Guwahati, March 7, 2026|The Northeast India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC) has appointed Sr. Dr. Monica Khangchian FMA as the Regional Youth Lady Animator (Regional Coordinator YCS YSM) of the North Eastern Regional Youth Commission (NERYC), effective 1 March 2026. She becomes the 11th women religious coordinator in the history of the regional youth body and the first member of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) to assume this responsibility.

Sr. Monica succeeds Sr. Wansuk Mary Lyngdoh MSMHC, who has served in the role since 1 April 2023. Until now, the position had consistently been entrusted to members of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC), two of whom also served as Secretaries of the commission.

Originally from Tamenglong Parish of the Archdiocese of Imphal, Manipur, Sr. Monica professed as a member of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters) in 2007. She holds a doctoral degree, making her among the first women religious serving in regional youth ministry in Northeast India with advanced academic formation.

Her ministry has largely been in the field of education and youth formation across the Northeast. She served for nearly five years as Vice Principal of Little Flower Higher Secondary School in the Diocese of Dibrugarh, and later for another five years as Headmistress of Auxilium School, Namphai in the Diocese of Miao, Arunachal Pradesh. She also worked as Assistant Professor at Auxilium College, Udalguri in the Diocese of Tezpur.Since 2024, Sr. Monica has been serving as Vice Principal of Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kohima. 

Within the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), Mater Ecclesiae Province, Guwahati (ING – India–Guwahati), she has served as a member of the Youth Pastoral Sector team and as the Coordinator for Safeguarding in Education.

The commission coordinates youth ministry across the three archdioceses and twelve dioceses in the seven northeastern states of India through the Diocesan Youth Directors (DYDs) and Diocesan Youth Lady Animators (DYLAs).

Organised youth ministry in the region traces its roots to 1981, when Church leaders and youth animators met in Tura to address the pastoral needs of young people. Following consultations initiated by the CBCI Commission for Youth, the regional structure was formally reorganised in 1993, when the North Eastern Catholic Youth Service evolved into the North Eastern Regional Youth Commission (NERYC).

Since then, NERYC has coordinated programmes aimed at the holistic formation of young people, including leadership training, faith formation, peace-building initiatives, life-skills training, and youth counselling. The commission also facilitates the participation of young people from the Northeast in national and international gatherings such as the National Youth Convention, Asian Youth Day, World Youth Day, and Taizé prayer meetings.