(Front row, 3rd from left) Rev Sr Daina Sangtam along with her family members and others during the Thanksgiving Mass held at St Dominic Savio Church, Kiphire Village, on February 8.
Kiphire, February 8 (MExN): A solemn Thanksgiving Mass for Rev Sr Daina Sangtam of the Congregation of Jesus (CJ) was celebrated at St Dominic Savio Church, Kiphire Village, on February 8. Rev Sr Daina Sangtam is the first religious nun to be professed from the village after 35 years since the inception of the Catholic faith there.
The Mass was presided over by parish priest Rev Fr Philip Magh and concelebrated by Rev Fr George Anthony, Rev Fr Thomas Toretkiu, Rev Fr Satheesh and Rev Fr Marius Patton. Sr Amita CJ and Sr Divya CJ from Kathmandu were also present. The occasion was attended by village council chairpersons, village head GBs, KVBL Church Board members, president of KVSU, catechists, church members from eight villages and other public leaders.
In his homily, Fr Philip congratulated Rev Sr Daina for choosing to serve as a missionary in Nepal, describing it as a bold decision to serve in an unfamiliar land with a different language and culture where Christians are a minority. He said her vocation was a blessing for the village and tribe, comparing her response of faith and obedience to God’s call with that of Abraham. He added that her life exemplifies being “salt and light” in the world through service and obedience.
Rev Sr Daina, from the Sangtam tribe, was born in 2004 to Setongli Daneil and Lijungla Rebecca as the sixth of nine siblings. She completed her schooling at Good Shepherd School, Kiphire, and higher secondary education at Sechu Zubza, Kohima. She began her candidacy in Nepal, completed postulancy in Allahabad and novitiate in Patna, Bihar, and made her first profession on January 30, 2026, at the Assumption Cathedral, Kathmandu. The ceremony was officiated by Rev Fr Silas Bogati, Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Kathmandu.
During her vote of thanks, Rev Sr Daina expressed gratitude to her parents, formators, educators, parish priest, priests, sisters, catechists, parishioners, organizers, choir members and various committees.
At the Eucharist, the Catholic Women Association presented an entrance dance in traditional attire, while Sr Daina and her parents offered the gifts. Her parents later prayed over her and symbolically offered her to God.
At the felicitation programme, Catholic Youth Movement presented a congratulatory song, appreciation messages were shared, and Rev Sr Daina cut a cake. Rev Fr Marius Patton offered the benediction before a common meal was served to all.
