union Territory, where the youth in significant numbers are illiterate and poor, and the total Catholic population is a mere 0.4% that is 2 million.

We are aware that, with our present limited human and material resources, we may not be able to reach out to big numbers, but, as mother Teresa would say, we believe that, though we are but a drop in the ocean, still, if that drop is not there, the ocean is not full. We do wish to make a difference where we are present by being ‘Salt and Light’. We interpret the location of the Provincial House in the capital of the nation as a God-given exposure demanding great vocational responsibility. We feel indeed like the biblical ‘city on the mountain tip’ called to bear witness to Don Bosco and his spirit in an authentic way.