Dedication of the newly constructed St. Thomas Church at Tamlu on December 9.
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 10 (MExN): The Catholic community of Tamlu witnessed a historic moment on December 9, when the newly constructed St Thomas Church was blessed and dedicated by Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima.
The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the spiritual journey of the faithful in the region and was followed by the Holy Eucharist.
Bishop Thoppil congratulated the community for their unity and commitment in bringing the church project to fruition. He expressed deep gratitude to all benefactors, with special mention of Deacon Dr. Sherman Kuek from Malaysia, whose generous contribution played a pivotal role in the completion of the building.
In his homily, Bishop Thoppil reflected on the biblical understanding of the “Church,” noting that although Nagaland is often called the “land of churches” because of the prominence of church buildings across towns and villages, Scripture emphasises the living community of believers rather than physical structures. Quoting from St. Paul’s letters to the Colossians and Ephesians, he reminded the faithful that “our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
He urged the community to commit not only to building church infrastructures but, more importantly, to nurturing the spiritual life of the community and individual souls by living the values of the Gospel.
During the felicitation programme, the Bishop recalled a significant chapter in the history of Catholicism in Tamlu. He noted that in 1910, Fr Marcellinus Molaz, a Salvatorian missionary, arrived in Tamlu as the first Catholic missionary to Nagaland. Though he came with hopes of spiritual harvest, the seeds he planted did not bear much fruit at the time.
With renewed efforts by the Capuchin missionaries today, the Bishop expressed hope that the community would fully embrace the opportunity before them. Using the metaphor of missing a train but catching the bus, he encouraged the faithful not to let the present moment pass but to “ride on with great zeal and commitment.”
He also acknowledged and thanked community leaders who remained steadfast in faith despite various challenges.
The Bishop further congratulated Miss Lilly from the community for clearing the recent Nagaland Public Service Examination (NPSE), and a young man from the village who successfully joined the Indian Army — praising their achievements as sources of pride and inspiration for the community.
Catechist Hubert shared his personal testimony, recalling that he had begun his mission in Tamlu on December 23, 1989, when he was sent by the late Bishop Abraham, the first Bishop of Kohima. He expressed joy that, through the dedication and cooperation of the Tamlu faithful, the Catholic community has now expanded to three villages within the Phom community — marking significant pastoral progress.
Fr Justin Vinoto, centre in-charge, thanked Bishop Thoppil for his continued spiritual, pastoral and financial support, as well as for his consistent visits and guidance.
