History of Doom Dooma Parish
Seventy-five kilometers drive from Dibrugarh, the diocesan headquarters and 25 kms from Tinsukia, the district headquarters along the National Highway 37, and you are in Doomdooma. The town nestles in the centre of some of the biggest tea estates of Assam. In fact the city is known today as the Tea City.
Fr.Piasecki, the undaunted and tireless missionary of Assam valley used to come from Guwahati and visit the communities of this region in nineteen twenties. His courage and missionary spirit are fondly cherished even today by those who knew him. After him, Bishop Marengo, then an energetic young priest, Fr.Cerato, Fr.Boscardin, Fr.Daniel, Fr.Louis Kerketta and Fr.Gerald Madeville used to tour this area from Dibrugarh. It was during this period that most of the conversions took place in Philobari, Khobang and Laina. During this period many Catholics too arrived from Chotanagpur, Jharkhand in search of work.
Fr.Louis Kerketta was a regular vistor for some time in and around Doomdooma. After one or two experiments, Fr.Louis Kerketta decided to purchase the present site. It was then a huge bamboo grove and belonged to Beesacopie T.E. A thatched house was built here to shelter the first resident Parish Priest of Doomdooma. It was on 7th November 1952 that Bishop Marengo appointed Fr.Gerald Mandeville as the first Parish Priest of Doomdooma.
Within a short time the great pioneer, Fr.Gerald Mandeville started the work of Fathers' residence, the hostel and the school for the children. The Fathers' residence was completed and blessed in April 1954, while the school was blessed in January 1955 by Rev.Fr.Ziggioti the then Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The next immediate task of Fr.Gerald was to build a Church. The church construction soon began and was completed and blessed on 10th October, 1959 by His Lordship Bishop Marengo.
In 1957, there were 63 boys in the hostel and 22 day scholars attending the school which was called Dominic Savio School.
In 1964, the girls' school cum hostel was completed and blessed. The school was looked after by the missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians. There were five Sisters and forty girls to start with.
After working for 15 years in Doomdooma, Fr.Gerald Mendeville was trasfered on 19th August 1968. Fr.Gerald was helped by Frs.O'Brien, Joseph Rubio, Borgi and Harold.
Fr.Mathew Uzhunnalil SDB¸became the Parish Priest of Doomdooma after Fr.Gerald. Fr Mathew built the two dormitories and study halls and furnished them with all the necessary equipments. He started an English medium section in the school run the sisters. A dispensary and a mobile clinic also started to function. For this purpose The Caritas India gave a Volkswagen. The Assistant priests who worked with Fr.U.V.Mathew were Fr.George Mukala, Fr.M.A.Jacob, Fr.George Pudushery and Fr.Andrew Vadakkumpadam
Fr.Mathew Narimattam took charge as the third Parish Priest of Doomdooma on 16th September 1973. Fr.Paulinus Chempalayil was appointed as the Assistant Parish Priest in September, 1975.
In 1976, a new Parish was started in Margherita. It was carved out of the huge territory of Doomdooma. Philobari, a diocesan parish was again carved out of Doomdooma in 1981. In 1979, Fr.Chacko Kakkanat took charge of the Parish as the fourth Parish Priest of Doomdooma. Tongna was established as a parish in 1983, again carved out of Doomdooma.
In 1986, Fr.Thomas Kannath, became the next Parish Priest of Doomdooma. It was during the tenure of Fr.Thomas that the construction of the present presbytery was undertaken and completed.
In 1992, Fr.Mathew Narimattam was appointed as the Parish Priest of Doomdooma the second time. It was at this time the hostel building which was started by Fr.Thomas K.K. was completed and blessed.
On 10th January 1995, Fr.Benjamin Toppo, came to Doomdooma to take charge as the seventh Parish Priest of Doomdooma. Fr.Benjamin show to the completion of some village chapels like that of Khobang, Moorgikona etc…
On 4th February 2001, Fr.Jerome Minj was appointed as the 8th Parish Priest of Doomdooma. The immediate concern of Fr.Jerome Minj was to plan and organize the work for the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Mission in 2002
Today the Parish has an area of 30 Km. Radius, with a population of over 6,00,000. The total catholic population is about 11,100 only, spread over 56 villages and tea gardens. The Parish has Junior College and an English medium co-ed high school. The sisters of MS MHC run a school from Preparatory to Class II. They have a hostel for girls.
The Doomdooma Mission has lot of activities all throughout the year. It conducts different youth activities, awareness programmes, coaching classes, courses for marrying couples and many others.
Today, as we are celebrating the golden jubilee of the mission, we are happy to give you little more details about our Parish. There are about 1885 catholic families with total number of about 11,100 Catholics. The parish has given two priests and six nuns to the church. There are seven boys studying for priesthood in different seminaries and twelve girls studying in the convent hoping to be called by the Lord. There are fourteen nurses working in different hospitals in and around Doom Dooma. There are about 990 students studying in Lower Primary schools, 287 students in middle schools, 275 students in High Schools and only about 70 students studying in different colleges.
Catholic population - is about 11,100 in 56 villages and Tea estates
