Kohima: Catholic leaders gathered in Peren district to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Rongmei Catholic Women Association of Nagaland. The event at St Thomas Church in Mhainamtsi village marked 25 years of service. It spanned three days beginning October 1.
Special guest Johnny Ruangmmei reminded attendees that the church transcends tribal identity. He stated, "There is no Rongmei Catholic Church, Angami Catholic Church, or Lotha Catholic Church." He urged the congregation to move past tribal divisions and remain grateful for their heritage.
NCWA President Ruokuoheu Roselyn Minchieo challenged women to act as peace brokers. She defined the jubilee as a time for reconciliation and debt forgiveness. Mothers remain the bedrock of the home, she noted.
CAN President Jonas Yanthan warned against corruption. He told public officials that looting public wealth invites divine judgment. Yanthan also pushed for balance. He argued that prayer must be matched by honest, physical labor. He urged believers to prioritize Catholic teachings over nominal identification.
The organization, formed in 2001, grew from the Rongmei Catholic Chap-Riak/Cultural Dimphuam established in 1992. It aims to preserve cultural identity while serving the church. Rev Fr Jacob Charakel released the group's constitution and a jubilee souvenir during the ceremony. The Catholic faith first reached the Rongmei community in the 1970s via the Diocese of Dibrugarh.
Updated at 3rd October 2026 at 1:48pm
The three-day event operated under the theme A mother is clothed with strength and dignity, with wisdom and kindness in her heart, drawn from Proverbs 31:25-26. Organizers stated the group branched out from its parent body, the Rongmei Catholic Dimphuam Nagaland, at the urging of the late PL Thomas and other senior leaders. The organization eventually expanded its reach into Manipur and Assam, focusing on translating religious texts into the Rongmei language.
During his remarks, Jonas Yanthan detailed the four pillars of Catholic life: profession of faith, sacraments, moral life, and prayer. He noted that the profession of faith stems from the Nicene Creed, while the sacramental life includes seven distinct rites, ranging from Baptism and the Eucharist to Matrimony and Holy Orders. Yanthan framed prayer not as a tool to gain material wealth, but as a practice requiring both an understanding of the Lord's Prayer and the use of one's physical abilities.
The historical record of the faith's arrival in the region received further clarification, identifying Rev Fr PC Mani and the late Pou Mathew Chandi as key pioneering figures who helped establish the church before the formation of the Kohima Diocese in 1973.
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