Cathedral Angami Catholic Women Association

As early as 1976 a few mothers of the Angami Catholic community who used to attend Sunday Mass at LFS chapel had felt the need to have some sort of fellowship, propagate the Catholic faith and bring women closer to God. Mrs. Neihunuo Nadalia, who served as the President of the Association for two terms in 1985 and 1986, took the most active part and led the early women group consisting of Kelhoulezo-ü Christina, Neipezie-ü Rosalia, Theyiekhrie-ü, Razouhole Rita, Zeshile Gladys, Kaini Angela Kechü, Lhoulievinuo Juliana and Nochole Zemobia. After attending Sunday Mass, the group used to informally get together at a classroom of LFS or at some neighbouring houses for singing practice, saying the rosary and also visiting the sick. Many members of the association have expressed their appreciation and acknowledged the hospitality provided by Mr. Menuovilie Solo whose house was like an extension of the church and rendezvous of different groups of the church. Sr.Anna Mathai, FMA who held different positions at LFS, Kohima between 1975 to 1990 and from 2001 till her death in 2005, was the spiritual guide, teacher and friend of the women group. Sr. Anna Mathai, a true champion of the poor and women empowerment, would accompany the women group in visiting houses and saying the rosary prayer.

The CACWA has been growing from strength to strength and is today one of the strongest bodies of the Cathedral Parish. The association celebrated its’ Silver Jubilee on 4^th January, 2009 with the theme “Let us go forward from the point we have each attained“ (Philippians 3:16)  and with Rt.Rev.Dr. Jose Mukala, D.D., the then Bishop of Kohima Diocese as the main celebrant.

Cathedral Angami Catholic Youth Association

The need to provide an umbrella to the youth of the Angami Catholic Community to come together for fellowship, prayer, singing in the church and other church activities had been felt by the community members, the youth themselves and the Parish Priests right from the early days. Thus with that objective in mind, the Angami Catholic Youth Association of the Upper Town Catholic Church, Kohima was formally launched in 1978 with the following office bearers:

1. President - Vimethal Matthew

2. Vice President - Sasolie Louis Chasie

3. General Secretary - Visasienu

With the erection of St Mary’s Cathedral Parish in 1989, the meeting place of the association along with the community of the Upper Town Catholic Church was shifted to the Cathedral. But the first Assistant Priest, Fr. Carolus Neisalhou Kuotsu had a tough time trying to bring the youth of the Parish together and organize them into a group for singing , liturgical celebration and other church activities. Having failed to get them together several times, even after animation by the youth of SFS, Kohima Town, Fr. Carolus in his frustration turned to the gardens of the Cathedral and found much solace in them. Nevertheless, the initial disappointments were overcome sooner than later and the association was revived and revitalized with the election of Mr. Vilekhol Gerard as the new President in 1990.

Angami Catholic Union

The Angami Catholic Union, Cathedral Parish was formed as per directive of the central Angami Catholic Union in 1996 with a view to look into the spiritual growth and welfare of the Angami Catholic Community of the Cathedral Church. Being part of the Angami Catholic Union, it maintains allegiance to the parent body and functions as per its’ mission objectives. It assists the Church in its’ mission to draw people to God and to cater to their spiritual and moral being. Most of the activities are carried out after consultation with the Parish Priest. Seminars, counselling and retreats were conducted in collaboration with the Parish Priest and the FMA sisters in the initial days. Other activities included visits to homes of the sick, the needy and also the irregular church goers. The Union also visited remote villages from time to time for religious and spiritual interactions with the Catholic communities.

The Union renders guidance and support to the various organizations like the Cathedral Angami Catholic Youth Association and the Cathedral Angami Catholic Women Association. The Union takes active part in the various church programmes during the Holy Week, Christmas, New Year and important feast days of the church. The Cathedral being the biggest Catholic Church in Nagaland, all important functions and celebrations like ordinations of the religious are held in the Cathedral and the Union members take the major responsibility in organizing such functions. The Union maintains cordial and supportive relationship with other communities of the Parish. 

