Mirik Don Bosco Church celebrates Silver Jubilee with fervour

SNS, SILIGURI, 28 NOVEMBER 21 : Don Bosco Catholic Church in the tourist town of Mirik in Darjeeling marked its Silver Jubilee yesterday.

Established in 1995, the Don Bosco Parish is the only Catholic parish in the town, and had reached the 25-year milestone last year. However, the celebrations could not be held back then due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is learnt.

The elaborate programme yesterday was blessed by Darjeeling's Bishop, Stephen Lepcha.

"I am very happy about the detailed work-out and the elaborate plans made to mark the day. I liked the way Don Bosco Parish has marked the occasion. This programme today proves that this is the jubilee of the parishioners here," Bishop Lepcha said.

According to a member of the parish, it was Father Luigi Jellici who first visualized a mission in Mirik in the early 1980s.

"Upon landing in Mirik, Fr Jellici was so much impressed by the panoramic view and the natural beauty of the place that he wanted to start a mission here. Ever since his first visit to Mirik, he started praying, seeking God's help in establishing a Don Bosco mission in Mirik," the parishioner said.

According to him, the Council of Bishops and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Darjeeling passed a resolution proposed by Fr Jellici about setting up a Salesian mission in Mirik.

"The mission finally started and the first priest to reside in Mirik was Fr George Alakulam. He started construction of a building and imparted non-formal education for school drop-outs. The education system was so popular in Mink valley that all parents wanted to send their children to Don Bosco School," he said, adding that after Fr Alakulam, Fr Vincent Valiaveetil, the English professor of Salesian College, came to the town and regularized the school.

The parishioner further said that later it was Fr Matthew Pulingathil, "the man who gave the parish a solid foundation."

Don Bosco School in Mirik was fully recognized and upgraded to a high school on 23 November 2009 by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. Later in 2017, it was upgraded to a Higher Secondary school with Science and Arts stream.