Don Bosco Higher Secondary School (Punanamai, Mao, Manipur)

In 1966 the Punanamei mission was opened by Mgr. Hubert D’Rosario, Bishop of Dibrugarh with Fr. Peter Bianchi as the one in charge. The sisters of Mount Carmel (CMC) arrived on 15th February 1967 to assist at the school, dispensary and to catechize the faithful. On 1st August 1967 Fr. Tharakan Mathew joined Fr. Bianchi as the Assistant. St. Mary’s Parish, Punanamei was canonically erected on 15th August 1969 with Fr. Moolachery Augustine as the first Parish Priest. The parish of Mao had 53 villages in five circles at that time – Mao (15 villages), Maram (14 villages), Leopona (5 villages), Chiluvei (8 villages) and Paomata (7 villages) besides the villages of Karong, Senapati, Mayankang and Dilikunou. A number of new parishes were created from these. Today the Parish of St. Mary’s can boast of nine daughter parishes – Tadubi, Thunjoy, Phybung Khullen, Makhan, Maram, Purul, Senapathi, Kangpokpi, Pangmol. The parish which once had 52 villages has now the six villages of Punanamei, Pudunamai, Chowanyu, Rabunamei, Kalinamei and Songsong with about 3040 Catholics.