St. Francis de Sales Parish, Narengi

St. Francis de Sales Parish, Narengi, stands as a vibrant center of faith and community under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales. The parish was opened by Most Rev. Thomas Menamparampil, Archbishop of Guwahati, and entrusted to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) in 1997. It was formed from parts of the Resurrection Parish, Sonaighuli, and St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Parish, Panbazar, serving the faithful across a wide area stretching from Noonmati and Gitamandir to Chandrapur and Borbari.

The first Parish Priest, Fr. Tomy Thekkel MSFS, began the parish ministry from a modest building on the newly acquired land. Over time, the campus grew to include the MSFS Provincial House and SFS School. For several years, the chapel of the Provincial House served as the parish church until a new and dedicated place of worship was built.

A historic milestone was reached when the foundation stone of the church was laid on July 21, 2016, and later the church was solemnly blessed and dedicated as the St. Francis de Sales Shrine on January 24, 2018. This shrine is the first in Northeast India dedicated to St. Francis de Sales, and a sacred relic of the saint is placed on the altar for the devotion of the faithful. The shrine can accommodate about 500 people, and the parish today serves around 420 families with nearly 1,300 Catholic faithful.

The parish reflects the rich diversity of Northeast India. Faithful from different states and cultures worship together, making it a truly cosmopolitan parish with multiple languages and traditions united in faith.

Beyond the urban communities, the parish also serves several villages such as Bongaon, Bonda, Ekrabari, Hatisila, Sualiluka, Kilingkok, and Sompathar, some located deep within forest regions and requiring long journeys to reach. Vibrant Catholic communities also live in Amsing Jorabat, Gitanagar, the Army Cantonment, and other areas within the parish territory.

Venerini Sisters (Maestre Pie Venerini)

The Religious Teachers Venerini (MPV) have been part of the Narengi mission since January 25, 1994. Through their institution Jyotiniketan, a special school for visually impaired children, and a Kindergarten school, the sisters dedicate themselves to education, care, and service. Their presence greatly enriches the pastoral, educational, and social ministries of the parish.