Less than a year and a half after the shocking murder of an Indian priest working in Nepal, his parish has celebrated the continuation of his life’s work ministering to poor tribal and lower-caste Hindu people.

Salesian Father Johnson Prakash Moyalan was murdered in July 2008 at his residence in the Mary Help of Christians parish in Sirsiya, eastern Nepal.

Since then, his fellow Salesian priests working in the region have been continuing to develop 15 poor Santhal tribal villages in the area.

“Father Moyalan wanted to see that the poor villagers have at least basic amenities and live a dignified life, and that their voices be heard by society and the government,” Salesian Father Augusty Pulickal, the parish priest of St John Bosco Parish in nearby Dharan, told UCA News.

Father Moyalan began a development project for villages in Sirsiya about 10 years ago.

“This dream of Father Moyalan is fast coming true,” Father Pulickal said.

Catholics gathered in Sirsiya on Nov. 7 to celebrate an early Christ the King feast, which falls on Nov. 22 this year.

More than 1,200 people, 300 from Sirsiya and more than 900 from three parishes in Dharan, Deoniya and Damank, took part in a procession through the village to mark the occasion.

Salesian Father Jacob Punneliparampil, the parish priest at Sirsiya, says the social work in the district is mostly to “empower people, the women, children and the elderly.”

“We help the people in their all-round formation, beginning from childhood to family life,” he said.

The parish runs centers for infants and children aged between three and five, as well as the Don Bosco School for children older than five.

The Salesians started the Don Bosco Nepali-language school in 2000 with 80 children of various faiths studying in the first grade. A new school building was constructed and inaugurated in 2006.

Celebrating the Mass on Nov. 7, Bishop Anthony Sharma, apostolic vicar of Nepal, said: “There was darkness in Sirsiya 24 years ago. The lives of people here were challenging. This place where we are gathering now did not exist, but the sun has risen here now.”

He continued: “Somebody’s selfless devotion and dedication has given us this place we now have. Father John’s dream has come true.”

Source:  Salesians fulfill murdered priest’s dream (UCAN)

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