Chatterhat is located on the Indo-Bangladesh border which is at the periphery of Silaguri District, West Bengal. It is an interior village surrounded by paddy fields and tea gardens. The local community is made up of many different faiths and cultures, speaking a range of Indian languages and dialects. The economy of this region relies on jute and tea production, and most of the local people work for small private companies earning minimum wages.

In 1999 Bishop Thomas D’Souza of Bagdogra invited the RNDMs to minister to the people of St.Thomas Parish, Chatterhat. The Provincial Leadership Team took time for considerable thought and reflection, deciding finally to send Srs. Valsa Chacko and Phulkeria Minj to join Matigra Community as their base. The sisters conducted a social analysis and survey, and took time to get to know the life situations of the people of Chatterhat. The sisters viewed the mission as very challenging and responded to the call to journey with the people of Chatterhat to share their life and love. The community of Chatterhat consists mainly of Indigenous people, Muslims and Bengalis from the bordering area of Bangladesh. The mission provided a Primary School and a hostel within the campus of the Parish, which was run by the diocese. There was a great need for provision of quality education to the poor children of the area, care for the children at the hostel and basic health care for the needy and ailing. Additional needs included a Parish pastoral ministry and a social action ministry, giving particular attention to women and youth.

Sr. Smitha Thomas Thuppalangiyil, then Provincial, received an evaluation from the pioneering sisters, and then met with Bishop Thomas D’Souza and Fr. Michael Minj, the Parish priest to discuss the possibilities of opening a new mission and RNDM willingness to cater to the needs of the people in the parish and neighbouring communities. The Bishop offered a plot of land for the RNDMs within the campus of the Parish, built the residence for the sisters, and assured the financial aid for their maintenance. An agreement was signed that the RNDM sisters would live in collaborative ministry with the parish for five years. The

RNDM mission commenced formally on 12th December, 1999. The parishioners welcomed the sisters and were delighted with their presence. (Chatterhat House Journal 1999)

The sisters easily mingled with the people regardless of their religion and language and established a dialogue of life as they started to visit their families. There are now about 500 students in the elementary school administered by our sisters. The dedicated commitment and the cordial relationship between the staff and the students provides conducive atmosphere for the all round development of the students. A new school building was opened providing improved facilities, was blessed on 10th June 2004. More than 100 poor children from remote villages are cared for in the hostel, in order to be able to fully benefit from education. Their illiterate parents feel so proud to see their children receiving education and enjoying their childhood. The sisters and hostlers support the hostel financially through cultivation of various vegetables, and by keeping pigs, cows, rabbits and fowl.

The long awaited dream of opening a health care center at Chatterhat was fulfilled on 28th July 2008. One of the existing blocks was repaired and renovated. Srs. Cresencia Sun and Philomena Guria worked hard to set up necessary furniture and equipment to provide primary health services for the very poor of the area. The sisters now also reach out to villages located far away using a mobile clinic. This mobile clinic also organizes and provides awareness programs on health, HIV, and AIDS, training volunteers for provision of further health care and home remedies. The RNDM sisters are actively involved in the parish pastoral ministry through participation in faith formation, family visits, prayer services and liturgy The RNDM presence and contribution in Chatterhat is deeply appreciated by the people and they truly value the service the sisters are offering them in their life journey.

The sisters too are blessed with the people they serve and they continue to be a blessing in their passionate endeavour to bring life and hope to the people of Chatterhat.