In the wild, mountainous region of Assam, India—where tigers, rhinos, and elephants roam the roads—three Carmelite priests are bringing the sacraments and pastoral care to remote tribal villages. But when their motorcycles broke down beyond repair, their outreach came to a halt.
Father Xavier Jayaraj, provincial superior of the Carmelite Fathers in Koilamati, turned to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for help. His request was simple but urgent: “Only a powerful motorcycle can cope with these difficult tracks to reach the people God has entrusted to our care.”
ACN responded with two new motorbikes—restoring the priests’ ability to travel across rough terrain and rainforest-covered hills to serve the faithful.
The parish covers 50 villages, 16 of which have Catholic communities. Most residents belong to the Karbi tribe and live in bamboo huts scattered across the hills. The priests visit on Sundays, feast days, and weekdays—bringing the sacraments, praying with the sick and dying, and offering hope where it’s needed most.
Thanks to ACN’s support, the priests can now reach these communities faster and spend more time ministering to the people. As Fr Jayaraj shared:
“The apostolate of the Fathers in Koilamati has been greatly simplified. May God bless you for your love and concern for us.”
