Fr. Constantine Vendrame, reached Shillong on December 25, 1924. He was the 'Francis Xavier of the Khasis.' The Khasis fondly called him Phadar Bendra. Phadar Bendra worked as the parish priest of Shillong and was assigned to begin the festive oratory at the center. He was invaded by the holy impatience of 'Francis Xavier' and was determined to make a breakthrough in evangelization. He seldom waited for the Non-Catholics to come to him, he instead went in search of them. He would sit with the families at the fireplace and engaged in missionary talks. His courage was heroic and he approached everybody, Protestants and Non-Christians alike. Phadar Bendra carried with him a walking stick and a notebook during his house to house visits. he has a notebook for every village.
His triple programme of evangelisation was organising 1. Catholic lay groups, 2. Catechist and 3. Eucharistic Congresses. His style of evangelization was individual persuasion. Fr. Gutierrez called Phadar Bendra 'Agood pastor who know his sheep.'Fr. Rivalco, a pioneer companion of Phadar bendra says, 'For all of us Fr. Vendrame is a great pioneer: an inspiror of apostolic conquest, an ideal of true Salesian missionary.' As the Khasi and Jaintia hills joyfully awaits the canonization of the Phadar Bendra they so loved, I pray to the almighty that he chooses more Phadar Bendras from amongst the Khasis and Jaintias who will be fishers of men and his agents of peace love and sacrifice.
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