Narayangarh
Bharatpur is a city in South Central Nepal with a population of 280,502. It lies on the bank of the Narayani River and serves as a commercial centre of the Chitwan district and the central region of Nepal. It is the fourth largest city in Nepal and the district headquarters of the Chitwan District, as well as a separate metropolitan authority. Most of the shopping area lies in Narayangarh, while government offices, hospitals and colleges are situated in Bharatpur area which are twin cities.
Our first Mission in Nepal is Little Flower Mission, Narayangarh. A small piece of land was bought in Baraghare, Narayangarh, in 1993. In the initial stage no CST Father was appointed in the new place, as there was no one available. However, the presence and hard work of the SABS Sisters of the Kanjirappally Province kept the new Mission alive and gradually growing. They stayed in St. Xavier’s in Kathmandu for one month to learn Nepali language and to get accustomed to the culture of the land. As the work of establishing the school started in Baraghare they moved to Narayangarh. Mr. Kedar Malla was generous enough to offer rooms for them in his house. Again in another shift, the Sisters started living in the house of Dr. Bhim Raj Adhikari, close to the plot of land that the Fathers bought for establishing the school. Meanwhile Fathers from Gorakhpur visited the place from time to time and encouraged the Sisters to move forward. Fr. Jose Kattoor, Fr. Francis Thekkumkattil, and Fr. Mathew Thayamkary stayed in the rented room in Baraghare for a short period of time at different times and contributed their share to the establishment of the new Mission and the school. It was the Sisters who did all the ground work to take the first admissions in Little Flower School and to run the classes, until the presence of the CST Fathers became stable in Narayangarh. With the sincere support of the local people and under the supervision of Mr.Mahendralal Pradhan, two classrooms of temporary nature were constructed and furnished. On 17 January 1994 Little Flower School was inaugurated by Msgr. Antony Sharma, the Ecclesiastical Superior of Nepal, and received overwhelming response from the public.
It was Fr. Cherian Elavakunnel who was appointed the first Superior of the Mission and the Principal of the School. He remarkably laboured to establish the Mission and the school and to bring the school up as a prestigious institution in the region. Construction of the first few classrooms was financially supported by Miseror, Germany. It was due to Fr Cherian’s unmatched perseverance that we got the Nepal Little Flower Society registered with the government, getting legal status for our activities in Nepal. After serving five years to establish the Mission and the school firmly and successfully, Fr. Cherian was asked to find out opportunities for starting another Mission in Nepal. Fr. Xavier Namblampara was appointed as the Superior of the Ashram and Principal of the school. It was during his tenure the Priests’ House was blessed and inaugurated, the construction of which was started by Fr. Cherian. The foundation stone of the House was blessed by H.E. Josef Cardinal Tomko, the then Prefect of Propaganda Fide, Rome, on 17 August 1995. The completed house was blessed in 2000. After Fr. Xavier, it was the turn of Fr. Wilson Panachickalkarott to shoulder the responsibilities. In fact it was the hardest time for the school as the Maoist insurgency had its strong and bitter sway in all dimensions of life in Nepal, with their intimidations, extortions, looting and bombing. Our school also was blasted with bombs, but none hurt. However, Fr Wilson managed the situation, which lasted for many years, bravely and successfully. During the tenure of Fr. Jojo Vadakkel and later of Fr. Roby Kizhakkumkara the school saw vigorous and substantial progress and growth. Their untiring and hard work has brought the school to high reputation and excellence. Several times the school stood first in the district in the academic and co-curricular fields. The contributions of Fr. Gijo Panthackal and Fr. Jubish Azhiyath are gratefully remembered.
In the year 2020 Plus One classes also were started in the school. The pastoral life of the Mission also is very vibrant and ever growing. In the beginning there was hardly anyone to attend Holy Mass in the small chapel we had that was attached to the Priests’ House. Later, the number of believers grew and since the last several years, during the Easter Vigil celebrations, we have had a few adult baptisms and child baptisms. During the time of Fr. Jojo Vadakkel, the new Chapel was built which can accommodate more people. Liturgical celebrations are very lively and participatory. Faith formation is given through catechism, retreats and homilies. It is a matter of great joy that one boy and two girls of our Mission have joined religious congregations as candidates in the year 2018. The Mission has undertaken major relief activities after the devastating Nepal earthquake of 2015. In 4 VDCs of Chitwan and Makwanpur districts we conducted 36 relief programs and a total of 5662 families benefitted from them. Also under the rehabilitation programs the Fathers constructed 307 houses with main financial support from Caritas Italy. We also constructed three government schools that were fully damaged in the quakes. During the times of floods also we undertook relief programs for the victims. We are happy that Little Flower Ashram Narayangarh, the first Ashram in Nepal, has rendered its significant contribution in the growth of the Catholic Church in Nepal.
Little Flower Ashram, Narayangarh
- Little Flower Ashram P.B. No.3008, Narayangarh Bharatpur-3, Bagmati Pradesh, Province No. 3 Chitwan Dist., NEPAL
- 97756 571666
Members
- Superior: Fr. Manjush SJ Srakath CST
- Procurator: Fr. Jogin Thomas Valanakuzhiyil CST
- Fr. Thundiyil Jacob CST
Little Flower Ashram, Church
(Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal)
- Parish Priest: Fr. Manjush SJ Srakath CST
- Asst. Parish Priests: Fr. Jogin Thomas Valanakuzhiyil CST
- Fr. Thundiyil Jacob CST
Institutions
Little Flower School, Parwanipur
- Little Flower School P.B. No.3008, Narayangarh Bharatpur-3, Bagmati Pradesh, Province No. 3 Chitwan Dist., NEPAL
- +97756493772
- lfsngtnp@gmail.com
- www.lfschitwan.edu.np
- Manager: Fr. Roby K U Kizhakkumkara CST
- Principal: Fr. Manjush SJ Srakath CST
- Vice Principal: Fr. Jogin Thomas Valanakuzhiyil CST
- Vice Principal: Fr. Thundiyil Jacob CST
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/nKfcxy7UGavZXhH76
Mission Collaborators
Little Flower Convent
Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
(SABS -Kanjirappally Province)
- P.B. No.3008, Narayangarh Bharatpur-3, Bagmati Pradesh, Province No. 3 Chitwan Dist., NEPAL
- +977 ***0172 (Sr. Superior)
