Articles
Brief history of Catholic faith in Meluri
Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang | 03-Nov-2026
The Catholic faith arrived in Nagaland relatively late compared to other denominations, and the same is true for the Pochury area as well. In 1973, (late) Rev. Fr. L. Castelino SJ, was traveling between Kohima and Kiphire, and on the way stopped by in Meluri town. There, he met Mr. Joseph Lushai, Catholic police officer who was in-charge of the police station. Under him, there was a Naga gentleman, Mr. Khazhipa, who was employed as watchman cum Sweeper.
Mr Khazhipa was a pagan who followed the traditional way of worship. After Mr. Joseph Lushai introduced him to Fr. Castelino SJ, meetings between them became frequent. In the meantime, Mr. Joseph Lushia was explaining the tenets of Catholic faith every now and then to Khazhipa whenever he found it convenient. Thus, by associating himself with Mr Lushai and Rev. Fr. Castelino SJ, Mr. Khazhipa developed a desire to join the Catholic Church. He shared this interest with his brother, Mr Zulatho, as well as Mr Nyiluotho. Eventually, Khazhipa not only decided to embrace the faith, but managed to persuaded the two gentlemen also to follow his foot step.
In those days, non-Christian families outnumbered the Baptist Christian members, while the Catholic faith was totally unknown and unheard of. The Baptist Church had some educated leaders, and so, almost all the leadership positions in the village were held by them, and the village affairs were completely handled by them. Taking undue advantage of their domination, the Meluri Village Council passed a resolution that no other Christian denomination apart from the Baptist, shall be permitted to reside in their land.
In 1974, after being stationed at Meluri, late Rev. Fr. Castelino SJ started visiting non-Christian Khels along with Mr. Joseph Lushai. During these home visits, they regularly called on the Mr. Thierütho, the Gaon Burra, the traditional community leader. He was the father of 24-year-old boy, Seküsü, who was then studying in Class VIII at the Government Middle School. During one of these visits, Rev. Fr. Castelino encouraged Seküsü to study in the Loyola School located in Jakhama and offered him admission. Reluctant to go to a new place alone, Seküsü requested Rev. Fr. Castelino to allow some companions to go to the new school, a request the priest accepted willingly. Thus, two other boys, namely Kuotsi and Lathosie were also sent to Loyola School in Jakhama along with Seküsü.
Unfortunately, on account of certain compelling circumstances, they returned to the village without completing their studies. In due course, Joseph Seküsü and Z. Sylvester Silatho were sent for the Catechist Training to Pastoral Training Centre in Imphal. But here too, they didn’t stay for more than one month. After they returned home, they were contacted by the Baptist Pastor and tried to discourage them from accepting the Catholic faith. They were also reportedly threatened with dire consequences should a different Christian denomination comes up in the village because of them.
Finally on 17th May 1974, the Catholics of Meluri village decided to declared themselves as Catholics. They were also ready to face any challenges and consequences for embracing the Catholic Faith. At the initiative of Mr. Joseph Seküsü and Lt. Z. Sylvester Silatho, they started forming a Youth group with the non-Christian youths who had the desire to accept the Catholic faith.
In the same year, another significant development took place in Meluri. Catholic missionaries, public leaders, and the pioneer Catholic families of Meluri village, decided that a new Catholic school must be established in Meluri town. That was how the present St. Xavier Higher Secondary School was established in 1974. Over time, additional families joined the Catholic fold, including those of the late Xavier Nyushichi, late Zachariah Chithokhu, and Mathew Tsivutho. Life, however, was tough for these families because there was persistent pressure on them to abandon their Catholic faith.
Even as all these were happening, the nascent Catholic community members purchased construction materials worth ₹350 from the late Münütho to construct their church. Rev. Fr. Castelino SJ also supported the community by providing financial assistance for the construction. This way, a small church with a thatched roof was subsequently built on the plot belonging to Joseph Seküsü at Zheterüna, Meluri Village. This enabled the community to hold regular church services.
In between, the Catholics were summoned to the village Chairman's residence and warned not to continue in the Catholics church. They were also forced to swear by biting a rifle bullet that they will quit the Catholic faith. But the Catholics refused to budge and were ready to face any consequences and continued to live as Catholics. The Village authority then threatened to burn down the Catholic Church which was constructed at Zheterüna. Two days after meeting, the village leaders came to burn down the Church. The Catholics didn’t get provoked. Instead, they willingly cooperated and providing them with pine wood and match box so that they use them to burn the church. The village authority members had to return disappointed without fulfilling their task.
