HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, SINGRAULI

Location: Singrauli, land of coals and mountains, comes under the district of Sidhi, is situated in the south eastern broader of Madya Pradesh. The pioneer missionaries came to Singrauli, in 1969 to take care of the spiritual needs of the Christian employees working in different projects of Northern Coal fields, Ltd. NCL.

Origin: The first missionaries had to undergo so much difficulties. They .bought 8 acres, of land and stayed in some houses, offered by the lay-people, in the initial stage. Fr. John Kavumkal V.C. is the first priest who had taken up the initial construction works at the station. Thus the Holy Family Church was established, in Singrauli. On Sundays and feast days the people used to come to the church from Singurali and the surrounding areas like Renusagar, Jhingura, Gorbi, etc. Every alternative week the Fathers and sisters used to visit these places and took care of the spiritual needs of the faithful. The present church was blessed on 28 September, 1975 by Mar Ábrahám D. Mattam., , Thcre are about 60 Catholic families in this area, at present. Active Parish Council, Youth and Mathru Sangam are functioning well to gcar up the various activities in the church. The construc-tion of the cemetery wall is in progress, with the help of govemment and other Christian denomina-tions. The present parish priest is Fr. George Mangalapilly and assistant parish pricst is Fr, Jose Kizhakayil.

F.C.C Convent: The Sisters of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (F.C.C) came to Singrauli on 19 January, 1971. They are actively invoived in the missionary work. They teach in the school and work in the hospitál. The pioneering sisters are Srs. Boniface, Laurence, Beena and Sr. Arcenia. The new convent is constructed and blessed in 1976. The present sisters are Srs. Finia (Superior), Maria George (Sister in charge of the Hospitál), Prabha (Principal) Lisies, Régin Maria, Anlit, and Sudeepa.

Christ Jyothi School: Another prestigious institution of Singrauli is the Christ Jyothi School. This school had a humble beginning in a small building, with three rooms. The school was blessed and inaguarated on 31 January, 1971, by Mar Ábrahám D. Mattam. It was in the name of MCM Shishu Vidhayala, in Hindi médium. In July, 1973 the médium of instruction was changed intő English. The school was affiliated intő C.B.S.E in the year 1983 and renamed as Christ Jyothi School. It has two sections namely K. G. and School from class one to ten. At present the school has a totál number of 1600 students and 55 members on the staff.

Christu Nivas Hospital: Christu Nivas hospitál was blessed and inaugurated by Mar Ábrahám D. Mattam, on 13 February, 1979 to help the people of the locality. A small team of F.C.C sisters started to render medical help and health work by visiting houses and distributing medicines in the nearby villages. Gradually, there was a residential doctor with somé more medical facilities. Today there are eight staff members, in the hospitál with the basic facilities, likc X-ray, Pathology, Mater-nity, Small operation theatre, Ambulance, etc.