Orissa is one of the beautiful states of India. It is surrounded by Jharkhand on the North, W.Bengal on the north-east, Andhra on the south and Chhattisgarh on the west. Orissa is gifted by the nature with long and beautiful coastline, dotted with golden sand beaches and gentle sunshine. There are numerous natural sites such as chirping of birds, flowing of streams and meandering paddy-fields. Orissa, referred to as “The Soul of India,” It is a mystical land, where the past and the modern today form a harmonious blend. The state is filled with awe inspiring monuments, thousand of craftsmen and artists and numerous wildlife sanctuaries.

Orissa has the largest number of tribes, as many as 62. These tribes are simple artisans, who practice crafts of basket weaving, tool making and farming. In the process tribal villages have been abandoned. There are 30 Districts in Orissa. Majority of the people are Hindus, followed by Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. The most commendable thing about Orissa is that people belonging to different religions and castes live harmoniously and there is a feeling of brotherhood among them - with exception of KHANDAMAL incidence.

The Central Province of India had the long awaited dream of venturing into Orissa. After obtaining the approval from the CLT, Sister Smitha Thomas Thuppangiyil, Provincial and Jaya Joseph Kunnumpuram visited Rourkela, Orissa to look for the possibilities of starting a Mission, but the Bishop of Rourkela was unable to accommodate one more Religious Congregation as there are several Congregations in his diocese. Fr. Joseph Dung Dung, uncle of Sr. Anita Dung Dung was very helpful and took the sisters to different places to look for possible mission in diocese of Sambalpur. Eventually on 18th May 2010 Sr. Smitha Thomas along with Srs. Anita Dung Dung and Shanti Soreng met the Bishop of Sambalpur Rev.Lucas Kerketta, who was happy to learn that the RNDM Srs. would like to open a Mission in his Diocese. After a brief discussion with the sisters about their mission plans, he gave an official invitation to start the Mission in KUCHINDA, in the district of Sambalpur. Kuchinda is 15 kms. away from the Parish Church Gudrapara, and 80 kms. from the Bishop’s House and 46 kms. from the railway station. It is a small village town, only a few Christian families living around the place. We have taken a house on rent and started staying there from 18th June 2010 to know the people, their cultures and explore further possibilities for Mission. The people are simple and friendly and expressed their joy and gratitude in welcoming the sisters to their village. The sisters are ready to face any difficulties and challenges.

On the first day Fr. Bartholomeo Bilung celebrated the Eucharist and prayed over our mission. Thus the mission is established with the two pioneering sisters Anita Dung Dung and Monica Raithtam. On the next day, the Parish Priest and the asst. Fr. Michael and the sisters of Handmaids joined us for a small house blessing. After a few days Srs. Smitha and Jaya returned to Kolkata. The aim of our Mission in Orissa is to recruit vocations and to give them intensive English lessons, so that they can be send for further education, help with faith formation and clarification of motivation. We will also get involved in the pastoral ministry plan of the Diocese by starting a community college for High School dropouts {boys & girls}, to help them with skills rather than occupations that will make them self supportive.

The felt need of the place is to have an English medium school as there are no such schools. 24th July 2010 was a Red letter day for the RNDM community at Kuchinda. Rev. Lucas Kerketta, the Bishop of Sambalpur was invited to celebrate the Eucharist and officially bless our newly found mission. Srs Smitha and Jaya went on 21st to prepare for the day. Ten more of our sisters from the various communities of our province arrived in Kuchinda to grace the occasion.

The Bishop along with the Parish Priest Fr. Silas Kerketta concelebrated the Eucharist and inaugurated our Mission. Fr. Bartholomeo Bilung and Fr. Ignatius Baa joined them later for the fellowship meal. We are blessed with 6 more candidates from Orissa. They stay with the sisters and continue their studies. Srs. Smitha and Jaya are looking for a suitable land to buy and do the needful and the search is still on. Sister Smitha Thomas and the sisters of the C. Province remain grateful to Sr. Maureen McBride and her Team and all the sisters throughout the Congregation for their concern and prayerful support.