Patron : Catholic Church
Established : 2014
Address : Catholic Church , Bemetara, Bemetara Dt. – 491335
Catholics : 65
Bemetra Tahsil in Durg district within the Archdiocese was formed a district in 2012 with Bemetra as the District headquarters. Majority of the people in this area belong to backward classes and scheduled caste Satnamis and about 10% are tribal. The Christian presence in the town starts from 1960s, who were mostly non Catholic government employees working in the health Sector. At the end of 1970s, a few Catholic employees reached Bemetra to serve in the State Bank and in the Govt. Hospital. As such the area was offered to the Vincentian fathers for pioneering missionary work but nothing was done. Rev. Fr. Joseph Chirayath during his pioneering missionary activities among the Gond Tribes in Kawartha area started visiting the place and served the pastoral needs of the people.
Later when Kawardha became a mission center and resident priests were appointed, they continued to give the pastoral care in Bemetra. Efforts were made to start a mission center in Bemetra from 2005.
In the month of April 2014 an agreement was made between the Archdiocese and the Nirmal Province of the CMI Congregation with Rev. Fr. Josey Thamarassery ,the Provincial Superior to take up the area for evangelization and missionary apostolate. Rev. Fr. Thomas Thuruthy, CMI came to stay here on 14th August 2014 and was accommodated by Mr. A.K. Beck, then District Judge of Bemetra, at his residence. On 24th August 2014 with 2 families and total 14 members, the first Sunday Mass was offered in a rented priest’s residence. Today there are 15 families and 65 members associated with the church here. The mission center has been named after the founder of the CMI congregation St. Kuiakose Elias Chavara, who was canonized in 2014.
In 2016 October a plot of 3.2 acres of land was bought for establishing the infrastructure for mission activities. Later in 2017 March one more acre of land was purchased for building the residence for the priests. The work is in progress and the priest continues to reside in a rented house.