New chapel restores pride, unity within community

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Kankata village, located in the Bidar District of Karnataka State, India, have recently opened the St. Thomas Church. The new chapel is thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The new chapel was developed to strengthen the faith of the Catholic community by providing a dignified and suitable place of worship and by promoting pastoral and missionary activities among the faithful. Prior to the project, the community lacked an adequate space for Sunday Eucharistic celebrations and feast day gatherings. Through the collective efforts of the villagers, missionaries, and benefactors, a dedicated worship space was developed where the faithful could gather regularly for prayer and liturgical celebrations. This is impacting 97 Catholic families in the village.

The village is located at the foothills of the Himalayan range and is predominantly rural. With semi-hilly terrain and limited infrastructure, many villages remain geographically isolated. Most families depend on small-scale farming, tea garden labor and seasonal employment for their livelihood. Income levels are generally low, and economic opportunities for stable employment are limited. Youth often migrate in search of employment.

Previously, the lack of a proper worship space created a sense of neglect and discouragement among the villagers. The new chapel has restored pride and unity within the community. Families now gather together regularly, strengthening communal bonds, and fostering mutual support, cooperation, and shared responsibility in maintaining the chapel.

Youth have benefited greatly from the project. The chapel now serves as a center for catechism classes, youth meetings, prayer gatherings and oratory activities. This has encouraged active youth participation in church life and has nurtured their moral and spiritual values.

Marcel Tigga, a respected elder in the village, said, “Our life here is simple. We work in the fields and depend on daily labor, but our faith keeps us united and hopeful. Earlier we had no proper church. We prayed wherever space was available. Sometimes we felt sad seeing other villages having churches while we had none.”

When the church project began, he recalled feeling both excitement and curiosity. The community welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm, though some villagers initially wondered whether such a project could truly be completed due to financial limitations. Tigga noted, “We were happy but also worried whether the church would really be completed. Slowly, when we saw the work progressing, our hope grew. Now we feel respected and blessed. Our children are happy to come to church. This church has brought new life to our village.”

###

Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India