St. Dominic Savio Church, Assam, Empowers Women with Health and Social Awareness on Women's Day

Tongana, 10 March, 2025: Nearly 300 women from the parish Mahila Sangh gathered at St. Dominic Savio Church, Tongana, in the Diocese of Dibrugarh, Assam, to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March. Led by their president, Mrs. Rose Mary Kerketta, and secretary, Mrs. Silbina Kerketta, the event featured confession, Holy Mass, sports, and sessions on self-health, hygiene, and social challenges.

Addressing the congregation, Parish Priest Fr. William Horo welcomed Fr. Alois Beck SJ, the chief guest and president of the celebration. He urged the women to recognise their role in the global community despite their remote setting. In his homily, Fr. Beck reflected on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, offering spiritual encouragement to the attendees.

Speaking on prayer, Fr. Beck said, “Prayer has more power than the atom bomb,” citing the Jesuit house in Hiroshima that miraculously survived the 1945 bombing while its inmates were praying. On fasting, he remarked, “It cleanses our souls and makes them new as the newly baptised,” comparing it to a snake shedding old skin. He also shared an incident from Mother Teresa’s life, where a Hindu woman gave a Muslim family groceries she had received, highlighting the power of almsgiving.

The event featured sports and an animation session. Mrs. Deepa Tirkey secured first place in the 100-meter dash. Mrs. Pricilla Toppo, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) at a government hospital in Kakopathar, Tinsukia, guided women on maintaining health and hygiene during pregnancy and childbirth. “Good hygiene during pregnancy is essential to prevent infections, keep you comfortable, and protect your baby’s health,” she said.

Other speakers included Miss Reshma Urang, founder president of All Adivasi Women Power of Assam (AAWPA), Mrs. Magdali Aind, a teacher, and Mrs. Rose Mary Kerketta, president of Mahila Sangh, Tongana parish. The women shared a fellowship meal before returning home, concluding a day of spiritual and social empowerment.

By Fr. William Horo