Christ the King Parish
Sonapahar, Riangdo West Khasi Hills
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Historical Background
Christ the King Parish Sonapahar was founded in 1972 by Fr.Manuel Albizuri, a French Salesian Missionary, now popularly known as the Apostle of the LYNGNGAM Tribe. When Fr.Manuel Albizuri began the apostolate, the parish had a very vast area - in the South, it was bordering Bangladesh reaching up to Nonghyllam, in the North, it is still bordering Assam state, in the West, it was bordering Garo Hills and Khasi Hills, and in the East, it was bordering the Parish of Nongstoin (St.Peter’s Parish Pyndengrei).
The tribes catered to were the LYNGNGAM, the NONGTRAI, the MARRAM and the GARO. There were also some minor groups like Nepali and some of the sub-tribes of Khasis. The Parish was bifurcated in 1992 and the parish of Nonghyllam was formed.
Later in 1999 Sonapahar was once more bifurcated and the Parish of Shallang was formed. In this parish too the bigger group of the people are the Lyngngam, but it has a sizable portion of Garo faithful.
Later when Nongstoin was divided in 2003 and the Parish of Maweit was constituted, a few of the Lyngngam villages of Sonapahar Parish were given over to this Parish. Again, the Parish was bifurcated in 2014 and the new Parish of Nongjri was formed.
At present the parish is left with around 1,800 catholic families spread out in 44 villages with 13,000+ Catholics. These villages are divided into 3 circles or commonly called Sub-district for better pastoral care of the people. Each circle in under the pastoral care of a full time Head Catechist.
At present, there are 3 fathers, one religious Brother and a Cleric who is doing regency. The parish has 3 full time catechists. The Parish runs some 35 schools – Deficit Primary, Adhoc Primary, SSA Primary, SSA RCUP School and Mission Pay Schools.
There are three convents in the Parish run by the MCJ congregation at the centre, by DSH congregation at Lumpyngad village and by SMMI congregation at Riangkang village. The Senglong Kmie, Senglong Kpa and Sengsamla are active in the Parish.
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