Catholic Church, Thanchi

P.O. Thanchi

Bandarban-4630

Bangladesh

Cell phone (parish priest): +88 01876233131

Will be updated soon. 

District: Bandarban

The area under Thanchi Sadar Upazila: Remakri, Thanchi, Tindu. 

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Father Leo Gomes, Father B. Rodrigues, Father Monindra Shimon Theta, and Father Peter Saha walked on the ground of Bandarban in 1957, feeling the need of the community, taking this message of Jesus Christ to heart. The seed of Christianity that was planted by Father Leo Gomes on the soil of Bandarban that day, today has sprouted and spread its branches as a full-fledged tree, blossoming and spreading its fragrance in 3 areas. Four trees were born from the seed of that tree – four parishes. It is certain that many more trees will be born from these four trees. The first tree that was born from Bandarban was named ‘Shantiraj Parish, Thanchi’.

Historical Background of Naming Thanchi: Out of the 7 upazilas of Bandarban Hill District, Thanchi Upazila is the most inaccessible, remote, and located on the border between India and Myanmar. It is believed that at that time this Thanchi was under the Arakans. An army officer from Myanmar visited the area with his hundreds of soldiers. He set up a temporary camp in a flat place near the present-day Headman para and left for his country after staying for 6 months. After his return, the place was named ‘Taingshai’. Later this area came to be known as Taengshai. The word ‘Taingshai’ is a Marma word meaning halting journey or resting place. Gradually the pronunciation of Taengshai changed to Thanchi and the name Thanchi came to be known.

Pastoral Care and Services: Tradition has it that later Father Laprade, CSC; Father German, CSC; Father Labe, CSC; Father Maurice D’Cruze, CSC; and many other Fathers came to Bandarban including Father Nelson, CSC. They were not limited to the Bandarban city area but they were engaged in evangelization in different areas, people of different ethnic groups (especially Tripura, Marma, Mro community).

Background of the establishment of Thanchi Parish: Ever since the establishment of Bandarban parish by Father Leo Gomes, evangelization work has begun in Thanchi area among the tribes of Chakma, Marma,  Tripura, Mro, Khumi, Lusai, Khiyang, Chak, and Bawm and still continues.

Hostel: Bandarban Fatima Rani parish pastor Reverend Father Philip D’Rozario and Assistant Pastor Father Nelson, CSC planned and initiated by Mr. Nasaram Tripura to construct a hostel for boys in Noktoha Tripura Karbari Para in 1980 AD. Mr. Raibadur Tripura was the first teacher of the said hostel. Another hostel was established in 1982 AD at the initiative of Reverend Father Nelson in Bangyak Headman Para. Mr. Thomas Tripura was managing and teaching in the said hostel. Due to a lack of cooperation from the people of Bangyak Para, the hostel was shifted to Chai Aung Mro Para in 1983 AD. Mr. Saduchandra Tripura was the teacher at Chai Aung Mro Para Hostel. Due to their reluctance and non-cooperation towards education at that time, in 1984 AD, Rengwan Mro Karbari of the Padma area shifted the hostel to his own neighborhood. Mr. Joggyochandra Tripura was the teacher in the said hostel. When Rengwan Karbari died in 1990, the hostel was closed because there was no one to take over the responsibility. At present the neighborhood is known as Boarding Para. In the meantime, Father Lazarus Gomes purchased land from Noktoha Tripura Karbari alias Jambahadur Tripura and established the boys’ hostel permanently at its present location in 1991 AD. The hostel is dedicated to Saint Joseph known as Saint Joseph’s Hostel. Another hostel for girls was constructed around 1993 AD. Later in 2008 AD under the supervision of Father Gabriel Topya and Father Placid Rozario a two-storied semi-pucca hostel building was constructed by the diocese and named Shantiraj Girls’ Hostel.

In 2006, the Saint Maria Goretti Hostel was established in Khesaprue Tripura Para under the supervision of Father Gabriel Toppo, CSC.

Another hostel was established in the Tindu area in 2017 under the guidance of Father Bikash James Rebeiro, CSC responding to the pleas of the people of the Khumi and Mro communities to facilitate the education of their sons and daughters, Archbishop Moses Costa, CSC inaugurated the hostel named ‘Blessed Basil Anthony Moro Hostel’ On January 23, 2017. Currently, Khumi and Mro children are staying there and continuing their studies. As the distance from the hostel to the government school is very long, at present a small-scale school called ‘Saint Andre’s School’ is running in the veranda of the hostel.

Shantiraj School: A primary school was established in Thanchi on February 2, 2011 AD. In the year 2011-2012 AD the school was teaching classes from 3rd to 5th standard. Later, during the period 2013-2015 AD, from nursery to 2nd class was initiated. However, the number of students in schools gradually continued to decline as various NGOs operated educational centers for children in almost every neighborhood. Therefore, in keeping with the current education system and considering the higher education of students from remote neighborhoods, from 2016 AD classes from nursery to 3rd standard were discontinued, and 6th-8th standard was introduced.

Erection as the Parish: Before the erection of the parish, the Fathers used to travel from Bandarban and conduct pastoral work and educational services among the people in this area. Many Fathers and sisters, including the Bishop, suffered illness while doing pastoral work. For example, Bishop Patrick D’Rozario, CSC from Noktoha parish, and Father Edmond Cruze, CSC from Zulu parish were carried by the people as they fell ill while offering spiritual services. The then Bishop Patrick D’Rozario, CSC declared Shantiraj Parish, Thanchi as a full-fledged Parish on June 29, 2000 AD. Many Fathers, Sisters, and people have worked tirelessly to make it a parish. Reverend Father Nicholas Baroi, CSC, and Father Lazarus Gomes contributed a lot, especially for the building of churches and other works. After being recognized as a parish, the fathers have been coming and staying permanently and conducting the pastoral work and all have worked hard to organize this parish in a new way and have taken various action plans.

Parish Priest: Fr. Nicholas Nokrek, CSC; Mobile: 01876233131

Assistant: Deacon Soikat B. Kulentuno, CSC; Mobile: 01841997457

Salesian Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SSMI): 4 Sisters serving.

Will be updated soon. 

Will be updated soon. 

1. Shanti Raj School, Est. 2016 AD. 
2. Shanti Raj Boys’ Hostel, Est. 1992 AD. 
3. Shanti Raj Girls’ Hostel, Est. 1992 AD. 
4. St. Maria Goretti Hostel, Moduk, Est. 2008 AD. 
5. Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau Hostel, Tindu, Est. 2017 AD. 

Shanti Raj Dispensary, Est. 2002 AD. 

Shanti Raj Mission Christian Cooperative Credit Union Ltd.

Catholics: 4,710

Sub-centers: 2

Church blocks: 6

Church: 58

Catechist: 6

Prayer leaders: 30 (Full-time)

Prayer leaders: 3 (Volunteers)

Parish workers: 19

Sister Pronalika Tripura, LHC