After this incident, the village Chief summoned the Catholics again at Khutsori Khel, Hiezu, and Zhiekuri Khel in the presence of the entire village. Here, the Catholics were humiliated, threatened, spat upon, and ordered to abandon their Catholic faith. However, these threats too failed to achieve the objective as the Catholics remained resolute and refused to budge.
Seeing their firm stance, the village authorities summoned them once more to the Phrüteri Khel court before the full assembly and ordered them to relocate to the outskirts of the village. Having no other choice, Peter Khazhipa and Nicholas Nyiluotho dismantled their houses in 1975 and re-established their homes at Zheterüna, an outskirt of Meluri where they had previously built the thatched church.
On March 29, 1975, a total of 16 members from five households; belonging to Peter Khazhipa, Nicholas Nyiluotho, Joseph Seküsü, Xavier Nyushiechi, and Mary Chürütshü, were baptized by late Rev. Fr. Castelino SJ inside the thatched church. Joseph Seküsü was elected as the first local Catechist of the new church. Fearing that more villagers would convert, the village leaders began spreading false propaganda and allegations against the Catholic community.
After seeing the progress of the Catholics, some people began instigating the non-Christian village chief, claiming that the Catholic community lived too close to them, thereby disturbing their traditional rituals. Subsequently, the village leaders decided to expel the Catholics a secluded place, either Riehuope or Zethe-zhie.
At that point of time, Riehuope was occupied by the CRPF, while the other suggested sites were not suitable for settlement. Having no other choice, they decided to move to a plot of land they owned at Khumiasü, approximately a kilometre away from the road, and settled there permanently as per proposal put forward by Peter Khazhipa.
In the new site, Mathew Tsivutho’s family was the first to construct a new house and relocate to the new settlement at the present-day Khumiasü village. In November 1977, while the rest of the villagers were busy with the harvesting, Peter Khazhipa, Nicholas Nyiluotho, and Francis Kumatho dismantled their homes and moved to Khumiasü with the assistance of some non-Christian family members. Additionally, the Diocese of Kohima also sent a truck along with 20 volunteers from the Chizami Catholic Community to help the families move and settle Khumiasü Catholic village.
Joseph Seküsü and Michael Zulatho’s family did not shift to Khumiasü, as they were already at the periphery of the non-Christian Khel. Since then, more non-Christian families joined the Catholic Church in batches with someone or the other emerged as their leader. In the year 1987, after accepting the Catholic faith, six families settled permanently at Riehuope, Meluri village.
Since then, almost every year non-Christian families joined the Catholic Church. Until 1983, St. Xavier’s Church Riehuope and Khumiasü, Meluri village, was under the care of Sacred Heart Parish, Chizami. On June 30, 1983, a separate St. Xavier’s Parish was announced for the people of the Pochury area.
In 1983, under the leadership of Peter Khazhipa, the community began seeking permission from the Nagaland Government for separate village status. Finally, in 1987, permission was granted and Khumiasü village was officially recognized as an independent village.
Later in 1990, more non-Christian families accepted the Catholic faith and joined the Catholic communities at Khumiasü Catholic village and Riehuope Catholic Khel under Meluri village. Seeing the progress of these communities, 21 additional non-Christian families from Meluri village decided to join the Catholic church. However, they too experienced similar opposition as the early converts.
In apprehension of more families accepting the Catholic faith, few local detractors instigated the village chief to stop them. The chief and the Village Council Chairman summoned 21 families before the entire village. The meeting took place in the presence of the SDO (Civil) of Meluri, Mr. Khusohie, and the Officer-in-Charge of the Meluri Police Station, Mr. Rietshumu, along with his police personnel.
The meeting was presided by the Village Council Chairman who began threaten the converts, declaring that the police were present to arrest all Catholics if they continued to practice their faith. During the interrogation, the chairman insulted, mocked, and severely threatened Mr. Xavier Nyurhusie. When he interrogated Mr. Joseph Nyikhatho, who is an employee of the PHED deaprtment, the Chairman threatened him with permanent suspension from his job. Unfazed, Mr. Joseph challenged the chairman to go ahead and suspend him.
