Fr. Mariano Pedito SDB, an Italian and a member of the Don Bosco Society
It is to such a situation that Fr. Mariano Pedito SDB, an Italian and a member of the Don Bosco Society arrived in 1965 to found a Church and administrative unit (the present St. Paul’s Church) at Rangapara and to look after an area that was carved out of the already existing Tezpur unit. As there was no place yet for Fr. Pedito to stay, with the good will of Mr. Newton, the manager of the Borjuli tea garden, he took up residence at the manager’s Bungalow of the Borjuli tea garden, where he stayed for one year. Fr. Pedito lost no time in beginning an Assamese medium school adjacent to the present St. Paul’s Church. The school proceeded to Class IV, but was later shifted out of the Mission compound to Rawnathpur.
English Medium School Opened (1988)
As time went by, the people of the area, particularly the Catholics, began to feel the need to have an English medium school. They went in a delegation to meet Fr. Joseph Vadayaparamplil, who was then the pastor of St. Paul’s Church, Rangapara, to request him to start an English medium school. They also approached Bishop Robert Kerketta, the then Bishop of Tezpur, with the same request. After much discussion and deliberation between all the parties concerned, Fr. Joseph Vadayaparamplil decided to meet this challenge head-on, and an English medium school was opened in 1988. As there was no other place to conduct the classes, this new English medium school was also established at the Church compound. In the first year 145 students enrolled themselves for classes.
When a lowly-lying paddy land at Bishnupur was bought and the school building was completed there, the school was shifted to its present location. In the early days of the school Sacred Heart Sisters would come from Tezpur to assist in the running of the school. When the MSMHC (Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians) sisters arrived on the scene in 1990 to stay and help in the running of the school their residence was also built at the Bishnupur compound, not far from the school building. Since then Sr. Ancilla Jose, Sr. Maria Chacko, Sr. Jossy Mathew, Sr. Elsy Mathew, Sr. Esther Lyngdoh, Sr. Teresa Jacob, Sr. Helen Joseph, Sr. Leela Thomas, Sr. Lissy Augustine and Sr. Adlyn Mary Khyllep served the school as Headmistress of the school.
Fr. Joseph Mundackan- Valuable Contribution
In 2003, Fr. Joseph Mundackan took the charge of running the school as principal and rendered his valuable service for the growth of the school. He prepared all the necessary requirements for the recognition of the school and in the year 2008 the school received official recognition from SEBA.
Fr. Mundackan looked after the school till he was transferred to Jakhlabandha on 29 April 2013. His place was taken by the present principal Fr. Anthonysamy, who took office on 1 May 2013. All along the school continued to grow from strength to strength, especially in the number of students and in their performance. At present the school has 33 teachers, 5 auxiliary staff and 1115 students. The first batch of 16 HSLC candidates appeared for the HSLC examinations in 1999. A total number of 640 students have cleared the HSLC examination till 2013. In 2009 Digjam Sarma brought great honour to the school by getting the 8th Rank in the State; Chiranjeev Biswas made the school proud in 2010 by securing the 20th Rank in the State. Even if others did not win such laurels for their performance in examinations, the school is proud of every child that has passed through its portals. The school stands bold and smiling, and wishes every one of her children joy and happiness in their lives.
St. Paul's English School Growth
St. Paul’s School is a bright feather in Rangapara’s cap. The road that runs in front of the school, and all others roads of the town in a lesser way, wear a festive look on every school day. As if drawn by a magnet, children move towards the school from all directions in their proud school uniform, determined to learn more about the world and to build themselves up in order to build a better world. As St. Paul’s School, Rangapara, turns silver, it is the wish of everyone associated with the school that the lives of the children who are moulded by her become better human beings, and that the world in general, and Rangapara in particular, becomes a better place because of her.
We thank the pioneers who work hard especially Fr. Marino Pedito who established the mission centre and Bishop Robert Kerketta SDB together with Fr. Joseph Vadayaparamplil who had started the school and all the fathers and sisters who had worked tireless till this day. We acknowledge their selfless sacrifices and dedication.
