A small Catholic school in Mawlynrei village, under St. Dominic Savio Parish in Nongrah, has transformed the lives of many families by making education easier for children and strengthening the faith life of the community.
Mawlynrei is home to around 1,300 Khasi families. For many years, the village had only one parish school located at the center. Children living in the southern area, called Dong Sharum, struggled to attend school because of the long distance.
The turning point came in 2001 and 2002 when Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) were introduced in the village. During meetings and Gospel sharing, BEC leaders listened to the concerns of families and identified education as a major challenge.
Moved by the struggles of children, local leaders and BEC members decided to build a small school. With community support and collected funds, they constructed a simple tin-roof building and named it St. Joseph’s School.
The school officially opened on February 20, 2003, with one teacher, Ms. Brigida Mawthoh, who received a salary of just Rs. 300 per month funded by BEC members.
Over the years, the nursery school grew steadily. Today, St. Joseph’s School has classes up to Class V with seven teachers supported by regular community contributions.
The impact of BECs also extended beyond education. Faith participation increased, family prayers became more Scripture-centered, and more laypeople became involved in church activities.
What started as a small effort to help children reach school has now become a powerful example of how faith, unity, and community action can transform an entire village.