Unfazed by the treat, Mr. Joseph stood up before the Chairman and the entire crowd and proposed drafting a formal agreement in the presence of the SDO (Civil) and the Police officer, mentioning that no future generations would ever be allowed to practice the Christian faith in Meluri village. He insisted that the document be signed by the Village Chairman, the Village Chief, and himself on behalf of the Catholic community, further adding that the Catholics would only leave the village after this agreement was signed.
When the Village Chairman asked the Village Chief to sign on behalf of the village, he refused revealed that since the entire plan was mooted by the Chairman, he should be the one signing and not him.
A major commotion broke out following the bold challenge from the Catholics. Finally, the late Luomatho, a Baptist and former Village Council Chairman, stood up to address the gathering. He warned the crowd: "The challenge made by Joseph Nyikhatho is a very serious matter that we must reconsider. Who knows, today's oppressors might become the first to embrace the Catholic faith tomorrow." Following his intervention, the meeting concluded without any resolution.
Again, on May 10, 1990, the Meluri villagers came up with another plan. They gathered the village youth, supplied them with locally made alcohol and incited them to assault the Catholics. Many people; including children, young and old just stood as witness to the majority thrashings. Even after this incident, the villagers refused to give up their faith. Another resolution to impose a fine of fine of ₹15 per youth and ₹25 to their per parent was adopted to discourage people from embracing Catholicism. But, despite all these, Catholics stood their ground.
Realising that peaceful co-existence with the Baptist and non-Christian population was increasingly difficult, the Catholic families decided to relocate. On April 23, 1991, out of 23 Catholic families, 15 moved to Khumiasü Catholic village, while the remaining 8 families settled in Riehuope Catholic Khel so that they could freely practice their Catholic faith.
Since the number of non-Christian families converting to the Catholic faith continued to grow, the need for a larger church building in Meluri village became a pressing requirement. Moreover, following the official recognition of Khumiasü as an independent village, constructing a dedicated church for the Catholics in Meluri village became a necessity. So, in 1992, a new church was built at Riehuope Catholic Khel on a plot admeasuring approximately 120 by 60 feet, which was donated by Peter Vithosie.
Catholic Priests, Ursuline Sisters, and Lay leaders played a major role in counselling the youth, who ultimately decided to accept the Catholic faith out of choice. They frequently visited the youth and held family prayers with them. As a result, most of the non-Christian youth embraced Catholicism, while their parents continued to follow the traditional faith.
In 2010, realizing that population in the non-Christian Khel was declining and plots were left unoccupied since Christians were moving to new locations, late Mr. Riethosie, the then village Chief, and Mr. Sierütho, the Assistant Chief, both from the non-Christian community, issued a declaration stating that "anyone accepting the Christian faith is also free to remain in their current location and practice their own religion." This landmark decision provided another opportunity for non-Christian youth to join the Catholic faith in large numbers.
From the parent Churches; St. Xavier Church in Meluri village and St. Michael Church in Khumiasü village, each having more than 100 purely Catholic households, now spread across nine villages in the Pochury area. Today, there are over 1,500 Catholics in the Meluri subdivision, supported by numerous religious priests, nuns, trained Catechists, and educated social and political leaders.
In the initial stages, the community faced overwhelming adversity. Not only were they few in number, but they also lacked educated individuals to defend their rights. Against the backdrop of such intense denominational humiliation from that era, today's educated church leaders and young social leaders offer a fresh perspective, serving as a reminder to those who once took pleasure in belittling smaller Christian denominations.
The underlying animosity between different Christian groups has reduced significantly in this region. Today, a spirit of unity thrives among members of various denominations and non-Christian families (as traditional practitioners still exist and perform their rituals). Differences do exist, but as a normal human interaction. The bitterness and hostility against each other is now history.
Without doubt, The Catholic Church opened the eyes of many people through education; therefore, many educated people do not mince words, in acknowledging the magnanimous mission work done by the Catholic Church in Meluri Region. We wish that Christians everywhere are able to live a life worthy of our Christian calling and be an agent of spreading the Kingdom of God, which Jesus himself established on this earth.
(The writer is a priest of the Diocese of Kohima, presently the Parish priest of St. Mary’s church, Lakhuti)