The Presbyterian mission arrived in Mizoram in 1894, and Catholic missionaries did not come until 1947. By then, the Presbyterians had already established numerous schools and institutions. Sr. Lorena, in her book The Apostolic Carmel, observed, “The Protestant Mission had set up several schools with excellent teachers, while the Carmelite Mission had none. The absence of Catholic education posed a risk of the Catholic youth losing their faith, which ultimately inspired our foundation.” This initial motivation to address the educational gap has been mirrored in the mission land of Mizoram.
With the same dedication and purpose, the sisters of the Apostolic Carmel undertook the challenging task of establishing a school in Mizoram. On February 1, 2006, St. Andrew’s School was inaugurated with 53 students—25 in KG I and 28 in KG II. The school year commenced with a prayer service led by Fr. Joseph Lalbiakthanga. At the school’s inception, Sr. Arpitha, the Headmistress, along with Srs. Christelle and Sunita Subasini, collaborated closely to lay a strong foundation. The Assam-style building, previously used as a Parish Hall, was renovated to serve as the school’s initial premises.
The sisters devotedly worked to elevate the school, which now has a student body of 660, to the level of a high school. From the beginning, the fathers were immensely supportive, encouraging the sisters in all their efforts and activities. In 2016, the school received affiliation with the Mizoram State Board. The first batch of students sat for the Board Exam in 2017, achieving a 100% pass rate. In the past two years, the results have been outstanding, with one student ranking among the Top Ten in the State last year, marking a significant achievement for the school.
With God’s blessings, we are committed to continuing our mission of spreading His message of love and peace through education.
