Hundreds Gather for New Mission Station in Odisha’s Sugadabadi

Sugadabadi, July 8, 2025 – Around five hundred faithful, including three Catholic priests and a deacon, gathered at Sugadabadi, Kandhamal district, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, for a thanksgiving ceremony on July 6, 2025.

“This village is known for its unity, love, charity, and fraternity. Though the people have limited earning resources and minimal access to livelihood facilities, they are rich in faith in Christ, and rich in the spirit of generosity and kindness,” commended Fr. Purushottam Nayak, the main celebrant and Mission In-Charge Priest of Sugadabadi, during his homily.

“May God continue to shower His blessings so that we grow in faith in Christ day by day and become a model Catholic village for the region,” he added.

Bijay Nayak, President of Sugadabadi Zone, expressed his gratitude to God for coming closer to them through the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick. He sincerely expressed his thanks to Archbishop John Barwa, SVD, of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, for granting them the opportunity to spread the Kingdom of God. He also acknowledged and appreciated the constant support and guidance of Fr. Pradosh Chandra Nayak, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, and Vicar General of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

“From now onwards, including the elderly, the faithful will be able to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist frequently. Every priest experiences true love, care, concern, fellowship, and unity in this Catholic village,” noted the Vicar General.

“Sugadabadi, a Catholic village that once stood united and bravely faced Hindu radicals during the anti-Christian violence of 2007–2008, is now a new Mission Station. The perpetrators could not attack Christians or dare to enter the station to destroy churches, institutions, or houses,” recalled Ajay Nayak, the local catechist of Sugadabadi.

“But we are disheartened and depressed for our neighbouring villages, Sikoketa and Murudikupda, whose churches were demolished. We underwent mental pain and agony, yet we stood firm in the name of Christ,” affirmed Nayak.

The Diocese of Cuttack was part of the Diocese of Visakhapatnam from 1845. Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) established parishes and cared for the pastoral needs of the region. Fr. Suffet, MSFS, founder of Mondasoro (Deegi), reached the area in 1901 and served until 1917. Due to the First World War, most French missionaries returned to France. On 10 January 1922, a group of four Spanish Vincentian priests (Congregation of the Mission – CM)—Fr. Jose Maria Fernandez, Ramon Ferrer, Valerian Gumes, and Manuel Coello Rey—arrived in India on December 26, 1921. Fr. Valerian Gumes, from Mondasoro, visited Sugadabadi and baptised John Baptist (Tumbonath Pradhan) of Sugadabadi in 1923.

At present, Sugadabadi, one of the four zones of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, has been accepted as a Mission Station by Most Rev. Archbishop John Barwa, SVD, of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, from June 20, 2025. His Grace appointed Fr. Purushottam Nayak as the In-Charge of the Mission Station. During the thanksgiving Mass on July 6, 2025, Fr. Pradosh Chandra Nayak, the Vicar General of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, officially declared Sugadabadi a Mission Station.

The Mission Station comprises about 120 Catholic families. As a zone, it consists of four substations: Murudikupda (23 families), Kopuguta (10), Sikoketa (10), and Somagota (8 Catholic families).

The Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar has 39 parishes and has created four new Mission Stations: Kerubadi and Partamaha of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Daringbadi, and Sugadabadi and Koroda of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia.

By Fr. Purushottam Nayak