Mao Catholic Community

The Mao Community forms the second largest group of the Cathedral Parish after the Angamis. Since the establishment of St. Peter’s Hall at AG colony in 1987, the Mao Catholic Community has grown from strength to strength. St Peter’s Community Centre has become a convenient place for attending Sunday Mass not only for the Mao community, but also for the people from other communities in the neighbourhood, including the Tangkhuls, Angamis, Poumais, Konyaks, Sumis, Lothas and Adivasis. St Peter’s Community Centre celebrated its’ Silver Jubilee in June, 2012 with Rt Rev. Dr. James Thoppil D.D., Bishop of Kohima, as the main celebrant. 

It assists the Church in its’ mission to draw people to God and to cater to their spiritual and moral being. Seminars, counselling and retreats are conducted in collaboration with the Parish Priest and the leaders of the church. The Union maintains cordial and supportive relationship with other communities of the Parish.

Catholic Cathedral Youth Association

The Cathedral, not only being the principal Church of the diocese but also one of the biggest Catholic churches in the region, has congregation belonging to different tribes of Nagaland as well as those coming from neighbouring states. Majority of the faithful are from the Angami and Mao tribes which have their own main and frontal associations. But other members, especially the youth who were willing to help in the Parish activities but belong to other tribes or communities were usually left out on many occasions. A need was, therefore, felt to unite and bring all the youth of the Parish under one umbrella. Thus in the Parish Council meeting held on 1^st October,2006, it was unanimously decided  to form an apex youth body under the name of’ Catholic Cathedral Youth Association’ (CCYA) and with the consent of the then Parish Priest, Fr. Aloysious Medolhoulie, the following office bearers were elected: 

1. President - Kaisolo Michael
2. Vice President - Kiyehoto Michael
3. General Secretary - Celine Pamei
4. Joint Secretary - Joyce Kent
5. Treasurer - Kapesa Angela
6. Information & Publicity Secretary - Tosovi Philip Khale
7. Music Secretary - Aba Hubert
8. Assistant Music Secretary - Perhielie Sylvester
9. Decoration Convenor - Matilda Khale 

The general body of CCYA meets at least 6 times in a year, observes Youth Day & Get Together once every year, carries out social work at the Parish whenever required, takes up all the major works in the Parish and leads the singing in the church during common mass and on all important celebrations.   

Junior Catholic Youth Association

These are the young boys and girls who are gradually growing up, but those who does not find themselves in the youth group because of age and maturity level. They have a separate association which caters to their taste and likings. Very important is this stage that a priest is usually given incharge to look after their welfare and spiritual growth.

The Junior Youth lead the hymns during Mass on certain Sundays. Various activities like seminars, picnics, outings, retreats, etc. are organized for them, that they remain faithful to the Church.

The members include all boys and girls from all communities.

The Cathedral Angami Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary, founded by Mr. Frank Duff, an Irishman, on 7^th September,1921, is  an ‘Association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all graces ( who is fair as the moon, bright as the sun, and- to satan and his legionaries- terrible as an army set in battle array), have formed themselves into a Legion for service in the warfare which is perpetually waged by the Church against the world and its evil powers’.

The seed of the Legion of Mary at the Cathedral Church was sown by Mr. Niu Whiso when he visited the house of Mrs. Kereisie-ȕ Rita and explained the Legion of Mary movement to her and Mrs. Kaini Angela, who in turn got a few more people to establish the Cathedral Angami Praesidium, under the name and style of ‘Mary Queen of the Angels Praesidium’, on 12^th November, 1994.  

As in other Praesidium, the Legion of Mary of St. Mary’s Cathedral has both active and auxiliary members. The active members meet once in a week and spend two hours in meditation in devotion to Mary, while the auxiliary members  pray the Rosary prayer daily for the success of the works of the active members. The legionaries observe yearly retreat, ACIES Day in March, one day seminar and three day recollection. The activities of the Cathedral Angami Legion of Mary include bringing the relapsed Catholics to the church; visiting the sick; helping the old and the uncared; helping in the regularisation of irregular marriages; helping the priest in administering the sacraments; preparing people to receive baptism; helping various associations of the Parish; and going to houses to say the Rosary prayer.