St. Clement College, Naogaon

St. Clement College serves as the common philosophate for the dioceses of Assam, namely the Archdiocese of Guwahati and the dioceses of Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Diphu, and Bongaigaon.

The initiative to establish this philosophate began in 2006, when Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil sought permission from His Eminence Cardinal Ivan Dias to establish a new philosophical formation centre in the Archdiocese of Guwahati. At that time, the Archbishop was advised to first prepare a qualified staff as a preliminary step toward the establishment of the philosophate.

Later, in 2012, His Grace Archbishop John Moolachira renewed the initiative. He met the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (Propaganda Fide), Rome, and the Secretary General of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, who granted permission to establish the new philosophate.

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Foundation and Construction

The foundation stone for the college was initially laid on November 13, 2013, on land at Bebejia, by His Grace Most Rev. Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal.

However, due to certain difficulties related to the land at Bebejia, the construction could not proceed there. Consequently, another plot of land at Tokobari was purchased from Fr. Prakash SDS for the establishment of the philosophate.

Construction of the new building began in March 2015 and was completed and inaugurated on June 15, 2016. The construction work was supervised by Fr. Johny Maveli of the Archdiocese of Guwahati.

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Location and Academic Programme

Nagaon was chosen as the location for the philosophate because it is one of the oldest towns in Assam and is centrally located, making it accessible to the dioceses of the region.

The philosophate is open not only to diocesan seminarians but also to religious congregations working in the region. The administration of the college was entrusted to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) for a period of 25 years.

The academic syllabus was prepared in consultation with Assam Don Bosco University, which awards a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy to students who successfully complete the programme.

The motto of the college is:

“Veritas Liberabit Vos” – “The Truth Shall Set You Free.”

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Pioneering Staff

The institute began its journey with four pioneering MSFS confreres serving on the staff:

• Fr. Emmanuel Uppamthadathil – Rector

• Fr. Babu Kudakkachirakunnel – Dean of Studies

• Fr. Metha Avilhou Stephen – Registrar and Controller of Examinations

• Fr. Francis Peethuruthel – Finance Officer

Their dedication laid the foundation for the growth and academic excellence of St. Clement College.